What is the policy regulation on COMSEC storage? Can it be stored with weapons?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:26:20 -0400

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 11 at 2016 9:38 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:38:02 -0400

Not sure if it has changed, but when I was an armorer I stored the COMSEC devices in the arms room. I don't think it is a requirement, but putting it there makes sense given the level of security there it makes sense. They just made me keep them in a safe in my arms room.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 1:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 13:01:55 -0400

The answer to your question is: It depends...

Your going to want to refer to TB 380-41 paragraph 5.10.1 The TB can be downloaded by anyone with a CAC at: https://www.logsa.army.mil/etms/online.cfm Just search for TB 380-41 under pub title.

Electronic Technical Manuals :: Online

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 11 at 2016 2:17 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 14:17:50 -0400

Unknown... however when I was still doing classified we were NOT allowed to store weapons or other valuables inside Classified Materials Containers (Safes) or "Strongrooms." I would not be surprised if there was a similar verbiage going the other way.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 11 at 2016 4:17 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:17:23 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, I know you would know the answer to this.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 11 at 2016 7:56 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:56:48 -0400

Been a long time retired about 20 years now but I'm pretty sure that is a Bozo No No. Separation is required the more the better. I'm sure there is a Waiver depending on Circumstances but if they are in the same safe I'm thinking one is in the trop drawer the other in the bottom, better yet if you have 2 safes, one for the weapons and another for COMSEC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 1:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 01:48:35 -0400

CCI usually may not be stored in an arms room because an armor or someone who has unaccompanied access does not necessarily have the credentials to access a CCI item. That said, depending on the standards that your unit uses to vet a unit armor, an unkeyed CCI item could be (but should not be) stored in an arms room. Keyed CCI devices if I remember right must be controlled or monitored physically by someone. Some devices when keyed require a two man system at all times in addition to the double barrier rule.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 11:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 23:56:51 -0400

I would say you need your arms room accredited to store classified material. On all of the OIP inspections for Arms Room I've endured: CCI stored in the Arms Room was a major deficiency.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2016 8:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 20:56:48 -0400

It's customary to store COMSEC in the armory for an added layer of security, but as others have pointed out, it would need to also be in an individual safe or secure container that only YOU have access to. If you simply have them in, say, a weapons locker with a padlock on it, there's no way to guarantee that your unit armorers (who are not authorized to handle COMSEC) didn't tamper with your lock, or the locker itself, and extract the data on your SKL's.

The drawback here is that even if you got everything secured appropriately, you've now created a two-party system any time you want to access your COMSEC devices. What happens if your armorer and his alternates are unavailable? It happens more often than you think.

So, yes, you can store your COMSEC inside the armory, but it would have to ALSO be within a container that meets the storage standards for the data classification (I'm assuming SECRET). But bear in mind, it's not a requirement to keep it in the armory, only in a container that meets storage standards for SECRET data. Keeping it in the armory may add an unnecessary step.