CHAPTER 9 NAVAL MANUALS, DIRECTIVES, AND REPORTS
In the last chapter you became familiar with the organization of the Navy Department. To make this organization work, a standardized method of communicating is needed, as provided by different manuals and directives. You must become familiar with these publications and learn how to use them to find the information you need. Read them in your spare time and enter changes in them as they are issued. This is one of the best methods to become familiar with them.
This chapter covers the official publications most commonly used, giving the issuing authority, purpose, content, and format of each. It discusses the Department of the Navy Directives Issuance System and the types and format of directives prescribed therein.
GENERAL REGULATORY PUBLICATIONS
The principal general regulations, directives, orders, and instructions issued for the guidance of persons throughout the Department of the Navy are found in the following sources.
NAVY REGULATIONS
This manual, divided into chapters and articles, shows the principles that guide the Department of the Navy. Its contents define the duties, responsibilities, authority, distinctions, and relations of many organizational parts and individuals to each other. Other Navy publications expand on much of the material found here. Navy Regulations and each of the publications discussed in this chapter are published in adjustable ring binders so that changes can be easily made.
Changes to these publications are issued periodically. They may be in the form of printed insertions, replacement pages, or instructions for correcting the existing copy with pen and ink. Before changes to Navy Regulations are issued, they are reviewed by the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Judge Advocate General, the chiefs of offices, and commanders of various systems commands. The changes are approved and signed by the Secretary of the Navy.
MANUAL OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
The Manual of the Judge Advocate General (JAG Manual), JAGINST 5800.7B, is prepared by the Navy Judge Advocate General and covers legal and judicial matters that apply to members of the Navy and Marine Corps. Among these are instructions about boards of investigation and examining boards-their composition, authority, and procedures.
MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), approved in May 1950, established a single set of laws for administering justice to all the Armed Forces. The UCMJ was further amended by the Military Justice Act of 1983. Under the authority of this act, the President of the United States issued the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1984.
This manual describes the types of courts- martial and prescribes their membership and procedures. It also gives information on non- judicial punishment, courts-martial review and trials, and limitations on punishments.
The manual was prepared by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is a looseleaf volume issued to the Navy through the Office of the Judge Advocate General.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
In addition to the publications described above, there are numerous others with which