When marking SCI documents, which elements must be included?

• A. Classification level, SCI designation, and the compartment code or codeword.
• B. Classification level only.
• C. SCI designation only.
• D. Compartment code only.

Answer: (D)

Marking SCI documents requires three elements to control access properly: the classification level, the SCI designation, and the compartment code or codeword. The classification level shows the overall sensitivity of the information (for example, Secret or Top Secret). The SCI designation indicates that the material falls under Sensitive Compartmented Information, signaling a need-to-know nuance beyond simple classification. The compartment code or codeword identifies the specific SCI compartment(s) within that designation to which the holder is cleared, restricting access to only those parts of the SCI. Without all three, the marking would either fail to convey the overall sensitivity, omit the SCI context, or not restrict access to the exact compartments, which could lead to inappropriate disclosure. In practice you might see something like Top Secret // SCI with the relevant compartment codes listed.