PROCESSING DOD ISSUANCES

• Decide on the type of issuance using DoD Issuances Defined.
• Use the corresponding standards and templates listed below. Use of the template is mandatory; don't write over an existing issuance.
• DoDD Template
• DoDI Template
• DoDM Template
• DTM Template


• DoDD Standards
• DoDI Standards
• DoDM Standards
• DTM Standards
• Assign a number to new issuances using DoD Issuance Numbering System. Revised issuances will keep their original number.
• Draft the issuance using the Writing Style Guide. See the Special Considerations Checklist for information on Federal Register, information collections requirements, etc.

• Coordinate your issuance with offices in your OSD Component and with any Defense Agencies or DoD Field Activities under your Component having equity in the issuance.
• Adjudicate and document internal comments following your Component's guidelines and revise the issuance.
• Prepare the SD Form 106, "DoD Directives Program Coordination Record," using the instructions on page 2 of the form. The responsibilities assigned in your issuance determine your primary coordinators.

• E-mail the unsigned SD Form 106 and a clean revised copy of the issuance to DoDDirectives@whs.mil (unclassified) or DoDDirectives@whs.smil.mil (classified).
• Your Directives Division editor will review and edit the documents to make sure they are consistent with DoD guidance and standards.

• Edit and revise the issuance and SD Form 106, accordingly. If rejecting changes or recommendations, discuss with your Directives Division editor.

• Send the unsigned SD Form 106 and a clean copy of the issuance to your Component Directives focal point or designated authority to post to the Directives Portal System.
• Your Directives Division editor will review the issuance to make sure it is ready for release to the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). When the issuance has been released to OGC, you'll get an e-mail notification that includes the suspense date.
• OGC will perform a legal objection review of your issuance and post the results to the portal.
• If the issuance is legally objectionable, OGC will provide instructions to bring it into compliance with law. Don't make any changes other than those requested by OGC or a second OGC review may be needed.

• After adjudicating OGC comments (if any), follow your Component procedures to get the SD Form 106 signed. See the List of Signature Authorities for who may sign the SD Form 106.

• Send to your Component Directives focal point or designated authority for posting to the Directives Portal System for formal coordination:
• Signed SD Form 106
• Clean Microsoft Word copy of the issuance
• Blank SD Form 818, "Comments Matrix for DoD Issuances"
• Your Directives Division editor will review the issuance to make sure it is ready for release for formal coordination. When the issuance has been released for coordination, you'll get an e-mail notification that includes the suspense date.
• The portal will send you e-mails as coordination responses are posted. Contact the Portal Manager at Directivesprogramportal@whs.mil if you need help.
• See "Offices with Access to DoD Directives Portal." You must send the coordination package to any coordinators not on this list and are responsible for getting their response.

• Confirm coordinations received are authorized using the "Component-Specific List of Positions Authorized or Delegated Authority to Coordinate on DoD Issuances."
• Review and adjudicate comments in a consolidated SD Form 818, "Comments Matrix for DoD Issuances" as they are received and change your issuance accordingly.
• If any comments seem legal in nature, work with the OGC lawyer who provided your legal objection review as you adjudicate them. Your Component Directives focal point will help if you don't have appropriate contact information.
• Record only substantive and critical comments on the SD Form 818 (see instructions on page 2 of the form). If there are conflicts, make every effort to resolve them at the lowest level; your Component Directives focal point may assist in reconciling differences.

• Once you've finished adjudicating the comments and the issuance is revised, e-mail the issuance and consolidated SD Form 818 directly to the OGC lawyer who provided your legal objection review. Contact your Component Directives focal point if you don't have appropriate contact information.
• The OGC lawyer will e-mail you the results of the review. If there are any legal issues, adjudicate recommendations and revise the issuance accordingly.

• E-mail the complete presignature package to DoDDirectives@whs.mil (unclassified) or DoDDirectives@whs.smil.mil (classified):
• Action memorandum
• Final draft of the new, revised, or changed issuance
• Copy of the issuance with track changes (if the issuance is a reissued DoD Directive)
• Consolidated SD Form 818
• List of Coordinating Officials
• Legal adjudication review (or documentation of review requests)
• Your Directives Division editor will review the package to make sure that all edits and formal coordination comments have been addressed.

