SECNAVINST 5215.1F - Secretary of the Navy Directives Policy

Scope

SECNAVINST 5215.1F establishes Secretary of the Navy Directives Policy. The instruction sets policy on creation, format, coordination, approval, publication, and lifecycle management of SECNAV-level directives. The Marine Corps implements through MCO 5215.1K (Marine Corps Directives Management Program). SECNAV M-5215.1 operationalizes the SECNAVINST 5215.1F policy with detailed procedures. Effective 2020-08-10.

Audience

• Directives Control Points and directives managers at every echelon.
• S-1 officers and clerks drafting, staffing, and routing command directives under MCO 5215.1K.
• Commanders and adjutants signing and promulgating directives.

Structure

• Paragraph 1: Purpose.
• Paragraph 2: Cancellation.
• Paragraph 3: Applicability.
• Paragraph 4: Policy.
• Paragraph 5: Responsibilities.
• Paragraph 6: Records Management.
• Enclosure (1): Directives Management Requirements and Standards.
• Enclosure (2): Directives Authority.

Coverage

• SECNAV directive types and lifecycle (paragraph 4 Policy, Enclosure 1 Requirements and Standards).
• Directives Authority responsibilities (Enclosure 2).
• Coordination, signature, and promulgation procedures.
• Records management for directive issuances (paragraph 6).

Operative content

• The portal admin directives management overview cites paragraphs 4-5 (Policy, Responsibilities) and Enclosures (1)-(2), dated 2020-08-10, as the DON-level rules over MCO 5215.1K Enclosure (1) Chapters 1 through 4 (directives administrative procedures, MCO format, MCBul format, Joint Directive format).
• The same page stacks the authority chain as DODI 5025.01 Sections 1, 4, and 5 at DoD level, SECNAVINST 5215.1F and SECNAV M-5215.1 at DON level, and MCO 5215.1K at Marine Corps level.
• The directives processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T&R events 0102-GENA-1004 (Supervise command issued directive development), 0102-GENA-1005 (Supervise DCP), 0111-GENA-2007 (Maintain DCP), and 0111-GENA-2105 (Supervise DCP). The IGMC Directives Management Functional Area checklist provides the audit baseline.

Connection to Marine Corps policy

• MCO 5215.1K Marine Corps Directives Management Program, carrying Admin CH-3 dated 2025-09-29, implements SECNAVINST 5215.1F inside the Marine Corps.
• SECNAV M-5215.1 DON Directives Issuance System Manual operationalizes SECNAVINST 5215.1F.
• SECNAV M-5210.2 supplies the SSIC table the directive numbering system uses.
• MCO 5210.11F covers records management across the directives lifecycle.
• DODI 5025.01 DoD Issuances Program sets the parent DoD framework.

Status

Active. Implements DODI 5025.01. Distribution Statement A.