/ERASE[=keyword]
       /NOERASE (default)

    Specifies whether to perform a data security erase (DSE) and, on
    disk volumes only, whether to set the volume characteristic to
    ERASE_ON_DELETE.

    The /ERASE qualifier applies to Files-11 On-Disk Structure
    Level 2 (ODS-2) and Level 5 (ODS-5) disks and ANSI magnetic tape
    volumes, and is valid for magnetic tape devices that support the
    hardware erase function, such as TU78 and MSCP magnetic tapes.

    For tape volumes, /ERASE physically destroys deleted data by
    writing over it.

    For disk volumes, when /ERASE is specified with no keywords, this
    command does the following:

    o  Performs a data security erase (DSE) by writing the system-
       specified erase pattern into every block on the volume before
       initializing it. The amount of time taken by the DSE operation
       depends on the volume size.

    o  Sets the volume characteristic to ERASE_ON_DELETE so that each
       file on the volume will be erased by a DSE when it is deleted.

    For disk volumes, two optional keywords allow you to
    independently specify just one of the actions noted above.

    o  /ERASE=INIT

       Performs a data security erase (DSE) operation on the
       volume before initializing it, but does not set the volume
       characteristic to ERASE_ON_DELETE. This operation takes longer
       than specifying /ERASE=DELETE and is equivalent to performing
       SET VOLUME/NOERASE_ON_DELETE.

    o  /ERASE=DELETE

       Sets the ERASE_ON_DELETE volume characteristic, but does not
       perform a DSE operation on the disk.

    If neither (or both) keywords are specified, both actions are
    performed. That is, /ERASE is equivalent to /ERASE=(INIT,DELETE).