Security Awareness – Spring 2021
Self-Reporting is Required for a Security Change or Concern
Employees who occupy national security positions and have access to classified information are expected to self-report changes or incidents that may impact their clearances. Even if you do not have a clearance, TMB still requires that you report to your FSO certain changes and information about yourself. Your cooperation in doing so is an important part of the “continuing evaluation” process.
Listed below are some incidents and life events where self-reporting is expected:
- Change in Personal Status – changes in marital status, cohabitation (living in a spouse-like relationship), change of name and change of address must be reported. Special requirements may apply if an intended spouse or partner is a foreign national.
- Foreign Travel – whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, foreign travel plans must be reported to TMB security in advance of your travel. Pre-travel and post-travel briefings are required and must be reported in DISS.
- Foreign Contacts – contact with individuals of any foreign nationality must be reported if illegal or unauthorized access is sought to classified or otherwise sensitive information, personal concern that you are the target of actual or attempted exploitation, all close and continuing relationships with foreign contacts.
- Loss or Compromise of Information – inadvertent or accidental loss or compromise of classified or other sensitive information; the first priority in this situation would be to regain control of the classified material.
- Financial Problems – filing for bankruptcy, garnishment of wages, having a lien placed on your property for failure to pay a creditor, eviction from a residence for failure to pay rent, or inability to meet your financial obligations.
- Arrests – if you are arrested for any reason, this must be reported regardless of whether or not you were convicted, or charges were dropped for lack of evidence. Minor traffic violations are the only exception to this reporting requirement. Other involvement with the legal system (such as being sued), any circumstance where you were sworn under oath must be reported.
- Psychological or Substance Abuse Counseling – when counseling is needed, you are encouraged to seek assistance from a counseling service. If you sought counseling on your own initiative, it does not need to be reported. Counseling must be reported if you were advised to seek counseling owing to your work performance or other undesirable behavior.
- Outside Activities – Any planned or actual outside employment or volunteer activity that could create a real or apparent conflict with one’s responsibility to protect classified information must be reported to TMB security.
- Media Contacts – Any media inquiries about your job or organization should be reported. Ongoing personal contacts with media representatives who cover your organization, or your subject area specialty should be cleared with security.
- Pre-Publication Review – Any technical paper, book, magazine article, or newspaper article that you prepare for publication or for posting on the Internet, or lecture or speech that you prepare to give, must be cleared in advance if it contains information or knowledge you gained during your current or any previous classified job.
