Letters of Intent (LOI) to Deny or Revoke a Security Clearance
This MARADMIN provides guidance to commanding officers and security managers on proper procedures when personnel receive a Letter of Intent (LOI) to deny or revoke their security clearance from the Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility (DON CAF). It outlines the steps commands must take to ensure due process is followed, including reviewing the LOI, determining if access suspension is warranted, providing the LOI to the individual, and forwarding responses with command endorsements to DON CAF and HQMC.
Issued: April 16, 2003
1. PER THE REFERENCE, COMMANDING OFFICERS AND SECURITY MANAGERS ARE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT DUE PROCESS, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO RESPOND TO THE LOI, IS CARRIED OUT IN A TIMELY AND THOROUGH MANNER. A. THE SECURITY MANAGER SHOULD THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE LOI AND UNDERSTAND THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN. B. COMMANDS MUST DETERMINE WHETHER THE DISQUALIFYING INFORMATION WITHIN THE LOI CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DURING THE ADJUDICATIVE PROCESSING OF THE LOI. IF A DETERMINATION TO SUSPEND ACCESS IS MADE, FOLLOW-ON ACTIONS ARE TO BE TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 9-18 OF REF A. ONCE ACCESS IS SUSPENDED, ACCESS CANNOT BE REINSTATED UNTIL A FINAL ADJUDICATIVE DECISION IS MADE BY THE DON CAF. C. AFTER REVIEW, THE SECURITY MANAGER IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS PROVIDED A COMPLETE COPY OF THE LOI. BE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE LOI. D. ENSURE THAT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT (AN ENCLOSURE TO THE LOI) IS COMPLETED AND SENT VIA FAX TO THE DON CAF. THE FAX NUMBER TO DON CAF IS COMM 202-433-8919. E. IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO THE LOI, BE PREPARED TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL ONLY ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATION OF THE LOI, ENSURING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSE IS CLEAR AND CONCISE. F. ENSURE THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSE IS PROMPTLY ENDORSED AND FORWARDED TO THE DON CAF. THE COMMAND'S ENDORSEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIFIC COMMENTS AS TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S SECURITY ELIGIBILITY. AN ENDORSEMENT THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN COMMAND COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS WILL INFER THAT THE COMMAND CONCURS WITH THE ADVERSE ACTION PROPOSED BY THE DON CAF. IN ADDITION, IT CAUSES UNNECESSARY DELAY IN A FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S CLEARANCE AND DOES NOT ALLOW ADJUDICATORS TO FOCUS ON OTHER INVESTIGATIONS WHICH REQUIRE ACTION. G. ENSURE THAT HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS (ARS) IS PROVIDED A COPY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSE WITH THE COMMANDING OFFICER'S ENDORSEMENT. H. ENSURE THAT IN THOSE CASES WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL'S ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IS SUSPENDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE LOI BY DON CAF, THAT ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE NOTIFIED (E.G. ACCESS TO SIPRNET IS TERMINATED, ACCESS TO RESTRICTED SPACES IS WITHHELD, ETC.). 2. HQMC (ARS) RECEIVES COPIES OF ALL LOI CORRESPONDENCE AND IS ROUTINELY NOTIFIED IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE DON CAF HAS BEEN UNABLE TO COMPLETE CLEARANCE ACTION ON CASES THAT ARE MISSING COMMAND ENDORSEMENT.