document–by–document basis, with the participation, or under the direction of, the SECARMY, the Under Secretary of the Army, or the DCSINT. Guidance from DAMI–CH will be requested in those instances. The information that is reclassified must meet the criteria for classified information established in EO 12958 or successor orders and directives.
In considering issues of reclassification or classification of previously unclassified information, the OCA will—
(1) Determine that control of the information has not been lost and can still be prevented from being lost; and
(2) In the case of information released to secondary distribution centers, determine that no secondary distribution has been made and can still be prevented.
c. Classified information will not be declassified automatically as a result of any unauthorized disclosure of identical or similar information. In these cases, the OCA will review the situation to determine if continued classification is warranted. However, such disclosures require immediate determination of the degree of damage to the national security and reevaluation of the information to determine whether the publication has so compromised the information that downgrading or declassification is warranted.
2–10. Levels of classification
a. Once a decision is made to classify, information will be classified at one of the three levels listed below. For each level, the OCA must be able to identify or describe the damage that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause to the national security. These levels are:
(1) TOP SECRET – Will be applied to information in which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.
(2) SECRET – Will be applied to information in which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to the national security.
(3) CONFIDENTIAL – Will be applied to information in which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national security.
b. If there is doubt about the classification level, the OCA will research the matter to make an informed decision. If significant doubt still remains about the classification level to be assigned, the lower level will be assigned.
2–11. Duration of classification
Information will be declassified as soon as it no longer meets the standards for classification. Information will remain classified as long as it is in the interest of national security and meets the criteria stated in this regulation. At the time an item of information is originally classified, the original classifier must decide the length of time the information will require classification and select an appropriate declassification