Concreciones

REQUIREMENTS.

2.7.1 (U) Custodian and Alternate Appointments. Concurrent with the establishment of a COMSEC account, the commander will appoint a COMSEC Custodian and at least one alternate. For accounts that hold Positive Control Material (PCM), a minimum of four alternates is required. For accounts that hold TOP SECRET material, three alternates are required. The CARP will be used for the appointment of a COMSEC Custodian and alternate(s). In the appointment of a custodian and alternate(s), the following criteria will apply:

a. (U) Access Requirements. Individuals appointed as a COMSEC Custodian or alternate must meet all requirements as directed by AR 380-40. As a reminder to the commander,

“The security clearance of the COMSEC Custodian and alternates must be, as a

minimum, equivalent to the highest classification of material required. IAW AR 380-67, Personnel Security, an “interim clearance” is authorized for COMSEC Custodians and alternates.

Personnel in accounts holding NATO material may be required to have a “final” security clearance to perform custodian or alternate duties.

b. (U) Rank or Grade. The COMSEC Custodian will be a commissioned officer or warrant officer, whenever possible. If a

commissioned or warrant officer is not available, a carefully selected noncommissioned officer or a permanent DA civilian (not a government

contractor) meeting the following grade, rank, or equivalent pay criteria may be appointed:

(1) (U) The enlisted and civilian minimum grade limitations are Staff Sergeant (pay grade E6/GS-7) for COMSEC

Custodians, and a minimum of Sergeant (pay grade E5/GS-5) for alternates. IAW AR 380-40, the MACOM commander is authorized to grant waivers to a

Sergeant (pay grade E5/GS-5) as a custodian, or Corporal (pay grade

TB 380-41

(2) (U) Wage grade personnel may be appointed as custodians provided they are of the salary equivalent to those required for GS employees.

(3) (U) U.S. commercial contractors should refer to DODD 5220.22-R, DODD 5220.22-M, and DODD 5220.22-S. A contractor will not be appointed as the custodian of an active Army account.

(4) (U) Under extraordinary circumstances, a commander may appoint U.S. citizen government contractor personnel as

“Alternate” COMSEC Custodians.

These individuals must meet all training and access security requirements mandated for U.S. Government employees.

c. (U) Training. With the implementation of AKMS, there are two different requirements for training depending on the type of account:

• (U) Traditional Accounts: The appointed COMSEC Custodian must have successfully completed the Standardized COMSEC Custodian Course (SCCC).

When a graduate of the SCCC is not available, the commander may temporarily appoint an untrained COMSEC Custodian;

however, the COMSEC Custodian must successfully complete this course within six months after their effective date of

appointment. (Any person appointed as a COMSEC Custodian prior to 1 January 1988 and who is and has continuously been a COMSEC Custodian shall be considered

“grandfathered” and is not required to attend the SCCC. The “grandfathered” COMSEC Custodian will not be cited for a deficiency or shortcoming during any audit or inspection for not successfully completing the SCCC.)

• (U) AKMS Accounts: The appointed COMSEC Custodian must have successfully completed the SCCC, and two individuals from each account (usually the COMSEC Custodian and one alternate custodian) must complete formal Local COMSEC Management Software (LCMS) training.

Unlike a traditional account, the COMSEC Custodian and alternate must be trained prior to assuming the responsibilities of an

• (U) Alternate Custodian Training: It is highly recommended that alternate

custodians receive SCCC training. Should an alternate custodian fail the SCCC, they may still assume responsibilities of an alternate custodian, but under no circumstances will be appointed as the COMSEC Custodian.

