12 FAM 150
COURIER ESCORTS
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
(Office of Origin: (DS/C/DC)
12 FAM 151 GENERAL POLICY
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
Diplomatic courier escorts are Top Secret (TS)-cleared U.S. citizens dispatched to a port of entry or exit to assist diplomatic couriers, take possession of, provide security for, or transfer custody of classified diplomatic pouches.
12 FAM 151.1 Routine Diplomatic Courier Support
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. All agencies at post that use the classified pouch share responsibility for providing the diplomatic courier escorts.
b. Post must ensure at least one TS-cleared U.S. citizen escort supports each diplomatic courier arrival and departure (see 12 FAM 152). The regional diplomatic courier officer RDCO) may grant an exception if the classified pouch is hand-carried by the diplomatic courier.
c. The RDCO or their authorized representative must inform a post by telegram about transiting the area with pouches in an aircraft cargo hold when no pouch exchange is scheduled. The post must assign an escort to provide a security watch over the hold of the aircraft during the transit stop.
d. When the Office of the Diplomatic Courier Service (DS/C/DC), in consultation with a post, determines that the host government procedures or other circumstances jeopardize U.S. citizen control of classified diplomatic pouches with only one escort, the post must assign additional escorts.
e. At posts with an established diplomatic courier office, the RDCO or diplomatic courier supervisor must determine the support requirements and provide necessary escort personnel. Posts must supply diplomatic courier escort personnel under extraordinary circumstances or during diplomatic courier staffing shortages.
f. The RDCO or courier supervisor must contact a post when transiting their region of responsibility. When tarmac assistance is necessary, post must assign an escort to provide a security watch over the hold of the aircraft during the transit stop.
12 FAM 151.2 Nonprofessional Diplomatic Courier Support
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. The office, agency, or bureau at a post or in the Continental United States (CONUS) requesting a nonprofessional diplomatic courier for delivery of classified diplomatic pouches is responsible for providing a TS-cleared U.S. citizen escort and transportation at each stop of the itinerary, including the ports of departure and arrival. When the nonprofessional diplomatic courier’s itinerary includes a transit stop where no diplomatic courier/post exchange is scheduled, that office, agency, or bureau is responsible for providing an escort, transportation, and for coordinating authorized secure storage to support the transit stop (see 12 FAM 154.3).
b. All nonprofessional diplomatic couriers must advise all transit posts and the receiving office at their destination post of their itineraries.
12 FAM 152 ESCORT REQUIREMENTS
12 FAM 152.1 Personnel
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
All individuals authorized to perform diplomatic courier escort duties must be TS-cleared U.S. citizens either employed by the U.S. Government (full-time or otherwise) or private-sector employees serving under U.S. Government commercial contracts approved by DS/C/DC.
12 FAM 152.2 Identification
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. Escorts may be direct-hire post personnel and must possess a diplomatic (or official) passport or an official identification card issued by the Department, including Department-issued credentials of diplomatic couriers, special agents, security engineering officers (SEOs) and security officers, or identification cards issued at posts that conform to the Department’s ”Smart” identification card format and conventions. Other locally issued or post specific identification cards are not acceptable (see 12 FAM 126.2 for more detail.)
b. All escorts without Department-issued credentials must possess an escort letter to confirm their TS security clearance. (See Exhibit 12 FAM 152.2.) The letter must:
(1) Be on embassy letterhead;
(2) State the escort’s name, passport number, or Department-issued Smart ID number;
(3) State the security clearance level (in all capital letters) and date of issuance;
(4) Contain the escort’s photograph embossed with the post’s seal; and
(5) Be signed by the regional security officer (RSO).
c. Escort letters must be renewed annually and expire:
(1) When there is a change of RSO;
(2) Upon cancellation of employment; or
(3) When the security clearance is suspended or revoked.
12 FAM 152.3 Security Clearances
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. All escorts must have TS clearances to perform as control officers.
b. An individual with only a Secret clearance may perform limited escort duties if the post has requested the individual’s security clearance be upgraded to TS and is pending investigation (see 3 FAM 8219 and 12 FAM 230).
c. Escorts possessing only Secret clearances (with TS pending) may not exchange or assume custody of classified diplomatic pouches from a diplomatic courier, but may maintain control for short periods of time as necessary for the diplomatic courier to complete check-in or immigration formalities or to observe the cargo hold once the diplomatic courier has boarded the aircraft.
