Commanding Officers may order the emergency destruction of records without regard to statutory and regulatory requirements under two, specified emergency situations that include:

When a state of war exists or is threatened

When records menace property, health or life.

Explanation:

As stipulated in Code of Federal regulations, Title 36, Part 1228 - Disposition of federal Records, only two emergency conditions warrant destruction of DON records without compliance to the regulatory and statutory requirements. In reference (b) (Part 1, paragraph 5), this destruction can only happen when there is an aggression by a foreign power towards the state or threat of state of war or when records pose threats to the life, health or property of persons.