If classified information was not obtained under a specific contract, such as information obtained at classified meetings or from a secondary distribution center, when must it be returned or destroyed?

• A. 6 months after receipt
• B. 1 year after receiving it
• C. 2 years after receiving it
• D. 3 years after receiving it

Answer: (B)

When classified information isn’t obtained under a specific contract, you must return or destroy it within one year of receipt. This timeframe balances practical use with risk management: you have enough time to work with the material, but it doesn’t stay in circulation indefinitely, reducing the chance of exposure if it’s no longer needed. The countdown starts the day you receive the material. If the information had been obtained under a contract, different disposition rules tied to that contract would apply, but for non-contract information the one-year rule is the standard. Shorter periods would hinder legitimate use, while longer periods unnecessarily extend risk, which is why one year is the appropriate timeframe.