I was read into the National Aerospace Plane classified program in 1988. At that time, the USAF explained that there was no such thing as "secret," "top secret," or any other classification except "classified," and that what distinguinshed one level from another isn't a term ("top secret") but merely whether you are "read into" a given program.
Can someone else having a clearance confirm or deny this?
Careful what you reveal, my FRiend. The DIA is watching both of us, and anyone else who handled classified data.
Deny.
Classification levels are based upon the level of damage caused to the US and her interests, should the information be compromised.
Never heard of that explanation, when I was in we had to read the Top Secret targets and flight info prior to going on alert. Top Secret Burn before reading.
When I was in the army, I had a Secret security clearance. This allowed me to deal with fairly routine equipment and information (like weapons capabilities) necessary to do my everyday job.
I knew a guy who had a Top Secret clearance. This allowed him access to more specific information about people or projects. In particular, he had been tasked with reviewing information that gets declassified at benchmark time periods, to make sure there was nothing too sensitive being released. For example, when JFK’s presidential papers were released, a guy like him reviewed every document first.
Then there was a level above, I can’t remember the real name, but it was called ‘compartmentalized’ or ‘need to know’. It meant that you couldn’t access the information about a certain project, unless you were working on it and had a genuine need to know something. Kind of like terrorist cells, theoretically people working on small parts of a project don’t know about the larger project or parallel small projects.
There may be levels beyond that, that we in the public do not know about.
However, since I left the army, I know the levels have changed. You may remember that Clinton’s chief of WH security was a bouncer from Arkansas who had no business being within 20 miles of sensitive information. So, Bubba overhauled the entire system, and included provisions that allowed this guy to stay as part of the overhaul.
Now, if you were on a particular program, I’m not sure what that means. Generally, getting a security clearance takes several months and involves background checks and even interviews of relatives and co-workers. It sounds like you were on one project and never really given a blanket clearance.
A small tid-bit: When I applied for a Secret clearance, I had to fill out a questionnaire about past associates, drug use, etc...and swear under penalty of law that it was true. At that time, one of the questions dealt with homosexuality - apparently the army thought that could be a security risk (ie Bradley Manning). But you may occasionally notice a story about a high ranking officer who comes out of the closet, in our new gay friendly military. This means that these officers most likely lied/falsified information on their own security clearance applications...repeatedly, as they periodically expire and must be renewed. Yet they are celebrated.
At least between 1967 and 1970 my experience in the AFSA was that there are officially 3 classifications, Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret, just as we have always heard. Within those classifications were more levels that are based on “need to know” which puts several levels above TS in real life. I was one level above TS and I knew that there was at least one level more restrictive than mine and I suspect levels more restrictive still. It was TS that there were levels above TS
The information you’re looking for is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information#Top_secret_.28TS.29
There is Classified, Secret, Top Secret, then there are modifiers to those like NATO, NOFORN, CRYPTO, and the like.
Yes there is a top secret. Here is a GSA Form 703, a cover sheet: http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/top-secret-cover-sheet.jpg
Do not have an answer for you. Some classified material is deemed free to discus after a period of time but some is never ever to be discussed until 25 years after you’re dead( old line).
As far as I know however being read into a program or take an oath or write and sign documents deemed classified even if it’s designing outdated systems is a lifetime of secrets in which one does not discuss period.
What is scary is how Hillary got out of the building with such damaging secrets. That in itself is planned well thought out treason no matter the depth of the secrets. Maybe, MAYBE the State Dept would rather this just go away than to have this woman speak publicly on the lax security?
Hillary might skate on a diminished capacity(kidding here but still she is a serious liability), or they’ll give “the honorable” bi^^h a medal.
https://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/dod/nimaguide.pdf
Here is a long geeky guide explaining how stuff gets classified, how you handle it, and how to properly mark up documents to show their classification status.
Merely erasing the little (S) designation does not declassify the info.
There certainly are classifications beyond Classified. If you were read into a program, that means you were in the highest category, what laymen call “Eyes Only”, but pros call SCI (compartmentalized Top Secret) Clearance. Did you get an SSBI?
The levels of classification are determined by the amount of damage to national security would be caused by the loss of the material. Material that would cause grave damage, loss of personnel, or economic harm is classified as Top Secret. The Secret classification goes to material that could cause serious damage to security. Confidential is the lowest but still poses security concerns. The USAF officer who gave you that bullshiite explanation was a moron and has no business explaining anything pertaining to security classifications.
Top Secret is high......but much higher if “a need to know” is added.(only a very select few can have access.)
Never heard of being read into a program - we were just given (1966) million dollar FBI background checks - now days that’s done with a phone call to people you list as contacrts - whoever they are does not matter, only the positive response - all so I hear.
Classification was who had access if they needed it, by designation -eyes only -elint -3 levels of TS code word, and so on.
Spent 20 years in the intel business before returning to higher ed eight years ago.
Sounds like you got a somewhat misleading definition from your SSO.
Levels of classification reflect the sensitivity of the material and the damage it would cause to national security if that information was revealed. In that sense, there is a discernible difference between the disclosure of “confidential” data, versus something classified at the Top Secret/SCI level.
Your clearance (and need to know) determines your access to the vast majority of classified information. The amount of material covered by Special Access Programs (SAP) remains relatively small, by definition. If most classified was covered by various SAPs, the mechanics of reading people into the program and debriefing them would be a massive headache, to say the least.
That’s why SAPs are typically reserved for our most sensitive collection efforts—known by a relatively small number of people, and with the material/databases segregated from the vast “haul” of intel information. Many SAPs are actually “housed” in a separate vault, inside a Sensitive Compartmented Intelligence Facility (SCIF).
Can someone else having a clearance confirm or deny this?
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Are you sorry yet, that you asked?
I worked top secret + communications at the Pentagon and at the Hoffman building.
I guarantee ya, there are waaay higher classes than classifide,
