Active duty military, and those with certain security clearances, have additional challenges when it comes to becoming a published author. While I am addressing the requirement for active duty personnel to have their written works reviewed for open publication, this service is also available to retirees and non-active duty reserve personnel. While the Department of Defense directive doesn't say so, civilians such as Tom Clancy (or so I was told) have used the Directorate for Freedom of Information and Security Review (DFOISR) for their material. For reporters and academia, it is a centralized location for receiving official comment on their information prior to publication.

Why would you send your works through a reviewer seeking approval for release? One, because if you are on active duty it protects you from those senior to you who may be upset with your viewpoints. It protects you from the few security managers out there who believe any writings violate security regulations. It provides a second set of eyes on your works to ensure you do not inadvertently reveal classified or sensitive information that may endanger your fellow warrior.

The governing document for the active duty writer is the six-page Department of Defense Directive 5230.9 entitled Clearance of DoD Information for Public Release. The most recent update is November 21, 2003.

The Director, Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), is responsible for implementing the Directive. The real work horses for reviewing and clearing written work for public release belongs to the Office of Security Review (OSR) within WHS. If you are an active-duty author aching for publication, you cannot help but be a little apprehensive about sending your work to a group of government reviewers who may have different ideas on what is suitable for publication and what isn't. My experience has been when anyone only has one job to do, such as reviewing manuscripts, they tend to make that job excruciating for the customer to prove their value. It was with this perception I submitted my first manuscript.

After mailing it, I had visions of devil-men in black rappelling from silent, darkened helicopters in the dead of night, bursting through my door, dragging me out of a warm bed, while mumbling in electronically-disguised voices something such as, “How dare you write about the Sixth Fleet?”

“I'm sorry,” I would plead. “I just wanted to write about it before the Navy transformed it out of existence.” My wooden words falling on lifeless ears -- a detached sense of déjà vu enveloping the scene as they bundled me in duct tape -- the neighbors watching, raising their drinks, and cheering as they tossed me in the back of the chopper to disappear forever into some giant government warehouse alongside the lost Ark.

Well…like a lot of writers of military thrillers, my fictional encounters were just that.

I discovered the government employees and active duty military working in the Office of Security Review had a very different perspective in reviewing material for publication than the public perception.

Over the years of my relationship with them, I discovered the goal was to help active duty writers publish their works; not keep it out of the press.

They have the same concerns you do. Neither you nor they want to release information that damages national security or which could be detrimental to protecting the lives of our American service personnel.

Prior to the recent consolidation of the DFOISR into a central DoD clearinghouse under the Washington Headquarters Staff, the three military departments were divided within DFOISR under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Each service had its own internal reviewing office within DFOISR. Since I was Navy, my material went to the Chief, OSD/Navy Division, DFOISR. At the time it was Sharon Reinke. The other government employee in the office was Mr. Arthur ‘Art' Horn. During the time of my active duty relationship, they became strong advocates of my writing and respected advisors. Several active duty people who passed through DFOISR helped review my writings, one of who, Lt. Col Dave ‘Skull' Riedel-USMC, now works in OSR as a civilian. By now, the active duty ones have moved to other assignments or retired.

Sharon retired a couple of years ago and I'm sure is fishing somewhere on the languid banks of some creek. Art is still at it with Dave and the rest of the review team, helping active duty writers receive official release for their works.

Let me slip in a side bar here. A distinct benefit I discovered is that OSR is like a free editorial service. They provide a fresh set of eyes on your writings. If they have the time and you invite them, they'll provide you the objective insight your family and friends won't. First, let me say they are not required to do copyeditor things such as correcting your grammar or rewriting your manuscripts, but they love to read. (Wow! Imagine a job where you get paid to read all day. Of course, I imagine they have some boring works they have to plod through.)

When I would hand deliver my manuscripts, I would invite the reviewer to write comments on anything he or she desired to include technical and grammatical errors; and, to do it directly on the manuscript.

(If you were wondering, the answer is ‘yes' they mail the manuscript back to you. On the front page will be a dark black stamp reading “CLEARED for open publication (date) Directorate for Freedom of Information and Security Review Department of Defense.”)

I discovered they took the offer seriously. My manuscripts were returned within 30-days and you could tell they read them. You'll be pleasantly surprised to discover they enjoy helping you refine your writing. I made it a point to recognize the reviewer in the acknowledgment section of my books.

Every book I have published has gone through DFOISR (now the DoD Office of Security Review (OSR). I did it initially because I had to; it was mandated; I had no choice. Working with Sharon, Dave, and Art it became a pleasure. I first talked with Art on the telephone in 1998 when I was stationed in London, England at Commander in Chief Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR). (Another great duty station someone transformed out of existence to Naples. Wow! Talk about a skewed sense of good duty stations and how to build great morale in a Navy being beaten down for transformation.)

The official mailing address for submitting your work to OSR is:

Department of Defense

Office of Security Review

1155 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1155

(Official DoD Address)

OSR has recently relocated from the Pentagon. In order to expedite the processing of your security review request, you may also send your manuscripts directly to OSR at their new location by using FedEx or UPS at your own expense. The address for sending courier packages directly to OSR is:

Department of Defense

Office of Security Review

1777 N. Kent St., Suite 12047

Arlington, VA 22209

(For FEDEX or UPS)

The OSR appreciates 3-5 copies of your work. It is best to allow one month for the review process to be completed due to increased mail delivery issues associated with mail sent to the Department of Defense. OSR will mail your completed manuscript back to you with an official clearance letter and clearance stamp on your manuscript. The good news is that there is a dedicated Security Review Division within WHS now and any action officer in it can assist you. The telephone number for their front office is 703-696-4495.

Good luck, and I would love to hear from anyone who had gone this route. Let me know your...