• (U) Verification of Training: All exceptions to training requirements must be approved by HQDA, DCS, G-2. In addition, when a MACOM has approved a custodian to be appointed who has not successfully completed the SCCC, the approval must be provided to CSLA, COR. Without written documentation that either HQDA or the accounts MACOM has provided, CSLA will not be able to process the assignment of the custodian or alternate. (See AR 380-40, paragraph 2-2.)

d. (U) Custodial Obligations. Attention Commanders: An individual will not be

appointed custodian if other assigned duties do not allow sufficient time for conducting their custodial responsibilities. An extensive list of duties the custodian, alternate, and witness must perform in doing their respective jobs are identified in paragraph 2.7.2. Depending on the size of the account’s workload, these duties can easily amount to a full time job and must be taken into consideration in assigning additional duties for these individuals. Prior to

appointment as custodian, it must be determined that the individual has at least 12 months (9 months for short tour locations) of service retainability prior to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or separation. At no time will any individual be appointed as a COMSEC

Custodian or Alternate COMSEC Custodian over more than one Army COMSEC account.

2.7.2 (U) Custodian/Alternate and Witness Duties.

a. (U) COMSEC Custodian. The custodian’s duties involve actions pertaining to accountable, COMSEC material charged to the account. The custodian must be thoroughly familiar with the procedures for handling

COMSEC material. In larger activities where the size of the COMSEC account prevents the custodian from personally performing required

TB 380-41

be performed by other designated and

appropriately cleared personnel under the direct supervision of the custodian. Duties of the COMSEC Custodian are as follows:

(1) (U) Establish and maintain accurate accounting records and files.

Instructions for file numbering, retention, and disposition of COMSEC files can be found in AR 380-40, Appendix C and in Chapter 4 of this TB.

(2) (U) Keep informed on COMSEC matters pertaining to the customers serviced by the COMSEC account (e.g., Hand Receipt Holders).

(3) (U) Receive, store, transfer and maintain accountability for all COMSEC material issued to the COMSEC account.

(4) (U) Maintain records and prepare reports for accountable COMSEC material.

(5) (U) Maintain a current inventory of all COMSEC material and be aware of the location of such material and the purpose for which it is held. A

Semiannual Inventory Report (SAIR) will be completed every six months (for AKMS instructions, see paragraph 6.4.1).

(6) (U) Conduct, supervise or cause required inventories to be performed, including daily or shift-to-shift

inventories.

(7) (U) Ensure COMSEC publications are authorized and current per DA PAM 25-35, and that all amendments are properly and promptly entered.

COMSEC Logistics Support Facilities (CLSF) and Physical Material Handling Segments (PMHS) are exempt from posting amendments for material that is held in stock for further distribution.

(8) (U) Destroy COMSEC material as prescribed or directed.

(9) (U) IAW Controlling Authority

the material. The custodian will advise each individual of their responsibilities for safeguarding material while in their possession.

(10) (U) Report any compromise or

COMSEC Incident of COMSEC material, as directed in Chapter 7.

(11) (U) Maintain stockage levels for operational and contingency key, as shown in Chapter 3.

b. (U) Alternate COMSEC Custodian.

(1) (U) The routine duties of the alternate custodian are determined by the custodian and may include any or all of the duties prescribed for the custodian.

(2) (U) The Alternate COMSEC Custodian shall continue to manage the operation of the COMSEC account in the absence of the COMSEC Custodian.

c. (U) COMSEC Witness. A witness must authenticate all Semiannual Inventories and destruction of COMSEC material. Any U.S.

Government employee (military or civilian) selected to witness a physical inventory or destruction of COMSEC material must have a security clearance equal to or higher than the classification of the material being inventoried or destroyed. It is imperative that the witness:

(1) (U) Be aware that a witness is equally responsible for the accuracy of reports, inventories and physical destruction of the material.

(2) (U) Be aware that a witness can be held accountable under U.S. Civil Codes and the Uniform Code of Military Justice for improper performance of this official duty.

(3) (U) Be physically present and view the action of the custodian when

inventorying or destroying COMSEC material.

(4) (U) Sign the report certifying that the COMSEC material listed on the report

TB 380-41

2.8 COMSEC CUSTODIAN