A document or documents issued by the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Principal Staff Assistants (as authorized by the Secretary of Defense), or Secretaries of the Military Departments to carry out a policy or procedure implementing NSPS. These issuances may apply Department-wide or to any part of DoD as determined by the Secretary of Defense at his or her sole and exclusive discretion. These issuances do not include internal operating guidance, handbooks, or manuals that do not change conditions of employment, as defined in NSPS regulation.

A document issued by the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Principal Staff Assistants (as authorized by the Secretary of Defense), or Secretaries of the Military Departments at the DoD or Military Department level to carry out a policy or procedure of the Department, other than those issuances implementing the NSPS regulations.