Whiteman Air Force Base > Connect > Public Affairs

Security & Policy Review

Security and policy review process determines the suitability for public release of information. Department of Defense Directive 5230.09, Clearance of DOD Information for Public Release, requires information relating to the plans, policies, programs, or operations of DOD or the U.S. Government proposed for public release be sent through PA channels to the appropriate clearance level for review. Whether information is prepared as an official release or a personal enterprise, it must be reviewed and cleared before release.

Originators must ensure disclaimers accompany all publications they authorize in a private capacity. An appropriate disclaimer is:

"The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."

All Air Force military and civilian personnel, including Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel on active duty, who release material related to their active-duty assignment, retired military members, and former Air Force civilian employees will use this review service to ensure DOD-related information released to the public is consistent with their requirement to safeguard classified material.

For more information contact Public Affairs at (660)-687-5727 or 509bw.public.affairs@us.af.mil.

Security & Policy Review Process

What needs to be submitted?
Material proposed for public release that mentions Whiteman AFB units, Air Force, Department of Defense, or any other government agency's plans, policies, programs, operations, budget, personnel or activities needs to be cleared through Security and Policy Review. If your material does not mention or discuss any of these issues, or foreign policy/military operations, it probably doesn't require coordination.

Only submit material proposed to be released to a public forum. Material intended to be shared exclusively with AF, DoD and defense contractors involved in the program normally does not require Security and Policy Review.

Do NOT submit contractual documents or other material intended for posting to the Federal Business Opportunities (www.FBO.gov) website in support of the DoD acquisition mission. Although these materials should be reviewed by unit Operational Security Managers and Foreign Disclosure personnel to verify they do not contain critical information before they are posted, Air Force policy precludes sending them through the Security and Policy Review process.

Items that may require Public Affairs review include (other applicable items may not be listed):
- Advertisement
- Announcement
- Articles
- Audio
- Photos
- Videos
- Award Packages
- Papers
- Biographies
- Blog posts
- Books
- Manuscripts
- Briefing charts
- Brochures
- Case Studies
- Dissertation/Thesis
- Editorials
- Essays
- Fact Sheets
- Graphics
- Handbooks
- Job posting
- Media Statement
- Memo
- News Release
- Nomination
- Op-Ed
- Posters
- Presentations
- Remarks
- Syllabus
- Technical papers & data
- Web Content
- White Paper
- Yearbooks
- Etc.
Submission Procedures - DoD/USAF Authors

The AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet, is the prescribed form required for submission.

1. Coordinate the material you want cleared for public release through your organization using the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet.

2. Obtain the minimum three required electronic signatures by appropriate subject matter expert U.S. Government (not contractor) personnel.

Submitters are responsible for ensuring appropriate coordination with other program offices, commands or agencies which have equities in the release decision. This coordination should normally be accomplished before submission to Public Affairs and clearly annotated on the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet. If coordination by other major commands, higher headquarters, or other U.S. Government agencies is required and has not been accomplished, please clearly annotate this on the AFIMSC Worksheet.

3. Submit the completed AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet and the document to be reviewed to 509 BW Public Affairs.

All files need to be submitted via CD to Public Affairs. DO NOT SEND MATERIAL VIA EMAIL.

Preferred format for most documents submitted for review is Adobe PDF, and will be hand carried to:
509th Bomb Wing PA, Blgd 509, Suite 116, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
Submit final copies only. Do not submit interim drafts or documents with blanks. These will be returned without action.
Submissions that require rush processing (ten working days or less) must be accompanied by a memorandum signed by the directorate level director or commander with justification as to why the materials require rush processing.

Requests for public release of software must include a statement that fully addresses: Description, function and use of the software; potential end-users; programming language, operating system, network architecture or other features relevant; DoD program, system or product the software is related to. Do not send the software with the request. Air Force Information Protection officials may request the software code itself to be submitted in separate correspondence.

Directive submission procedures are detailed in AF Instruction 35-102. Submitters must review the entire instruction to ensure compliance.
Submission Procedures - Defense Contractors/Contractor Authors:
Defense contracts frequently stipulate information must be reviewed by U.S. Government program office and Public Affairs prior to public release by the contractor. In all cases, the contractor must certify all material submitted for review meets criteria for public release and does not contain classified, sensitive or proprietary information.

Submit all requests directly to the appropriate Program Office with primary responsibility. Most materials must be sent to the Program Office via conventional or express mail or hand carried. The only items permissible to be emailed are proposed contractor news releases and publicity materials. Contractor representatives may send these via email to the appropriate Program Office.

Public Affairs will NOT accept or review materials submitted directly by defense contractors. The program office will ensure necessary coordination of contractor information with Public Affairs.

Upon receipt of contractor requests, the appropriate Air Force program office subject matter expert will complete the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Workshee t and submit to Public Affairs.
Submission Deadlines
If your material requires only local clearance, please allow up to 10 duty days (not including the day of submission) for review.

Rush cases requiring review in ten working days or less must be accompanied by a letter of justification from the appropriate directorate commander or director. Exceptions are granted only in rare circumstances.

Please note complex documents, manuscripts, dissertations and theses may take up to 45 days for review by Pentagon or other federal agencies with an equity in the decision to release.

Public Affairs will not clear information "after-the-fact," which has already been presented/distributed or for which the submission or use deadline(s) have already passed.
Clearance Notifications
The submitter listed on the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet will receive an e-mail notification on disposition of the case as soon as all proper coordination has been accomplished. It is the submitter's responsibility to further notify all interested parties of the release decision.

The most frequent security and policy review determinations are:
◾Cleared for Release
◾Cleared, with Recommendation
◾Cleared, as Amended
◾Objection, Not Cleared
◾AF No Objection (additional coordination required by other non-AF agencies)
◾AF No Equity

Please do not call or e-mail Public Affairs to request status on a submitted case until the original coordination time has passed. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your cooperation.