DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
MCO 5230.18
PA
10 Jun 94
MARINE CORPS ORDER 5230.18
From: Commandant of the Marine Corps
To: Distribution List
Subj: CLEARANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC
RELEASE
Ref: (a) DoD Directive 5230.9
(b) SecNav 5720.44A
(c) MCO P5720.61
1. Puroose. To publish specific instructions, per references
(a) and (b), to Headguarters Marine Corps personnel and civilian
employees of the Marine Corps guiding publication of materials.
2. Backaround. Department of Defense policy is to provide the
American people with maximum information about DoD operations and
activities. As a safeguard against potentially adverse impact
upon the conduct of Government, however, information is cleared
for release only after it is determined that it is consistent
with established national, Department of Defense and Department
of the Navy policies and programs. The purpose of this scrutiny
is to ensure that classified information is not being used in
such writings, to verify that any information revealed is
available generally to the public or is intended to be made
available, and that use of nonpublic information has been
authorized by proper authority. Per reference (c), CMC(PA) is
designated as the clearance authority for publication of material
obtained as a result of official duties. There are two types of
review required: policy review and security review.
3. Action
a. At a minimum, all material proposed for release to the
public will undergo policy and security review at the staff
agency level. Material will not fail policy review solely
because its release might reveal administrative error,
inefficiency or cause embarrassment. A writer submitting
material for policy review will first ensure that it does not
contain information known by the originator to be classified, in
error or in conflict with established policy. Normally, final
policy clearance authority is the head of the staff agency,
except as noted in para 4. below.
b. Information proposed for publication or public release
that concerns or affects the plans, policies, programs or
operations of DoD or the U.S. Government, and that is prepared by
DoD personnel either in an official or private capacity, shall be
submitted to the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of
Defense for Public Affairs (OATSD(PA)) for security review and
clearance. Within the Marine Corps, such material should be
submitted through CMC(PAM).
4. Clearance Requirements. Speeches and articles meeting the
criteria below should be submitted to arrive at CMC(PA) at least
six working days before the date that clearance is desired, more
if the volume of the documents and complexity of the subject
matter warrant. Material being considered for publication should
be submitted to OATSD(PA), through CMC(PA), for review if the
information:
a. Originates or is proposed for publication or release at
the seat of government; or
b. Meets any of the following criteria (if in doubt,
submit):
(1) Is or has the potential to become an item of national
or international interest or has foreign policy or foreign
relations implications.
(2) Concerns high level military or DoD policy; or U.S.
Government policy.
(3) Concerns subjects of potential controversy among DoD
components or with other Federal agencies.
(4) Concerns the following subject areas:
(a) New weapons or weapons system or significant
modifications or improvements to existing weapons or systems,
equipment, or techniques.
(b) Military operations, operations security,
potential operations, and significant exercises.
(c) National command authorities and command posts.
(d) Military applications in space; nuclear weapons,
including nuclear weapons effects research; chemical warfare;
defensive biological and toxin research; and high-energy lasers
and particle beam technology.
(e) Material, including that submitted by Defense
contractors, involving critical military technology.
(f) Communications security, signals intelligence,
and computer security.
(g) Others as the ATSD(PA) may designate.
5. DoD personnel shall make no commitments to furnish
manuscripts other than to DoD publications until the manuscripts
have been cleared or OATSD(PA) approval for commitment has been
granted.
6. Further information about writing for publication may be
found in references (a), (b) and (c), or by contacting CMC(PAM).
J. M. SHOTWELL
By direction
DISTRIBUTION: PCN 10207711400
Copy to: 7000110, 55
7000099, 2
7000093, 144
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
WASHINGTON, DC 20380-0001
