Security and policy review ensures that Air Force information is released in a timely manner, without divulging classified or sensitive technical or operational information. It also ensures that information is technically accurate, non-proprietary, free of information about critical military technology and conforms to Department of Defense and military service policies. This fact sheet details the process to submit information for security and policy review to the 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office.
What Needs to be Submitted
Material proposed for public release that mentions Wright-Patterson AFB organizations, 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.
Presentation charts, briefing slides, photos, videos, speeches, abstracts, manuscripts, technical papers, dissertations, theses, journal articles and news releases are examples of Air Force material normally submitted. If there is uncertainty on whether to submit, contact Public Affairs.
The 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office normally reviews technical information proposed for public release associated with the 88th ABW, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Force Research Laboratory, and other Wright-Patterson Air Force Base tenant units which do not have a dedicated Public Affairs office.
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.
Submission Procedures - DoD/USAF Authors:
This is an electronic process for submitting material for review. Government submitters must have Common Access Card access to the Air Force network.
Directive submission procedures are detailed in AF Instruction 35-102 and WPAFB Instruction 35-102, Security and Policy Review Program. Submitters must review the entire instruction to ensure compliance. Selected excerpts are summarized in this fact sheet, however all submitters are responsible for ensuring compliance with the instruction.
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. A fillable template can be downloaded from our web site here.
The AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet, is the prescribed form. Earlier versions (Including the WPAFB Form 1420 and all other versions of the 1420) are obsolete and will not be accepted. Detailed instructions for completion are on page two of the form.
Coordinate the material you want cleared for public release through your organization using the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet. 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.
Submit the completed AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet and the document to be reviewed to 88 ABW Public Affairs.
DO NOT SEND MATERIAL VIA EMAIL. Submit electronically via the WPAFB Security and Policy Review SharePoint site. This is a closed site accessible only to AIr Force members with DoD Common Access Cards. To access the site and request membership click this link: https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/OO-XP-MC-72/
If you have any difficulty, please e-mail or contact Public Affairs at the numbers listed below and we will verify your status and provide site permissions.
NOTE: Preferred format for most documents submitted for review is Adobe PDF. Please use the standardized filename protocol listed on the SharePoint site. Failure to follow filename protocols to associate the AFIMSC Security and Policy Review Worksheet and submitted document may delay processing!
Alternatively, electronic versions of submitted documents (CD/DVD) may be hand carried or mailed to 88 ABW/PA, 5135 Pearson Road, Bldg. 10, Room 238, Area A, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433. SharePoint file size restrictions for very large video files may require submission via this method. We cannot accept documents via fax. Electronic submission is preferred.
If briefing charts contain "notes pages" ensure these are visible in the submitted electronic version of document.
Submit final copies only. Do not submit interim drafts or documents with blanks. These will be returned without action.
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.
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 Worksheet and submit to Public Affairs via SharePoint, as described above.
Submission Deadlines
If your material requires only local clearance, please allow up to ten working days (not including the day of submission) for review. Exceptions are granted only in rare circumstances.
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.
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. The clock does not start until the material reaches Public Affairs.
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
88 ABW/PA reviews approximately 6,000 cases annually. Please do not call or e-mail Public Affairs to request status on a submitted case until the minimum coordination time has passed (see Submission Deadlines). We regret any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your cooperation, as these requests delay processing for all cases in coordination.
Contact us:
88 ABW/PA
5135 Pearson Road, Bldg. 10, Room 238, Area A
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433
Telephone: 937-522-3252 (Public Affairs Main Line). E-mail: 88abwpa.spr@us.af.mil.
Last updated: July 2016