12 FAM 100
DIPLOMATIC COURIER OPERATIONS
12 FAM 110
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
(Office of Origin: DS/C/DC)
12 FAM 111 SCOPE AND AUTHORITY
12 FAM 111.1 Scope
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) oversees and manages the Office of the Diplomatic Courier Service (DS/C/DC). These Department regulations conform to applicable U.S. Government regulations and international agreements to be observed by the Department’s diplomatic courier operations, U.S. posts abroad, and U.S. missions to international organizations.
b. The Bureau of Administration(A) Office of Logistics Management (A/LM) has primary responsibility for all regulations governing the contents, preparation, dispatch, and receipt of classified diplomatic pouches (see 1 FAM 215). Where DS diplomatic courier operations and classified diplomatic pouch operations are closely related, the requirements in this chapter include cross-references to 14 FAM 700 or 14 FAH-4.
12 FAM 111.2 Authorities
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Anti-Terrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4802(a)(2)(E) , et seq.) provides the basis for the Department of State’s regulations concerning diplomatic courier operations.
b. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), entered into force with respect to the United States on December 13, 1972 (22 U.S.C. 254B, et seq.; 5 UNTS 95; and TIAS 7502), sets forth law and practice on diplomatic rights and privileges.
c. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations entered into force with respect to the United States on December 24, 1969 (TIAS 6520; 21 U.S.T. 77).
12 FAM 112 PROGRAM DIRECTION
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
DS/C/DC plans, coordinates, oversees and directs the worldwide Diplomatic Courier Program. DS/C/DC develops standards, procedures, and policies for implementing the program (see also 1 FAM 262.1 and 1 FAM 262.1-3). The responsibilities of DS/C/DC include:
(1) Ascertain and manage resources necessary for worldwide diplomatic courier operations;
(2) Provide oversight and guidance on transport of classified national security information across international boundaries;
(3) Provide appropriate transportation;
(4) Determine diplomatic courier routes, schedules, and mode/class of travel in accordance with Department policy (see 14 FAM);
(5) Determine the frequency of classified diplomatic pouch service in consultation with posts;
(6) Evaluate proposed non-professional courier missions and prepare prospective non-professional couriers to conduct their missions;
(7) Provide liaison with the Defense Courier Division (DCD), United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), and other Federal agencies that use the Department’s classified diplomatic pouch system;
(8) Assist foreign diplomatic couriers when appropriate; and
(9) Liaise and coordinate with other regulatory or Federal agencies to ensure the unhindered expeditious movement of classified diplomatic pouches.
12 FAM 113 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
12 FAM 113.1 Department
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. DS/C/DC arranges secure, timely, and cost-effective international transport of classified diplomatic pouches among the Department and U.S. diplomatic missions. Ordinarily, DS/C/DC does not provide transport of classified material between locations within the United States.
b. The DS/C/DC office director manages the program through four regional diplomatic courier divisions located in Washington, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Miami, and their associated diplomatic courier hubs. The director advises DS assignment panels to ensure adequate staffing of the DS/C/DC office, regional divisions, and hubs.
c. Embassies are responsible for delivering material to other in-country posts (i.e., consulates or missions). DS/C/DC may provide supplemental service to a consular post when it is located along an established international diplomatic courier route, or when it consistently receives enough classified diplomatic pouch material to warrant professional diplomatic courier service on a regular basis.
12 FAM 113.2 Post
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. Posts are responsible for transporting and controlling classified material in-country. As necessary, principal officers may authorize Top Secret (TS)-cleared U.S. citizen employees, at their post, to act as non-professional diplomatic couriers within the country. Non-professional diplomatic couriers traveling by air are restricted to only cabin-carry pouches and must be direct-hire U.S. citizen employees (not dependents or contractors) with a TS security clearance, a valid diplomatic passport, and a non-professional courier letter. They normally operate only in-country but may cross international boundaries during emergencies and when DS/C/DC cannot provide the required service (see 12 FAM 142).
b. Posts must provide diplomatic courier escort support in accordance with 12 FAM 150.
c. Before any non-routine classified diplomatic pouch shipments are dispatched, posts must obtain pre-clearance from the host government(s). The receiving post must notify the originator of the material and DS/C/DC (or the appropriate regional Diplomatic Courier office) with official record traffic that confirms:
(1) Host government’s clearance;
(2) Post’s acceptance of the material;
(3) Transportation arrangements; and
(4) Provision for cleared escorts.
d. The post must provide:
(1) Storage arrangements for all shipments; and
(2) An approved method of continuous control of classified diplomatic pouches in accordance with 12 FAM150 beginning when the aircraft and/or other mode of conveyance arrives.
