What marking elements must appear on CUI documents?

• A. Only the classification level
• B. The author’s name and date
• C. The DoD seal and page numbers
• D. A CUI designation banner and category/handling markings that indicate protection requirements

Answer: (D)

The important idea is that CUI documents must quickly communicate two things: that the document contains controlled unclassified information, and what protections and access controls apply. The designation banner at the top identifies the content as CUI and shows the category of handling required. The category/handling markings specify the exact protection requirements—who may access it, how it can be shared, stored, transmitted, and disposed of. This combination ensures anyone who handles the document immediately knows both that it’s CUI and how to treat it properly. Simply listing a classification level isn’t used for CUI, and extra elements like the author/date or a DoD seal and page numbers don’t convey the necessary handling instructions.