There are fourteen reasons for using one of the six distribution statements:
Reason 1 - Approved for Public Release
Reason 2 - Administrative or Operational Use
Reason 3 - Contractor Performance Evaluation
Reason 4 - Critical Technology
Reason 5 - Direct Military Support
Reason 6 - Export Controlled
Reason 7 - Foreign Government Information
Reason 8 - Operations Security
Reason 9 - Premature Dissemination
Reason 10 - Proprietary Information
Reason 11 - Software Documentation
Reason 12 - Test and Evaluation
Reason 13 - Specific Authority
Reason 14 - Vulnerability Information
The boxes in column two of this page will explain each one in brief.
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
This reason may be used solely in conjunction with Distribution A.
Note: Have you taken all steps to insure that the public is authorized to view your work? Has your Public Affairs office cleared your document for public release?
ADMINISTRATIVE OR OPERATIONAL USE
To protect technical or operational data or information from automatic dissemination under the international exchange program or by other means. This protection covers publications required solely for official use or strictly for administrative or operational purposes. This statement may be applied to manuals, pamphlets, technical orders, technical reports, and other publications containing valuable technical or operational data.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, or E.
CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
To protect information in management reviews, records of contractor performance evaluation, or other advisory documents evaluating programs of contractors.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, E, or F.
CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY
To protect information and technical data that advance current technology or describe new technology in an area of significant or potentially significant military application or that relate to a specific military deficiency of a potential adversary. Information of this type may be classified. When unclassified, technology is export controlled.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.
DIRECT MILITARY SUPPORT
The document contains export-controlled technical data of such military significance that release for purposes other than direct support may jeopardize an important technological or operational US military advantage. Designation of such data is made by competent authority in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.25 (see box in third column of this page for copy of the directive).
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions E or F.
EXPORT CONTROLLED
To protect information subject to the provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25: Withholding of Unclassified Technical Data from Public Disclosure.
Note: Have you read Directive 5230.25 (see copy located to the right in the third column of this page)? It establishes policy, prescribes procedures, and assigns responsibilities for the dissemination and withholding of technical data.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
To protect and limit distribution in accordance with the desires of the foreign government that furnished the technical information. Information of this type normally is classified at the CONFIDENTIAL level or higher in accordance with DoD 5200.1-R (see copy located to the right in the third column of this page).
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.
OPERATIONS SECURITY
To protect information and technical data that may be observed by adversary intelligence systems and to determine what indicators hostile intelligence systems may obtain that could be interpreted or assembled to derive critical information in time to be useful to adversaries.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, E, or F.
PREMATURE DISSEMINATION
To protect information patentable on systems or processes in the developmental or concept stage from premature dissemination.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, E, or F.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
To protect information not owned by the U.S. Government and protected by a contractor’s “limited rights” statement, or received with the understanding that it not be routinely transmitted outside the U.S. Government.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, E, or F.
SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION
Releasable only in accordance with the software license in subpart 227.72 of the DFARS (see copy in the third column of this page).
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.
TEST AND EVALUATION
To protect results of test and evaluation of commercial products or military hardware when such disclosure may cause unfair advantage or disadvantage to the manufacturer.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, E, or F.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY
To protect information not specifically included in the above reasons and discussions but which requires protection in accordance with valid documented authority such as Executive Orders, classification guidelines, DoD or DoD-component regulatory documents. When filling in the reason cite “Specific Authority (identification of valid documented authority).”
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.
VULNERABILITY INFORMATION
To protect information and technical data that provides insight into vulnerabilities of U.S. critical infrastructure, including DoD war fighting capabilities vital to National Security that are otherwise not publicly available.
This reason may be used in conjunction with Distributions B, C, D, E, or F.