The Freedom of Information Act Program (DODR 5400.7) allows the general public including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, to request records electronically or in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the FOIA, and may therefore reflect deletion of some informaiton in accordance with the POIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions. A consolidated list of such records is on Defense Link and the U.S. Air Force FOIA  site. 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 state has its own public access laws that should by 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.

Air Force policy is to deny requests for lists of e-mail addresses (both personal and organizational) using FOIA exemption (b)(6). We rely on FOIA exemption (b)(6) when denying lists of personal e-mail addresses. High (b)(2) is no longer to be used to protect internal information, the disclosure of which would risk circumvention of a statute or agency regulation. Because DoD e-mail systems are to be used only for official and authorized purposes, the addresses are considered primarily internal. The regulations at issue that could be circumvented include DoD and AF regulations that require us to limit use of e-mail to authorized purposes, and to protect the security of your computer and information systems. Exemption (b)(6) protects information that if released would permit a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This does not prohibit an organization from including a single e-mail address on a Web page in correspondence.

If you want to submit a FOIA inquiry, send a written request to the FOIA office where the record is located, describe the records you want as specifically as possible and your willingness to pay any applicable fees. Provide as many facts about the requested documents as possible, e.g., the time, place, persons, events, subjects, or other details of the information you want. That will help us decide where to search and determine what records pertain to your request. There is no special form to complete. You may mail it, hand-carry it or send it electronically.

To submit an Electronic FOIA request or receive inquiries to your FOIA request contact the Requester Service Center at: www.compliance.af.mil. Please submit your request utilizing your personal email address as the system is currently blocking email requests from a .mil account.

For written request at Malmstrom AFB, mail to:

341 CS/SCOKF
ATTN: FOIA OFFICE
7015 Goddard Drive
Malmstrom AFB MT 59402-6863
Phone: 406-731-3235
DSN: 632-3235

Requests must have a mailing address included since it may not be practical to provide a substantive response electronically.

If you are not satisfied with the response from Malmstrom's FOIA Requester Service Center, contact the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Office at:

Email: DAF.FOIA@US.AF.MIL
Phone: 703-614-8500