A multiple-address message is sent to two or more addressees, each of whom is aware of the other  addressee(s).  Each  addressee  is  designated either as action or information. A  book  message  is  sent  to  two  or  more addressees  and  is  of  such  a  nature  that  no addressee needs to know who the others are. Each addressee  is  informed  whether  the  message  is  for action  or  information.  The  station  sending  a  book message  divides  addressees  into  groups  according tot  he  relay  stations  serving  them,  and  a  separate message is prepared and transmitted to each relay station. A  general  message  has  a  wide  standard  dis- tribution  to  all  commands  in  an  area  under  one command  or  to  types  of  commands  and  activities. General messages are of many types, each of which carries an identifying title and is intended for a standard set of addressees, such as all commands, U.S. Pacific Fleet (ALCOMPAC). All  messages  of  a  given  general  message  title  are numbered serially throughout the calendar year; for example, a message numbered ALNAV 12-91 signifies it is the 12th message sent to all Navy activities (ALNAV) during 1991. Normally  you  will  come  in  contact  only  with single-address, multiple-address,  and  general messages. When you are drafting messages, you will  be  writing  either  a  single-  or  multiple- addressee  type  of  message. Preparing the Message Your  specific  responsibilities  concerning messages  will  depend  on  your  involvement  with each message. You may be the releaser, drafter, or  the  addressee  (receiver)  of  the  message.  Any command or activity may be an originator. ORIGINATOR.  —The  originator  of  a message  is  the  authority  (command  or  activity) in whose name the message is sent. The originator is responsible for the functions of the message drafter  and  message  releaser. RELEASER.  —The  message  releaser  is  a designated person authorized to release a message for transmission in the name of the originator. The releaser is responsible for validating the contents of the message, for affirming the message is   in   compliance   with   message-drafting instructions,  and  for  determining  whether  the draft  of  the  message  should  be  released  as  a  mes- sage or as a NAVGRAM. Usually the commanding officer   is   the   releasing   officer,   but   the commanding  officer  may  delegate  releasing authority. DRAFTER. —The drafter is the person who composes the message. Among all personnel involved with message management, the drafter is the key to an effective program. The drafter necessarily  must  have  the  most  detailed  knowl- edge  and  understanding  of  basic  message procedures.  The  drafter  is  responsible  for  the following: 1.  Proper  addressing 2.  Proper  application  of  security  classifica- tion,    special handling,    and declassification markings required by  Department  of  the  Navy Information and Personnel Security Program Regulation,  OPNAVINST  5510.1H 3.  Selection  of  appropriate  precedence 4.  Correct  formatting  and  accuracy  of  typing 5.  Clear,  concise  composition ADDRESSEE.  —The  addressee’s  responsi- bilities  depend  on  the  type  of  action  required  of the  addressee  in  response  to  the  message.  An action  addressee  may  be  required  take  immediate action  in  response  to  the  message.  An  information addressee normally is not required to take any action based on the message. In either case, the message  may  have  to  be  readdressed  to  another activity,  which  will  be  discussed  later. Message Precedence The  precedence  has  different  meanings.  To  the drafter, it indicates the desired speed of delivery to  the  addressees.  To  the  telecommunications center,  it  indicates  the  relative  order  of  processing and  delivery.  To  the  addressees,  it  indicates  the relative  order  in  which  they  should  determine the  import  ante  of  the  message.  The  precedence assigned  to  a  message  is  determined  by  the  relative importance of the subject matter of the text and the  desired  writer-to-reader  delivery  time. Although  the  assignment  of  the  precedence  is  the drafter’s  responsibility,  the  releaser  of  the  message may   change   the   precedence   or   mode   of transmission. CATEGORIES.  —Messages are divided into four  common  precedence  categories:  Routine, 2-31