Priority.– Precedence prosign P is reserved for
messages that furnish essential information for the
conduct of operations in progress. Priority is the highest
precedence normally authorized for administrative
messages. Exceptions are messages reporting death,
serious illness or serious injury which may be assigned
administrative precedence.
Messages assigned the priority precedence
normally include situation reports on the position of a
front where an attack is impending, or where tire or air
support will soon be placed; orders to aircraft formations
or units to coincide with ground or naval operations;
messages concerning immediate movement of naval, air
or ground forces; weather observations with surface
wind speeds 33 knots or less and all oceanographic
observations. The speed of service objective is within
three hours.
Immediate.– Precedence prosign O is reserved for
messages relating to situations that gravely affect the
national forces or populace and that require immediate
delivery. Examples are as follows: amplifying reports
of initial enemy contact; reports of unusual movements
of military forces of foreign powers in time of peace or
strained relations; attack orders to commit a force in
reserve without delay; reports of widespread civil
disturbance and requests for or directions concerning
distress assistance. The speed of service objective is
within 30 minutes.
Flash– Precedence prosign Z is reserved for initial
enemy contact reports or operational combat messages
of extreme urgency. Examples are initial enemy
contacts; messages recalling or diverting friendly
aircraft about to bomb targets unexpected y occupied by
friendly forces; warnings of imminent large-scale
attacks; extremely urgent intelligence messages;
messages containing major strategic decisions of great
urgency and reports of tropical storms, typhoons or
hurricanes believed to be previously undetected. The
speed of service objective is as fast as possible with an
objective of less than 10 minutes.
Messages that have both action and information
addressees may be assigned a single precedence, or they
may be assigned a dual precedence-a higher precedence
for the action addressees and a lower one for all infor-
mation addressees. It is important that the assignment of
dual precedence be considered on all messages with
information addressees when other than routine
precedence is assigned to the action addressee(s).
Classification Block
This block consists of the classification abbre-
viation repeated four times (UUUU, CCCC and SSSS).
Originator Message Identification
(ORIG MESSAGE IDENT) Block
This block is used by the preparer to assign an
identifying number to help in keeping track of messages
within the command. It consists of a three-digit Julian
date combined with the four-digit ZULU time that the
message was typed.
Message Handling Instruction Block
The word ADMIN is typed here if a message is
determined to be administrative instead of operational
in nature.
From Line
The originating short title of the command as listed
in the Message Address Directory (MAD), USN
PLAD-1, is typed following the preprinted FROM.
To Line
The short title of the intended recipient(s) of the
message is listed here after the preprinted TO. List each
addressee directly under the previous one. There is no
limit to the number of addressees that can be listed.
NOTE: On second and subsequent pages, the words
FROM and TO preprinted on the form are ignored and
typed over.
Info Line
Commands being sent the message for information
only (no action required on their part) are listed here.
The word INFO is typed on the form under TO in a
position that allows INFO addressees to be listed
directly under the TO addressees.
Classification and SSIC Line
This line shows the classification followed by the
Standard Subject Identification Code (SSIC) of the
subject matter. The SSIC is set off with two slashes
before and after, and the number is preceded by an N to
denote that the message was originated in the Navy.
Example: UNCLAS//N05720//. Specific instruction on
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