• Edit and revise the presignature package accordingly. If rejecting changes or recommendations, discuss with your Directives Division editor.
• If a second presignature review is required, resubmit the presignature package (documents listed in Stage 4A) to DoDDirectives@whs.mil (unclassified) or DoDDirectives@whs.smil.mil (classified) for Directives Division review.

• Send the revised presignature package to your Component Directives focal point or designated authority to post to the Directives Portal System.
• For reissued directives, don't include the copy of the issuance with track changes; OGC doesn't need to review it.

• When the legal sufficiency review is done, issuances with unlimited releasability must get Office of Security Review (OSR) approval for publication on the unclassified publicly accessible DoD Issuances Website.
• E-mail to secrev1@whs.mil:
• Signed DD Form 1910, "Clearance Request for Public Release of Department of Defense Information"
• Clean Microsoft Word copy of the final issuance
• Legal sufficiency review
• List of Coordinating Officials

Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense Signature

• Follow your OSD Component's internal procedures to obtain signature of the action memorandum and submit the original hard copy final package to the DoD Executive Secretary's Office.
• E-mail to DoDDirectives@whs.mil (unclassified) or DoDDirectives@whs.smil.mil (classified):
• Clean Microsoft Word copy of the issuance (same version that was sent for signature)
• Copy of the issuance with track changes (if reissuing a current DoD Directive)
• Consolidated SD Form 818
• List of Coordinating Officials
• Legal sufficiency review
• OSR approval, if applicable

OSD Component Head or Principal Staff Assistant Signature

• Follow your OSD Component's internal procedures to submit the original hard copy final package (documents listed above). After the issuance has been signed, e-mail to the Directives Division:
• Clean Microsoft Word copy of the issuance (same copy that was sent for signature)
• OSR approval, if necessary
• Send the original hard copy final package (signed issuance, signed action memorandum, the final SD Form 818, etc.) to the Directives Division via the OSD mailroom or courier. Do not send via the U.S. Postal Service.

• The Directives Division will publish issuances within 3 workdays of obtaining the signed hard copy final package and any other required documentation.
• Unclassified issuances with a Unlimited distribution will be posted to the unclassified DoD Issuances Website: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/
• Unclassified issuances with a Restricted distribution will be posted behind a CAC-enabled firewall on the unclassified DoD Issuances Website.
• Classified issuances with a Restricted distribution and will be posted to the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network DoD Issuances Website: http://www.dtic.mil.smil/whs/directives/
• The Directives Division Webmaster will e-mail the action officer of the issuance when the issuance has been published.

• (1) A change amends an existing DoD issuance and has the full authority of the issuance. A changed issuance retains its original date (initial publication or last coordinated revision) and its original signature.


• (2) Changes to DoD issuances are permitted and encouraged during their respective life cycles (5 years for Directives, Instructions, and Manuals, 7 years for these issuances certified as current; 180 days for DTMs)


• (3) If more than 25 percent of an issuance requires change, the entire issuance must be revised, coordinated, and reissued with a new date and signature.

To draft a change:

• (1) Download the most current version of the issuance from the DoD Issuances Website. Save the Rich Text Format (RTF) file as an Microsoft (MS) Word document. If no RTF file is available, contact the Directives Division for assistance.


• (2) Use the “Format Font” tools in MS Word to identify deleted information in red font with a red strike-through and to insert new information into the issuance in red italics. DO NOT use “Track Changes” for this function. ALWAYS show deleted text first, placing new text after the deleted text, if applicable. See CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS in the “Training” section of the SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS complete instructions.

Releasability statements must be included in all DoD issuances posted to the NIPRNET (see PROCESSING DOD ISSUANCES). For guidance on determining releasability, go to DoDI 5230.29.

An administrative change alters only nonsubstantive portions of an issuance such as titles and dates of references, and organizational names and symbols.

