Distribution Statements for Use on Technical Documents

DoD Directive 5230.24 dated 18 March 1987 states that all all documents sent to DTIC^® must be assigned a distribution statement by the contributor. The following distribution statements and notices are authorized for use on DoD technical documents:

1. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

a. This statement may be used only on unclassified technical documents that have been cleared for public release by competent authority in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.9. Technical documents resulting from contracted fundamental research efforts will normally be assigned Distribution Statement A, except for those rare and exceptional circumstances where there is a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems, or of manufaturing technologies that are unique and critical to Defense, and agreement on this situation has been recorded in the contract or grant.

b. Technical documents with this statement may be made available or sold to the
public and foreign nationals, companies, and governments, including adversary
governments, and may be exported.

c. This statement may not be used on technical documents that formerly were classified unless such documents are cleared for public release in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.9.

d. This statement shall not be used on classified technical documents or documents containing export-controlled technical data as provided in DoD Directive 5230.25.

a. This statement may be used on unclassified and classified technical documents.

b. Reasons for assigning distribution statement B include:

Foreign Government Information - To protect and limit distribution in accordance with the desires of the foreign government that furnished the technical information. Information of this type normally is classified at the CONFIDENTIAL level or higher in accordance with DoD 5200.1-R.

Proprietary Information - To protect information not owned by the U.S. Government and protected by a contractors "limited rights" statement, or received with the understanding that it not be routinely transmitted outside the U.S. Government.

Critical Technology - To protect information and technical data that advance current technology or describe new technology in an area of significant or potentially significant military application or that relate to a specific military deficiency of a potential adversary. Information of this type may be classified or unclassified; when unclassified, it is export-controlled and subject to the provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25.

Test and Evaluation - To protect results of test and evaluation of commercial products or military hardware when such disclosure may cause unfair advantage or disadvantage to the manufacturer of the product

Contractor Performance Evaluation - To protect information in management reviews, records of contract performance evaluation, or other advisory documents evaluating programs of contractors.

Premature Dissemination - To protect patentable information on systems or processes in the developmental or conceptual stage from premature dissemination.

Administrative or Operational Use - To protect technical or operational data or information from automatic dissemination under the International Exchange Program or by other means. This protection covers publications required solely for official use or strictly for administrative or operational purposes. This statement may be applied to manuals, pamphlets, technical orders, technical reports, and other publications containing valuable technical or operational data.

Software Documentation - Releaseable only in accordance with DoD Instruction 7930.2 (http://web7.whs.osd.mil/dodiss/instructions/instruc2.htm).

Specific Authority - To protect information not specifically included in the above reasons and discussions, but which requires protection in accordance with valid documented authority such as Executive Orders, classification guidelines, DoD or DoD Component regulatory documents. When filling in the reason, cite "Specific Authority (identification of valid documented authority)."

a. Distribution statement C may be used on unclassified and classified technical documents

b. Reasons for assigning distribution statement C include: Foreign Government Information - Same as distribution statement B.

Critical Technology - Same as distribution statement B.

Software Documentation - Same as distribution statement B.

Administrative or Operational Use - Same as distribution statement B.

Specific Authority - Same as distribution statement B.

a. Distribution statement D may be used on unclassified and classified technical documents.

b. Reasons for assigning distribution statement D include: Foreign Government Information - Same as distribution statement B.

Administrative or Operational Use - Same as distribution statement B.

Software Documentation - Same as distribution statement B.

Critical Technology - Same as distribution statement B.

Specific Authority - Same as distribution statement B.

5. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT E. Distribution authorized to DoD Components only (fill in reason) (date of determination). Other requests shall be referred to (insert controlling DoD office).

a. Distribution statement E may be used on unclassified and classified technical documents.

b. Reasons for assigning distribution statement E include: Direct Military Support - The document contains export-controlled technical data of such military significance that release for purposes other than direct support of DoD approved activities may jeopardize an important technological or operational military advantage of the United States. Designation of such data is made by competent authority in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.25.

Foreign Government Information - Same as distribution statement B.

Proprietary Information - Same as distribution statement B.

Premature Dissemination - Same as distribution statement B.

Test and Evaluation - Same as distribution statement B.

Software Documentation - Same as distribution statement B.

Contractor Performance Evaluation - Same as distribution statement B.

Critical Technology - Same as distribution statement B.

Administrative/Operational Use - Same as distribution statement B.

Specific Authority - Same as distribution statement B.

a. Distribution statement F is normally used only on classified technical documents, but may be used on unclassified technical documents when specific authority exists (e.g., designation as direct military support as in statement E).

b. Distribution statement F is also used when the DoD originator determines that information is subject to special dissemination limitation specified by paragraph 5-208, DoD 5200.1-R.

8. Export Control Warning. All technical documents that are determined to contain export-controlled technical data shall be marked "WARNING - This document contains technical data whose export is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C., Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979 (Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401 et seq), as amended. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. Disseminate in accordance with provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25." When it is technically not feasible to use the entire statement, an abbreviated marking may be used, and a copy of the full statement added to the "Notice To Accompany Release of Export Controlled Data" required by DoD Directive 5230.25.

9. Handling and Destroying Unclassified/Limited Distribution Documents. Unclassified/Limited Distribution documents shall be handled using the same standard as "For Official Use Only (FOUO)" material, and will be destroyed by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document. When local circumstances or experience indicates that this destruction method is not sufficiently protective of unclassified limited information, local authorities may prescribe other methods but must give due consideration to the additional expense balanced against the degree of sensitivity.

October 2004
aq@dtic.mil