12 FAM 153 SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
All escorts must only perform duties at their post of residence. Posts must restrict contract, part-time, and intermittent employees, including dependents of U.S. citizen employees, who act as escorts from serving:
(1) Anywhere but their home posts;
(2) As nonprofessional diplomatic couriers; and
(3) Across international borders.
NOTE: Exceptions are contract employees under commercial contract with the Department, engaged specifically for this purpose.
12 FAM 154 PRIMARY ESCORT DUTIES
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
All escorts must ensure the absolute inviolability of classified diplomatic pouches when the diplomatic courier is not physically present.
12 FAM 154.1 Supporting Diplomatic Courier Arrivals
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. To support a diplomatic or nonprofessional diplomatic courier, a diplomatic courier escort must:
(1) Monitor the arrival time and be at the location where the diplomatic courier is expected to disembark before the diplomatic courier arrives; provide a security watch over an aircraft cargo hold in which pouches are loaded (see 12 FAM 155);
(2) Provide a security watch where classified diplomatic pouches are located (see 12 FAM 155) and remain in an area where the classified diplomatic pouches or mode of transport carrying the classified diplomatic pouches can be easily observed; provide a security watch over the pouches while the courier is separated from them for any reason (see 12 FAM 155);
(3) Assist the diplomatic courier with customs, immigration, and airport formalities (see 12 FAM 155); and
(4) Escort the diplomatic courier and classified diplomatic pouch load between the airport and post. Escort the courier between the airport and the post’s information programs center (IPC).
b. Security conditions at certain locations dictate that the diplomatic courier is unable to access the tarmac. In these circumstances, the diplomatic courier must maintain communication with the diplomatic courier escort to ensure the diplomatic courier escort knows the location of the classified diplomatic pouches before they are off-loaded from the aircraft. If this method of operation is used, the diplomatic courier and diplomatic courier escort must confirm via telephone, email, or other means (i.e., airline representative, etc.) the cargo position and/or container number of the unit load devices (ULDs). To the maximum extent possible, the diplomatic courier escort must confirm control of the classified diplomatic pouches before the diplomatic courier leaves the area.
c. Escorts with a TS clearance may exchange custody of classified diplomatic pouches (see 12 FAM 125). When assuming control of classified diplomatic pouches, the diplomatic courier escort is responsible for protecting all of them from outside intervention and compromise until they have been secured at post or released to the classified diplomatic pouch control officer.
12 FAM 154.2 Supporting Diplomatic Courier Departures
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. To support a departing diplomatic courier, an escort must:
(1) Monitor the departure time and be at the location where the diplomatic courier is expected to embark before the diplomatic courier departs;
(2) Provide a security watch over the classified diplomatic pouches while the diplomatic courier is separated from the classified diplomatic pouches for any reason;
(3) Provide a security watch where classified diplomatic pouches are loaded (see 12 FAM 155) and remain in an area where the classified diplomatic pouches or mode of transport carrying the classified diplomatic pouches can be easily observed in order to provide a security watch over any off-loaded classified diplomatic pouches until the diplomatic courier embarks and departs;
(4) Remain at the point of departure until the diplomatic courier’s mode of transport has departed; and
(5) Resume watching the cargo hold if the mode of transport unexpectedly returns to the point of departure.
b. If any portion of a classified diplomatic pouch shipment is off-loaded while the diplomatic courier is aboard the departing mode of transport, the escort must maintain a security watch over it. The escort must observe the off-loaded material until it is returned to the same location from which it was removed.
c. If any portion of the off-loaded shipment is not returned to the same location from which it was removed, an escort (with either a Secret or TS clearance) must:
(1) Make every attempt to notify the diplomatic courier;
(2) Take possession of the off-loaded classified diplomatic pouches;
(3) Deliver the classified diplomatic pouches to the post’s information programs center (IPC); and
(4) Inform the regional security officer (RSO).
