Where may COMSEC material be stored at US military airfields?

• A. In a secure facility on base
• B. Onboard with no special container
• C. In civilian field storage
• D. Stored in a secure facility or onboard the aircraft in an appropriate container chained to the aircraft

Answer: (D)

COMSEC material, including cryptographic keys and related equipment, must always be protected from loss, theft, or compromise. At US military airfields, you can store this material either in a secure facility on the base with strict access control and inventory accountability, or onboard the aircraft in an approved container that is designed to protect it and is physically chained to the aircraft to prevent removal. The onboard container requirement ensures the material remains with the aircraft and under proper custody during operations, using a container that meets security standards rather than any ordinary box. Civilian field storage is not authorized due to the lack of DoD-approved security controls, and storing onboard without an appropriate container fails to provide the necessary protection.