12 FAM 114 Administration
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. Regional diplomatic courier officers (RDCOs) report to the DS/C/DC Office Director. They are responsible for overseeing diplomatic courier operations within their region(s).
b. The DS/C/DC office director must designate an RDCO to oversee the operation of each regional diplomatic courier hub. Hub supervisors report to their assigned RDCO.
c. The DS/C/DC office director is the direct supervisor and designated rating officer for the RDCOs, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Countermeasures (DS/C) is the designated reviewing officer:
(1) Deputy RDCOs are the designated rating officers for the hub supervisors within their division, and the RDCOs are the reviewers; and
(2) Hub supervisors must rate their immediate subordinates; the Deputy RDCO is the reviewer.
d. Deputy RDCOs are the designated rating officers for the operations officers, and the RDCOs are the designated reviewing officers.
e. Operations officers are the designated rating officer for their immediate subordinates (normally travelling couriers), and the Deputy RDCO is the designated reviewing officer.
f. At posts with diplomatic courier hubs, the regional security officer (RSO) may provide periodic observation reports and employee evaluation report (EER) input to the diplomatic courier hub supervisor’s rating officer.
12 FAM 115 Safety and Security
(CT:DS-344; 01-11-2021)
a. Regional diplomatic courier offices must supply diplomatic couriers with U.S. Government-issued cell phone(s) for official business:
(1) Diplomatic couriers must have their cell phones in their possession and powered on during duty hours unless regulations prohibit such use;
(2) Diplomatic couriers must not engage in personal cell phone calls during duty hours, unless a call-waiting feature is active. Diplomatic couriers should also carry their cell phones outside of duty hours when on courier travel;
(3) Diplomatic couriers may use their cell phones for incidental personal business as 5 FAM 526 permits, provided that no additional costs are incurred;
(4) Diplomatic couriers must program State Operations Center and DS Command Center telephone numbers into the address books of their cell phones;
(5) RDCOs and hub supervisors must establish written cell phone usage policies, as 5 FAM 526 requires, that do not conflict with this section. In locations where all cell phone usage is chargeable, RDCOs may establish a nominal monthly allowance for personal usage, not to exceed $10. Diplomatic couriers who exceed the monthly allowance must reimburse the Government for their entire personal usage, not just the amount exceeding the RDCO-established limit, since the purpose of such an allowance is to avoid the administrative burden of collecting small amounts; and
(6) Division and hub management must establish a cell phone usage policy, which conforms to post's cell phone policy and local circumstances, and obtain DS/C/DC’s approval.
b. Diplomatic couriers must wear safety vests or their Department-issued media jackets at airports where required. Diplomatic couriers should wear them at all other airports and whenever visibility or identification is advisable.
c. Diplomatic couriers must wear hearing protection near aircraft and in other high-noise environments. Diplomatic couriers may purchase hearing protection at the Government expense within 3 months of entry on duty, provided the cost is less than $50, or periodically when a supervisor approves, and can be reimbursed the cost of mandatory audiometric screenings if post cannot provide this service.
d. Employees may also purchase safety shoes, gloves, and eye protection. These items are reimbursable expenses, therefore a supervisor must approve the purchase request in advance.
e. In high-threat locations, diplomatic couriers should keep abreast of changing circumstances and must check with the RSO on all trips to those locations. Some information is provided in the briefing sheet; however, when conditions dictate, diplomatic couriers must contact the RSO’s office for a briefing when they stay overnight at a post for the first time.
12 FAM 116 THROUGH 119 UNASSIGNED