• Confidential
  Applied to information that could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the National security if disclosed.
• Secret
  Applied to information that could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to the National security if disclosed.
• Top Secret
  Applied to information that could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the National security.

Not everyone is allowed to view classified material. The right to view classified material is determined by two things:

• Access which is the ability and opportunity to obtain knowledge or possession of classified information. An individual does not have access to classified information merely by being in a place where such information is kept, provided the security measures which are in effect prevent him or her from gaining knowledge or possess on of classified information. No one has a right to have access to classified information solely because of grade, rate, position or security clearance.
• Need to know is the necessity for access to, knowledge of, or possession of classified information to carry out official military and civilian duties. Responsibility for determining whether a person's duties require that he or she possess or have access to classified information and whether he or she is authorized to receive it rests upon the possessor of the classified information and not upon the prospective recipient.

There are three steps to gaining access to classified material:

• Step One
  Determine that you have a need to know.
• Step Two
  Determine the level of security material you need to view.
• Step Three
  A personal security investigation of that individual shall take place.

A personal security investigation is an investigation of a person's loyalty, reliability, trustworthiness, and judgement.

There are four basic kinds of personal security investigations:

• National Agency Checks (NAC)
  This is the most common investigation. It is a check of Federal agencies' files. It is the basic part of all investigations. If information is found that needs to be investigated then an expanded investigation occurs.
• ENTNAC (Entrance NAC)
  Entrance investigation upon entrance into the service by enlisted members.
• NACI (National Agency Check and Inquiry)
  Used to check civilian employees.
• Signal Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)
  Consists of a NAC along with interviews and written inquiries.

Different investigations are done for different levels of classified material to be viewed:

• Top Secret-SSBI
• Secret-NAC or ENTNAC
• Confidential-NAC or ENTNAC

There are certain responsibilities after being granted a clearance.

• Classified material shall never be shown or discussed with personnel who do not have a clearance.
• Classified material shall only be shown to a person who has a need to know even if that person has a clearance.
• Classified material will be discussed over secure phones only.
• Classified material will never be left unattended. If classified material is found, it will be turned over to the security manager.
• If any knowledge of classified material being handled improperly is brought to your attention, you must notify the security manager.
• Classified material will only be copied on designated copiers.
• Anyone approaching you for the purpose of extracting classified information should be immediately reported to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) or the security manager.

Classified materials are kept in special, designated safes. If found open, immediately close the door to the safe and notify the security manager.

Reference

1. OPNAVINST 5510.1

Reviewed by Mrs. Claudia J. Mackey, Security Assistant, BUMED, Washington, D.C. (1999).