airborne1092
Hero Member
Just to clarify here folks, there are only three levels of security clearances.
Confidental, Secret and Top Secret (FOUO or For Official Use Only is more of a document marker than a clearance level.) Each level has a definition as to a general sensitivity of the classification. I don't know the exact verbage but for instance, Top Secret information is considered to have an immediate and dire impact on our nation's security and most certainly loss of American life as a result of it's disclosure.
Our security programs are compartmented to reduce risks, increase oversight and control and mitigate damages related to information leaks. It IS a need to know basis. You're 'read into' a program, sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) and you're 'read out' of a program and fill out the appropriate debriefing documents as soon as your work is complete.
There is no 'above top secret', 'GS-14 classified' or 'ultra top secret.' Only three. I know this is a print forum, so I don't want to come off as sounding like a douche-bag know-it-all or like I'm talking down to someone. This is just one of my few pet-peeves, the other one being hoe the District of Columbia is lazily referred to as Washington, but I'll save that for another time!
Confidental, Secret and Top Secret (FOUO or For Official Use Only is more of a document marker than a clearance level.) Each level has a definition as to a general sensitivity of the classification. I don't know the exact verbage but for instance, Top Secret information is considered to have an immediate and dire impact on our nation's security and most certainly loss of American life as a result of it's disclosure.
Our security programs are compartmented to reduce risks, increase oversight and control and mitigate damages related to information leaks. It IS a need to know basis. You're 'read into' a program, sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) and you're 'read out' of a program and fill out the appropriate debriefing documents as soon as your work is complete.
There is no 'above top secret', 'GS-14 classified' or 'ultra top secret.' Only three. I know this is a print forum, so I don't want to come off as sounding like a douche-bag know-it-all or like I'm talking down to someone. This is just one of my few pet-peeves, the other one being hoe the District of Columbia is lazily referred to as Washington, but I'll save that for another time!