DA Form 5941-R: COMSEC Material Disposition Record Guide

DA Form 5941-R: COMSEC Material Disposition Record Guide – U.S. Army personnel responsible for Communications Security (COMSEC) material must maintain strict accountability, especially for key tapes and other sensitive items. DA Form 5941-R, officially titled the COMSEC Material Disposition Record (LRA), serves as a critical locally reproducible authorized form for tracking issuance, use, and destruction of specific COMSEC materials.

What Is DA Form 5941-R?

DA Form 5941-R is a specialized U.S. Army form used to document the disposition of COMSEC material, primarily for key-tape segments. It supports proper accounting, issuance to hand-receipt holders, and certified destruction.

  • Full Name: COMSEC Material Disposition Record (LRA)
  • Date: August 1990 (DA FORM 5941-R, AUG 1990)
  • Proponent: Communications Security Logistics Activity (CSLA), referenced in TB 380-41 (Procedures for Safeguarding, Accounting, and Supply Control of COMSEC Material).
  • Purpose: Record detailed tracking of short title, registration/edition, security classification, serial numbers, effective dates, issuance, and destruction of COMSEC key material.

This form ensures compliance with Army regulations for safeguarding classified and sensitive COMSEC items, preventing compromise and maintaining operational security.

Key Sections of DA Form 5941-R

The form includes fields such as:

  • 1. Short Title
  • 2. Reg/Edit
  • 3. Sec Class (Security Classification)
  • 4. Serial Number
  • 5. Effective Date
  • 6. Nr of Keys
  • 7. Nr of Copies
  • 8. Total Nr of Segments
  • 9. Controlling Auth (Controlling Authority / CONAUTH)
  • 10. Crypto Period
  • 11. Segment/Day
  • 12. Issued To/Date Used
  • 13. Destroyed By/Dest Date
  • 14. Witnessed By/Date

It typically accompanies canisters of key tapes when issued and is returned to the COMSEC custodian after use and destruction.

When and Why to Use DA Form 5941-R?

COMSEC custodians and hand-receipt holders use this form in these situations:

  • Issuance of key-tape segments to authorized users.
  • Local accounting of segments used or expended.
  • Destruction of superseded, obsolete, or consumed key material (often marked CONFIDENTIAL for classified key or FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY for unclassified key).
  • Supporting consolidated destruction reports via SF 153 (COMSEC Material Report).

Important: All disposition records for hand-receipted COMSEC material must return to the COMSEC custodian upon completion of destruction. A filled-in form is often classified CONFIDENTIAL.

Proper use helps units meet TB 380-41 requirements for inventory, destruction reporting, and auditability.

How to Fill Out DA Form 5941-R? (Step-by-Step Overview)

  1. Enter material identification details (short title, registration/edition, classification, serial number, effective date).
  2. Record quantities (number of keys, copies, total segments).
  3. Note controlling authority and crypto period.
  4. Track usage by segment/day, including who received it and dates used.
  5. Upon destruction: Record who destroyed it, date of destruction, and witness details (two-person integrity rule often applies).

Always follow detailed instructions in the current TB 380-41. Units may use electronic or local variants where authorized, but the standard form ensures consistency.

Pro Tip: Train all hand-receipt holders on proper completion to avoid COMSEC incidents.

Download DA Form 5941-R PDF

Official Download:
DA Form 5941-R PDF (U.S. Army Publishing Directorate)

Additional fillable versions may be available through authorized Army portals or forms repositories. Always use the latest version from official sources.

  • SF 153: COMSEC Material Report (for consolidated destruction).
  • DA Form 4669-E: COMSEC Material Voucher Control Register.
  • DA Form 2653-E: COMSEC Account – Daily Shift Inventory.
  • Primary Regulation: TB 380-41 and AR 380-40 (Policy for Safeguarding and Controlling COMSEC Material).

For full procedures, consult the latest TB 380-41 edition available through Army Knowledge Online (AKO) or your COMSEC account channels.

Best Practices for COMSEC Custodians

  • Maintain two-person integrity for destruction and witnessing.
  • File completed 5941-R forms with supporting destruction documentation.
  • Conduct regular inventories and zeroize devices as required.
  • Report any discrepancies or potential compromises immediately per incident reporting procedures.

DA Form 5941-R is an essential tool for secure, accountable management of COMSEC key material in the U.S. Army. Accurate use protects national security assets and ensures regulatory compliance. U.S. Army units should integrate training on this form into their COMSEC SOPs.

For the most current guidance, refer to official Army publications and your local COMSEC manager. Proper handling of COMSEC material is a mission-critical responsibility.