What is FOIA?


The Freedom of Information Act Program (DODR 5400.7) allows the general public to request records in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the FOIA and may therefore reflect deletion of some information in accordance with the FOIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions.

Currently the law allows 20 working days to process a FOIA request upon receipt of the request in the FOIA office.

  

Members of the public, including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, organizations and businesses, and individual members of the Congress for themselves or constituents, may request records in writing. It is important to remember that the Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal agencies.

It does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Each stat has its own public access laws that should be consulted for access to state and local records.

Fees are assessed depending on which group the request falls into:

Category 1: Commercial. Requesters pay all search, review and duplication.

Category 2: Educational or Noncommercial Scientific Institution or News MEdia. Requesters get the first 100 copies free and pay for additional copies.

Category 3: Others. Requesters get the first two hours of search and the first 100 copies free.

Submit Freedom of Information requests online to our Requester Service Centers by visiting the AF eFOIA Public Access site.

For mailing FOIA requests contact the Keesler Requester Service Center:

81 CS/SCOK(FOIA)
510 H Street, Room 26
Keesler AFB, MS 39534-2568
Email: 81CS.SCOK.KeeslerFOIAPrivacyManager@us.af.mil
Phone: 228-377-2286

All requests for IG records should be sent to the HQ AFIMSC/IZSI. If you use Public Access Link at https://efoia.cce.af.mil/, select "AETC -IMSC."


If you would to use regular mail, address your request to:

HQ AFIMSC/IZSI (FOIA)
2261 Hughes Avenue, Suite 133
JBSA Lackland TX  78236-9853 
E-mail:  AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlow@us.af.mil
COMM: 210-395-0995
DSN: 969-0995

Describe the records needed, as specifically as possible, and let us know the cost you are willing to pay for administrative processing. Furnish any facts or clues  about the time, place, persons, events, subjects or other details of the information or records requested. That information will help us decide where to search and determine what records pertain to your request. It can also save you and the government time and money, and you may get requested records faster.

Note: Air Force-affiliated requesters, to include military and civilian employees, should not use government equipment, supplies, stationery, postage, telephones or official mail channels to make a FOIA request.

The electronic library is located on the Air Force Compliance Division web page at https://www.compliance.af.mil/, under the title "Library."

Please be advised that the Air Force will not deliver unofficial mass mailings addressed to individuals or duty addresses. A mass mailing is defined as 50 or more pieces of mail received on the same day from the same mailer.

FOIA requestors who have questions concerning the processing of their requests with the Keesler AFB FOIA Office should contact the center at 228-377-2286.

If dissatisfied with the service received from the FOIA Requester Service Center, you may contact the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Officer, Mr. Robert Bivins, for assistance at DAF.FOIA@us.af.mil or (703) 614-8500. (Please do not send FOIA requests to this office)

Classified Records

If you are only seeking a copy of a record or records that are currently classified, and would like the record reviewed for appropriate declassification and release, you should file a Mandatory Declassification Review request.

Mandatory Declassification Review is a provision of Presidential Executive Order 13526 that allows members of the public to request a mandatory declassification review of a classified document in order to obtain a releasable version of the document. The desired document requested must be specified in sufficient detail that it can be readily located. The record in question may not be the subject of litigation. The mandatory declassification review process can be very timely and in-depth, due to the classification of materials being reviewed by internal and outside agencies.

MDR decisions can be administratively appealed to the Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review) or Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)

Requests for review and release of classified records under the MDR process can be made to:

Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review)
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330-1000

Email: usaf.pentagon.saf-aa.mbx.mdr-workflow@mail.mil

Telephone: (703) 695-2226

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