Even before you enter an NSA facility, you have a constant reminder of security—
the NSA badge. Every person who enters an NSA installation is required to wear an
authorized badge. To enter most NSA facilities your badge must be inserted into an
Access Control Terminal at a building entrance and you must enter your Personal
Identification Number (PIN) on the terminal keyboard. In the absence of an Access
Control Terminal, or when passing an internal security checkpoint, the badge should be
held up for viewing by a Security Protective Officer. The badge must be displayed at all
times while the individual remains within any NSA installation.
NSA Badges must be clipped to a beaded neck chain. If necessary for the safety of
those working in the area of electrical equipment or machinery, rubber tubing may be
used to insulate the badge chain. For those Agency personnel working in proximity to
other machinery or equipment, the clip may be used to attach the badge to the wearer’s
clothing, but it must also remain attached to the chain.
After you leave an NSA installation, remove your badge from public view, thus
avoiding publicizing your NSA affiliation. Your badge should be kept in a safe place
which is convenient enough to ensure that you will be reminded to bring it with you to
work. A good rule of thumb is to afford your badge the same protection you give your
wallet or your credit cards. DO NOT write your Personal Identification Number on your
badge. If you plan to be away from the Agency for a period of more than 30 days, your
badge should be left at the main Visitor Control Center which services your facility.
Should you lose your badge, you must report the facts and circumstances
immediately to the Security Operations Center (SOC) (963-3371s/688-6911b) so that
your badge PIN can be deactivated in the Access Control Terminals. In the event that you
forget your badge when reporting for duty, you may obtain a “non-retention” Temporary
Badge at the main Visitor Control Center which serves your facility after a co-worker
personally identifies your and your clearance has been verified.
Your badge is to be used as identification only within NSA facilities or other
government installations where the NSA badge is recognized. Your badge should never
be used outside of the NSA or other government facilities for the purpose of personal
identification. You should obtain a Department of Defense identification card from the
Civilian Welfare Fund (CWF) if you need to identify yourself as a government employee
when applying for “government discounts” offered at various commercial establishments.
Your badge color indicates your particular affiliation with NSA and your level of
clearance. Listed below are explanations of the badge colors you are most likely to see:Green (*) Fully cleared NSA employees and
certain military assignees.
Orange (*) (or Gold) Fully cleared representative
of other government agencies.
Black (*) Fully cleared contractors or consultants.
Blue Employees who are cleared to the SECRET
level while awaiting completion of their processing
for full (TS/SI) clearance. These Limited Interim
Clearance (LIC) employees are restricted to certain
activities while inside a secure area.
Red Clearance level is not specified, so assume the
holder is uncleared.
* – Fully cleared status means that the person has been cleared to the Top Secret (TS)
level and indoctrinated for Special Intelligence (SI).
All badges with solid color backgrounds (permanent badges) are kept by individuals
until their NSA employment or assignment ends. Striped badges (“non-retention” badges)
are generally issued to visitors and are returned to the Security Protective Officer upon
departure from an NSA facility.
! AREA CONTROL
Within NSA installations there are generally two types of areas, Administrative and
Secure. An Administrative Area is one in which storage of classified information is not
authorized, and in which discussions of a classified nature are forbidden. This type of
area would include the corridors, restrooms, cafeterias, visitor control areas, credit union,
barber shop, and drugstore. Since uncleared, non-NSA personnel are often present in
these areas, all Agency personnel must ensure that no classified information is discussed
in an Administrative Area.
Classified information being transported within Agency facilities must be placed
within envelopes, folders, briefcases, etc. to ensure that its contents or classification
markings are not disclosed to unauthorized persons, or that materials are not
inadvertently dropped enroute.
The normal operational work spaces within an NSA facility are designated Secure
Areas. These areas are approved for classified discussions and for the storage of
classified material. Escorts must be provided if it is necessary for uncleared personnel
(repairmen, etc.) to enter Secure Areas, an all personnel within the areas must be made
aware of the presence of uncleared individuals. All unknown, unescorted visitors toSecure Areas should be immediately challenged by the personnel within the area,
regardless of the visitors’ clearance level (as indicated by their badge color).
The corridor doors of these areas must be locked with a deadbolt and all classified
information in the area must be properly secured after normal working hours or whenever
the area is unoccupied. When storing classified material, the most sensitive material must
be stored in the most secure containers. Deadbolt keys for doors to these areas must be
returned to the key desk at the end of the workday.
For further information regarding Secure Areas, consult the Physical Security
Division (M51) or your staff Security Officer.