establishes policy, organization, conduct, method, or procedure. Generally, a directive is issued to do one or more of the following: Regulate or set up essential administration Establish policy Delegate authority or assign responsibility Establish an organizational structure Assign a mission, function, or task Initiate or govern a course of action or conduct Establish  a  procedure,  technique,  standard, guide, or method of performing a duty, function, or operation Establish a reporting requirement Change, supersede, or cancel another directive At times, directives are issued that may not fall within the scope of these criteria. These types of directives are issued in the directives issuance system to  obtain  quick  and  controlled  dissemination.  Normally issued as a notice, a directive of this type may include the  following: Requests   for   comments,   approval,   or   in- formation Directions for routinely carrying out established operations,  such  as  matters  that  pertain  to individual   personnel   actions   or   special shipments of materials Informative announcements, such as education or  promotion  opportunities,  recreational activities,  work  improvement  plans,  suggestions for  morale  building,  or  changes  in  office locations or telephone extensions The  Navy-wide  use  of  the  directive  issuance system is advantageous to those activities that receive directives. It allows every naval activity that receives directives to group directives by subject and combine related subjects. Grouping and combining directives with related subject eases the directive filing process and  distinguishes  directives  that  are  of  a  continuing nature from those that are of a brief duration. Another advantage to activities that receive directives is that the directive  issuance  system  allows  activities  to  obtain 2-18 complete sets of instructions upon activation and decommissioning.  By  using  periodic  checklists  and subject indexes (5215s), an activity can determine the current status of directives, completeness of a set of directives, or directives currently in force. Use of the Navy Directives Issuance System is advantageous  to  activities  that  issue  directives.  The directive  issuance  system  reduces  the  number  of directives in effect by consolidating instructions that cover   the   same   subject   matter   and   eliminates instructions  that  duplicate,  overlap,  or  conflict.  The directive issuance system also improves the adequacy and coverage of instructions, identifies gaps in policy and procedures so other directives may be issued to cover  necessary  subjects,  and  ensures  that  activities  are sent only those directives that they need. TYPES OF DIRECTIVES Two types of directives are used in the directives issuance system—instructions and notices. Instructions are directives that contain information of a continuing nature or require continuing action. An instruction  has  continuing  reference  value  and  is effective until the originator cancels or supersedes it. Notices are directives of a onetime nature and usually contain information or action applicable for a brief period (usually 6 months or less, but in no case more than 1 year). A notice has the same force and effect as an instruction but does not have permanent reference  value.  Therefore,  a  notice  contains  provisions for  its  own  self-cancellation.  This  cancellation  date should always be stated. When the exact cancellation date cannot be determined, a specific date for record purposes  is  set  far  enough  in  the  future  to  allow completion of all necessary use of the notice. The  AZ  uses  many  different  instructions  and notices in the performance of daily tasks. Directives are issued  by  the  systems  commands,  bureaus,  type commands,  ships,  stations,  and  operating  activities. Many  of  the  directives  that  are  used  in  aircraft maintenance activities are issued by the Headquarters of the Naval Air Systems Command and are known as NAVAIR  instructions  and  notices.  Each  issuing activity provides a catalog of issued directives by issuing a NOTICE 5215 that lists its current directives. The  consolidated  index,  NAVPUBNOTE  5215, contains a list of major commands’ directives; for example, OPNAV, SECNAV, BUMED, and so forth. Some of these directives are listed and found on the Internet.