What is the purpose of the embarkation criteria in external affairs?

• A. To gauge whether a subject is releasable
• B. To regulate access to ships
• C. To determine confidentiality of internal memos
• D. To authorize press releases

Answer: (A)

Embarkation criteria in external affairs determine whether information about a subject can be released to external audiences. It sets the standards for what can be shared, with whom, and under what conditions, ensuring privacy, security, and consistent messaging. When the subject meets the criteria for releasability, details about them can be disclosed; if not, they stay restricted. This is the core purpose because it directly governs how and when information about people or subjects may be made public. The other options describe different processes—physical access to ships, internal memo confidentiality, or the act of issuing press releases—rather than deciding if the subject’s information is allowable to release.