What does a classified envelope do?
The procedures apply to both mailing and carrying classified materials.These procedures do not cover the shipment of bulky materials.It is not a substitute for review of the official regulations.
It is not possible to send top secret material through the mail.It must be transmitted using approved electronic means.
The U.S. may transmit secret material.The United States and its territories are covered by the Postal Service's registered mail.The use of street side express mail collection boxes is not allowed because of the "Waiver of Signature and Indemnity" block on the Express Mail Label 11-B.It is possible to send secret material through the U.S.Postal Service registered mail through Army, Navy, or Air Force postal service facilities outside the U.S., if the information does not pass through a foreign postal system or foreign inspection.Contractors must get approval from their government contracting authority to use Federal Express for SECRET material.
CONFIDENTIAL material is subject to the same mailing procedures as Secret material, but may be sent by U.S. certified mail.Mail is registered.CONFIDENTIAL material can be sent by First Class mail between and among government agencies.It can't be sent via First Class mail.The outer envelope should be marked "Do not forward"Return to sender.The USPS Express Mail label 11-B "Waiver of Signature and Indemnity" will not be used.
Mail classified material to the post office.The use of street mail collection boxes is not allowed.
All classified material must be double wrapped.It will be marked as follows.
The top and bottom of the inner envelope should be marked with capital letters.All surfaces of the inner wrapping should be marked with the classification on a box with classified material.
On the inner envelope, write the complete mailing address and return address.The name of an appropriately cleared individual should be on the inner envelope.
The complete mailing address and return address should be written on the outer envelope.Do not state on the outer envelope that it contains classified information.It is recommended that classified mail be addressed to the Commander or other head of the organization by title, not by name, or to an approved classified mailing address of a federal activity.The outer envelope should not have an individual's name on it.Office code letters, numbers, or phrases in an attention line can be used instead of a person's name.If necessary, put the individual's name on an attention line in the letter of transmittal or on the inner container.
For Official Use Only is a document control designation.The material can be mailed in a single envelope.
A receipt identifying the sender, the addressee, and the document should be attached to or enclosed in the inner envelope.No classified information will be contained in the receipt.It should be returned to the sender.
Top Secret material must be transmitted under a continuous chain of receipts.
All material transmitted outside the facility must include a classified material receipt.
If the information is being transmitted to a foreign government, a receipt must be included.
Different procedures apply for transportation outside the continental U.S. for hand-carrying classified material.
Accidents, theft and sudden illness are all foreseeable.The classified information must be double wrapped and delivered to an authorized person only if it was left in the trunk of your car while you ran another errand.If the briefcase is locked and approved for carrying classified material, it will be the outer wrapper.Prepare an inventory of the material and leave one copy in your office with a security officer or other responsible person.
If you want to carry classified material on a trip that involves an overnight stop, you have to arrange for overnight storage in a U.S. Government office or a cleared contractor facility.