Keeping security in mind

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff Writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  A recent outbreak of security incidents surrounding the mishandling of classified documents has 62nd Security Forces Squadron officials asking Airmen and civilians to take their time and use the utmost discretion when it comes to working with the documents.

There have been more than double the amount of security incidents already this year compared to all of last year, according to Chris Caseman, a security officer with the 62nd SFS.

While there has not been one common factor prevalent in all of the cases, Mr. Caseman said people should take the same steps each time to prevent any type of security incident.

Those include putting a cover sheet on the document when it is out of the safe, putting the document back into the safe when it isn't being worked with, properly destroying any classified documents no longer needed and completely filling out the proper inventory
of all of the classified documents, he said.

"It really comes down to taking your time and not being careless," Mr. Caseman said. "Keeping a good inventory is required so you can keep track of everything and by getting rid of excess classified info, there is less of a chance of something getting misplaced or lost."

People should also be cognizant of who is viewing the documents at all times. Although everyone in the room may have all the proper security clearances and passed all the checks, the classified document owners should still ask the tough questions, he said.

"While everyone might have all the clearances, document owners should still ask if there is a valid need-to-know status from everyone in the room," Mr. Caseman said. "Verifying security clearances is something that should be happening every day. If it is your classified, you need to protect it."

The same kind of care should be used when dealing with classified documents stored on a thumb drive.

Users should routinely delete all the classified documents they aren't using off the thumb drive to prevent any buildup, clearly label the drive with a classified information sticker and make sure the drive is tracked by the unit security manager, Mr. Caseman said.

According to the McChord supplement to the Air Force Instruction 33-201-Vol.1, only government-issued thumb drives are to be used on government computers.