d. The escort must immediately report off-loaded classified diplomatic pouches to the RSO and request the next post on the diplomatic courier’s route to alert the diplomatic courier to the problem. If off-loaded classified diplomatic pouches are returned to a different cargo hold or loaded in a different manner, the escort should attempt to inform the diplomatic courier prior to departure. If unsuccessful, the escort must notify the next post and provide full details of classified diplomatic pouch locations and container number information, if any.
e. When a flight departure is significantly delayed, the escort should notify the next post.
f. When the diplomatic courier carries the classified diplomatic pouch shipment in the cabin of the aircraft, the escort must remain at the point of departure until the diplomatic courier has boarded the aircraft and departure is imminent. The escort need not remain planeside nor in the passenger terminal, unless the departure is delayed and no confirmed departure time has been announced.
12 FAM 154.3 Supporting Diplomatic Courier Transit Stops
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. During transit stops at a post where no diplomatic courier/post exchange is scheduled, an escort must observe the cargo hold of the aircraft. The escort must watch for off-loaded classified diplomatic pouches until the aircraft departs the gate and remain at the airport until the diplomatic courier’s flight is airborne.
b. For off-loading classified diplomatic pouch shipments, follow the procedures outlined in 12 FAM 154.2, paragraphs b through f.
12 FAM 155 Safety and Security
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. Regional Diplomatic Courier offices must supply diplomatic courier escorts, employed by the regional office, with U.S. Government-issued cell phones for official business:
(1) Diplomatic courier escorts must have their cell phones in their possession and switched on when not restricted by regulations;
(2) Diplomatic courier escorts must not engage in personal cell phone calls during duty hours, unless a call-waiting feature is active;
(3) Diplomatic courier escorts may use their cell phones for incidental personal business as permitted by 5 FAM 526, provided no additional costs are incurred;
(4) Diplomatic courier escorts must program the Operations Center and DS Command Center phone numbers into the address books of their cell phones; and
(5) Division and Hub management must establish a cell phone usage policy approved by DS/C/DC, which conforms to post cell phone policy and local circumstances.
b. Diplomatic courier escorts must wear safety vests at airports where they are required.
c. Diplomatic courier escorts must wear hearing protection near aircraft and in other high-noise environments. Diplomatic courier escorts may purchase hearing protection at the Government’s expense within 3 months of entry on duty, provided the cost is less than $50, or periodically when approved by a supervisor.
d. Safety shoes, gloves, and eye protection may also be purchased by the employee. These items are a reimbursable expense and must be approved by a supervisor in advance.
12 FAM 156 ESCORT SUPPORT AT AIRPORTS
12 FAM 156.1 Supporting Courier Departures
(CT:DS-343; 01-06-2021)
a. To support a departing diplomatic or nonprofessional courier, an escort must:
(1) Provide a security watch over the pouches at all times while the courier is separated from them for any reason (e.g., during flight check-in procedures);
(2) Remain in an area where the cargo hold of the aircraft can be easily observed to watch for any off-loaded pouches until the aircraft departs the gate (see 12 FAM 154.2);
(3) Remain at the airport until the courier’s flight is airborne; and
(4) Resume watching the cargo hold if the aircraft unexpectedly returns to a gate.
b. When the courier hand-carries the pouch shipment in the cabin of the aircraft, the escort must remain at the airport until the courier has boarded the aircraft and departure is imminent. The escort need not remain planeside nor in the passenger terminal unless the departure is delayed and no confirmed departure time has been announced.
12 FAM 157 THRoUgh 159 UNASSIGNED
12 FAM Exhibit 152.2
SAMPLE PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMATIC COURIER LETTER
(CT:DS-170; 10-19-2011)
 |
DATE HERE
MEMORANDUM
TO: XXX Regional Courier Office
FROM: Name of RSO, Embassy
SUBJECT: Authorization of Diplomatic Courier Escort
This is to certify that effective {date here}, Diplomatic Courier Escort, JANE DOE is authorized to perform Diplomatic Courier Escort duties. Ms. Doe is identified by {passport or SMART ID number} and was issued a TOP SECRET security clearance on {date here}.
Per 12 FAM 152.2, this letter is valid
for a period of one year from the date of issue.