• (1) Administrative changes do not require formal coordination. They do require an OGC legal sufficiency review (for Directives only) and, if applicable, a security review by the Office of Security Review (OSR).


• (2) Follow established procedures within your Component to coordinate the draft changed issuance internally. Revise the issuance consistent with any internal coordination comments received, then assemble a package that includes:


• (a) Unsigned Action Memo


• 1. For DoDDs use the Administrative Change Action MEMO template addressed to the Deputy Secretary from your Component Head.


• 2. For DoDIs, DoDMs, and DoD Publications use the Administrative Change Action MEMO template addressed to the DA&M from your Component approving official.


• (b) Attachments. At Tab A, the final draft of the changed issuance.


• (3) Follow the standard procedures in Stage 2 to submit the package to DD for review. When following the standard procedures, the action memo will replace the SD Form 106.


• (4) Upon receiving the review and incorporating changes and comments as appropriate, submit the issuance to OGC (Directives only) for a legal sufficiency review.


• (5) Obtain a security review from OSR, if applicable.


• (6) After the OSR review is complete, send the original hard copy package to your Component Head for signature on the action memo.


• (7) When the DD, OGC, and the OSR (if applicable) reviews are complete, follow the standard procedures in Stage 5 to post the changed issuance to the DoD Issuances Website.

All conforming changes to DoD issuances shall require formal coordination with the mandatory agencies (DoD Inspector General and the Director Administration and Management (DA&M)), OGC legal reviews and, if applicable, a security review by OSR. Follow established procedures within your Component to coordinate the draft changed issuance internally; then follow the standard procedures in Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 to finalize the action.

All substantive changes to DoD issuances shall be fully coordinated and shall require OGC legal reviews and, if applicable, a security review by OSR. Process substantive changes according to Standard Procedures in Stages 1 through 5.

If, during review of a DoD issuance or at any other time, the owning Component determines the issuance has served its purpose, is no longer needed, and is not appropriate for incorporation into a new or existing issuance, the Component shall initiate its cancellation.

• (1) All cancellations shall be fully coordinated.


• (2) An issuance is cancelled by the original signing authority. The action memo must be signed at the same level at which the issuance was signed.


• (3) Follow established procedures within your OSD Component to coordinate the cancellation internally.


• (4) Submit the unsigned SD Form 106 to Directives Division (DD) for review.


• (5) Upon receiving the edited SD Form 106, follow established procedures within your OSD Component to obtain signature on the SD Form 106.


• (6) Submit the signed SD Form 106 and a copy of the issuance to be canceled, through your Focal Point or designated authority, in .pdf format to the Portal to initiate formal coordination.


• (7) Adjudicate any comments received during formal coordination and make a final package consisting of an action memo, list of coordinating officials, and an SD Form 818. The action memo will be signed by the OSD Component Head. Use the CANCELLATION MEMO template to draft the action memo.


• (8) Submit the action memo, list of coordinating officials, and the SD Form 818 to DD for a presignature review.


• (9) Upon receiving the presignature review, make any changes required by DD. Submit the action memo, list of coordinating officials, consolidated SD 818, and a .pdf of the issuance to be cancelled, through your Focal Point or designated authority, to OGC on the Portal for a legal sufficiency review.


• (10) For issuances signed by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense


• (a) Upon receiving the sufficiency review, follow your OSD Component’s internal procedures to obtain the signature of the OSD Component Head on the Action Memo and forward signed package to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense.


• (b) The final package will be sent back to DD after it is approved, at which time DD will remove the canceled issuance from the DoD Issuances Website(s), update the Cancelled DoD Issuances Search database, and notify the AO and the Component Directives Focal Point.


• (11) For issuances not signed by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary, upon receiving the OGC legal sufficiency review:


• (a) Follow your OSD Component’s internal procedures to obtain signature on the action memo.


• (b) Upon receiving the signed action memorandum requesting the cancellation,
  provide the final package (hard copy and electronic) to DD. DD will remove the cancelled issuance from the DoD Issuances Website(s), update the Cancelled DoD Issuances Search database, and notify the AO and the Component Directives Focal Point.