- ADP 3-13Publication
Information
ADP 3-13 is the Army's first doctrinal publication devoted to information. It explains how Army forces create and exploit information advantages and how information effects are planned and integrated like any other capability. It is newer than most of the doctrine on this list, so expect subordinate publications to still be catching up.
- AR 380-5Publication
Army Information Security Program
AR 380-5 governs how the Army classifies, marks, stores, transmits, and destroys classified information. It is the regulation behind end-of-day checks, safe custodian duties, and security incident reporting. Anyone holding a clearance or running a security container is accountable to it.
- Board question
What is OPSEC, and what is critical information?
Operations security is the process of denying an adversary the unclassified indicators that, pieced together, would reveal friendly intentions, capabilities, or vulnerabilities. Critical information is the specific information about friendly plans and operations an adversary needs to act effectively against us. Most of what OPSEC protects is not classified.
- Board question
What three conditions must be met before a person may be given access to classified information?
The person must hold an eligibility determination at or above the level of the information, must have a valid need to know it to do their job, and must have signed a classified information nondisclosure agreement, the SF 312. A clearance by itself is not authority to see everything at that level.
- FM 6-0Publication
Commander and Staff Organization and Operations
FM 6-0 is how a staff is organized and how it actually runs: staff sections and their duties, running estimates, briefings, rehearsals, and command post operations. When the 2022 edition was published, the planning material moved out to FM 5-0. Use the two together.
- TC 3-25.26Publication
Map Reading and Land Navigation
TC 3-25.26 is the Army's map reading and land navigation manual: grids, marginal information, terrain features, azimuths, and navigation techniques. Dated November 2013, it is still the active reference used on land navigation courses and at boards. Note the designator -- it is a TC, not an FM or ATP.
- AR 600-85Publication
The Army Substance Abuse Program
AR 600-85 establishes the Army Substance Abuse Program: prevention, drug testing, self-referral, and command referral. It is the regulation behind unit urinalysis and the limited use policy. Leaders need to know the difference between a self-referral and a command referral before a Soldier asks.
- Acronym
ARIMS
Army Records Information Management System
- Acronym
CCIR
Commander's Critical Information Requirements
- Acronym
CUI
Controlled Unclassified Information
- Acronym
EEFI
Essential Element of Friendly Information
- Acronym
FFIR
Friendly Force Information Requirement
- Acronym
METT-TC
Mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerations
- Acronym
PMESII-PT
Political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, time
- Board question
Under the Threat Awareness and Reporting Program, what are you required to report?
Any contact, behavior, or activity that suggests foreign intelligence collection, international terrorism, insider threat, or an attempt to obtain classified or sensitive information. Report it to your commander, security manager, or supporting counterintelligence office. The duty to report belongs to every Soldier, civilian, and contractor, regardless of clearance.
- Board question
What are the five steps of the OPSEC process?
Identify critical information, analyze the threat, analyze vulnerabilities, assess risk, and apply OPSEC measures or countermeasures. The process is continuous, not a one-time check.
- Board question
What are the three levels of classification and the damage standard for each?
Top Secret, where unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security. Secret, where it could be expected to cause serious damage. Confidential, where it could be expected to cause damage.
- Board question
What is a SALUTE report?
The standard format for reporting information about the enemy. Size, activity, location, unit or uniform, time, and equipment. Report it accurately and fast, and keep facts separate from your assessment.
- Board question
What is Army Community Service?
The Army's installation-level family and Soldier support agency, established in 1965. Its motto is self-help, service, and stability. ACS delivers relocation readiness, financial readiness, employment readiness, family advocacy, the Exceptional Family Member Program, mobilization and deployment support, survivor outreach, and information and referral.
- Board question
What is the chain of command?
The succession of commanders from a superior to a subordinate through which command is exercised. It is the leader's primary channel for issuing orders and passing information.
- Board question
What is the limited use policy?
It restricts how the Army may use certain protected information a Soldier provides in connection with substance abuse treatment, such as a voluntary self-referral or information developed during treatment. That information generally may not be used against the Soldier in a court-martial or as the basis for a characterization of discharge. It does not protect a Soldier from the consequences of independently discovered misconduct.