12 FAM 100
DIPLOMATIC COURIER OPERATIONS
12 FAM 110
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
(CT:DS-300; 08-17-2018)
(Office of Origin: DS/C/DC)
12 FAM 111 SCOPE AND AUTHORITY
12 FAM 111.1 Scope
(CT:DS-170; 10-19-2011)
a. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) administers
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 Departments diplomatic courier
operations, U.S. posts abroad, and U.S. missions to international
organizations.
b. The Bureau of Administrations 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-170; 10-19-2011)
a. The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Anti-Terrorism
Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4802(a)(2)(E)) provides the basis for the Departments
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; 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-170; 10-19-2011)
DS/C/DC plans, coordinates, and directs the worldwide
Diplomatic Courier Program. DS/C/DC develops standards, procedures, and
policies for implementing the program (see 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 post;
(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, and other Federal agencies that
use the Departments 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-170; 10-19-2011)
a. DS/C/DC arranges secure, timely, and cost-effective
international transport of classified diplomatic pouches between 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 the four regional diplomatic courier divisions located in Washington,
Frankfurt, Bangkok, Miami, and associated diplomatic courier hubs . The Director
advises the DS assignment panels to ensure adequate staffing of the DS/C/DC
office, the regional divisions, and the 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-170; 10-19-2011)
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 in-country. Non-professional
diplomatic couriers traveling by air are restricted to cabin-carry pouches only
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 routinely operate 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. 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 governments clearance;
(2) Posts 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-170; 10-19-2011)
a. Regional diplomatic courier officers (RDCOs) report
to the DS/C/DC Office Director. They are responsible for overseeing the
diplomatic courier operations within their regions.
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 RDSOs 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 supervisors rating
officer.
12 FAM 115 Safety and Security
(CT:DS-300; 08-17-2018)
a. Regional diplomatic courier offices must supply
diplomatic couriers with U.S. Government-issued cell phones for official
business:
(1) Diplomatic couriers must have their cell phones in
their possession and switched on during duty work 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 the 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 the 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 cell phone policy and local
circumstances, and obtain DS/C/DCs approval.
b. Diplomatic couriers must wear safety vests or their
Department-issued media jackets at airports where they are 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 aircrafts 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, and 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 RSOs
office for a briefing when they stay overnight at a post for the first time.
12 FAM 116 THROUGH 119 UNASSIGNED