This administrative message from CINCLANTFLT provides guidance to Navy commands on properly classifying and disclosing information related to ship and submarine movements. It outlines which types of information should be classified Confidential or higher, such as details of ongoing operations. It also provides examples of sensitive unclassified information, such as unit arrival/departure dates within 48 hours, that require risk assessment before public release. All personnel are reminded to handle classified information according to regulations and exercise sound judgment when disclosing other operationally sensitive details.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
ROUTINE
R 311538Z DEC 01 ZYB PSN 733702L22
FM CINCLANTFLT NORFOLK VA//N01//
TO LANTADMIN
PACADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N3/N5/N09N2//
CNO WASHINGTON DC//N3/N5/N09N2//
COMFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA//N00//
CINCPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N00//
CINCPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N00//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//00//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//00//
COMUSNAVCENT//N00//
COMUSNAVCENT//N00//
COMUSNAVSO//N00//
COMUSNAVSO//N00//
COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N00//
COMNAVSUBFOR NORFOLK VA//N00//
COMNAVAIRFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N00//
COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA
COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA
COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA
UNCLAS //N03000//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CINCLANTFLT//
SUBJ/CLASSIFICATION POLICY FOR SHIP AND SSN MOVEMENTS//
REF/A/GENADMIN/CINCPACFLT/231940ZOCT2001/NOTAL//
REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/06NOV1984//
REF/C/GENADMIN/CNO/022030ZNOV2001//
NARR/REF A IS CLASSIFICATION POLICY FOR SHIP AND SSN MOVEMENTS IN PACFLT. REF
B IS OPNAVINST S5513.3B ON CLASSIFICATION GUIDANCE. REF C IS NAVADMIN 296-01
ON WARTIME OPSEC.// POC/BEATON/LCDR/CLF N332A/-/TEL:DSN 836-6298//
POC/YSLAS/CDR/CPF N3DC0/-/TEL:DSN 471-0471//
RMKS/1. THIS IS A JOINT CINCLANTFLT/CINCPACFLT MESSAGE WHICH SUPERSEDES REF
A AND INCORPORATES GUIDANCE FROM ENCLOSURES 08, 17, AND 37 OF REF B.
2. AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF TRAINING, EQUIPPING AND DEPLOYING NAVAL
FORCES AROUND THE WORLD TO COMBAT TERRORISM, A REVIEW OF CLASSIFICATION AND
DISCLOSURE POLICIES IS WARRANTED TO ENSURE WE PROPERLY SAFEGUARD THE
INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS THESE CRITICAL OPERATIONS. SUCH SAFEGUARDS CANNOT
BE GUARANTEED BY MERELY CLASSIFYING INFORMATION. THE PROPER DISCLOSURE OF
BOTH CLASSIFIED AND SENSITIVE UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION ONLY TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WITH APPROPRIATE CLEARANCE AND/OR A NEED TO KNOW IS THE STRONGEST
PROTECTION AVAILABLE. THE GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS NOT MEANT TO

2. BE ALL INCLUSIVE, BUT RATHER TO PROVIDE A GENERAL REFERENCE FOR COMMANDERS
AND PERSONNEL TO USE IN DETERMINING THE PROPER DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.
3. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AT LEAST
CONFIDENTIAL AND SHOULD BE DISCLOSED TO ONLY AUTHORIZED
INDIVIDUALS:
A. DISCUSSION OF ANY ONGOING OR FUTURE OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE DETAILS OF
SPECIFIC COMBAT MISSIONS, BOMB DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS, FORCE MOVEMENTS, AND
EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULES.
B. PRECISE, CURRENT LOCATION OF UNDERWAY UNITS (I.E. LATITUDE AND
LONGITUDE).
C. AVIATION UNIT SCHEDULES ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC SHIP SCHEDULES SHALL
BE CLASSIFIED AS HIGH AS THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE RELATED SHIP SCHEDULE
(I.E. CVW TSTA 1/2, TSTA 3/FEP/C2X, AND JTFEX WOULD BE CLASSIFIED SINCE THEY
ARE TIED TO SPECIFIC SHIPS AND DATES).
4. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION, SOME OF WHICH MAY
BE SENSITIVE. THE DECISION TO RELEASE THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE MADE ONLY
AFTER A RISK ASSESSMENT IS DONE ON THE EFFECTS SUCH A DISCLOSURE WOULD HAVE
ON FORCES INVOLVED:
A. DISCLOSURE OF A SPECIFIC DATE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE OF INDIVIDUAL UNITS TO/FROM U.S. PORTS. WHILE DISCLOSURE
PRIOR TO THIS TIME MAY BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE, LOGISTICS AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THIS DISCLOSURE SHALL BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR
COORDINATION OF VESSEL ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE.
B. DISCLOSURE OF A SPECIFIC DATE SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE OF
RETURN/DEPARTURE OF CVBG/ARG UNITS FROM/TO DEPLOYMENT. THE ADVANCE
DISCLOSURE TIMEFRAME (SEVEN DAYS VICE 48 HOURS) IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE
INHERENT LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND INTENSE PUBLIC/FAMILY INTEREST IN THE
MOVEMENTS OF A CVBG/ARG. AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, DISCLOSURE PRIOR TO THIS TIME
SHOULD BE LIMITED AND EVALUATED BASED ON THE RISK SUCH DISCLOSURE MAY HAVE ON
THE UNITS INVOLVED.
C. WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PORT CALLS, THERE IS NO DISCLOSURE AUTHORIZED
UNTIL RECEIPT OF HOST NATION APPROVAL, AT WHICH TIME DISCLOSURE SHOULD BE
LIMITED TO ESSENTIAL PORT SERVICES OPERATIONS AND OTHER HOST NATION SUPPORT.
GENERAL DISCLOSURE OF A SPECIFIC DATE IS RESTRICTED UNTIL ACTUAL DAY OF
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE.
D. COMPLETED EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULES, TO INCLUDE GENERAL OPERATING AREAS
(I.E. OPERATED FROM 12 NOV - 22 NOV 01 IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC).
E. THE CURRENT LOCATION OF SUBMARINES, SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN A
PARTICULAR PORT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
5. THIS MESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE APPROACH TO
PROTECTING INFORMATION. CLEARLY, INFORMATION MARKED CONFIDENTIAL OR ABOVE
SHOULD BE HANDLED IAW PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN REF B, AND ALL HANDS NEED TO
REVIEW THOSE PROCEDURES TO ENSURE NO INADVERTENT RELEASE OCCURS. THE FACT
REMAINS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF INFORMATION WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS
IS UNCLASSIFIED. THE POINT MADE BY CNO IN REF C IS THAT MUCH OF THIS
UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED SENSITIVE AND FOR
OFFICIAL USE ONLY. IT IS IN THESE AREAS THAT PERSONNEL ARE BEING ASKED TO BE
MORE VIGILANT IN ASSESSING THEIR ROLE IN THE DISCLOSURE OF SUCH INFORMATION.
CERTAINLY THERE IS INFORMATION WE MUST SHARE TO DO OUR JOBS, BUT WE MUST
EXERCISE SOUND JUDGEMENT AND, WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK THE CHAIN OF COMMAND FOR
GUIDANCE.//
BT
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