The authority to issue directives is derived from the Chairman's Title 10 responsibility to communicate President and SecDef policy to the joint force, specifically in accordance with Section 153. Additionally, Title 10, Section 155 specifically states that the Joint Staff will assist the Chairman in providing the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces. In DoDD 5100.1, "Functions of the Department of Defense and its Major Components," the Secretary of Defense charges the Chairman, (specifically in paragraphs 4.1.41 and 4.1.43) to "promulgate publications" and to "provide military guidance". SECDEF has delegated authority to the Chairman in a number of other directives and memorandums, including taskings, to publish guidance. Any CJCS directive that applies to the Services, combatant commands, or defense agencies outside the Joint Staff must include a reference to the applicable authority. Appropriate references for CJCS authority include statutory citations to the US Code or citations to the delegation of authority by the SecDef or DepSecDef. 

The Chairman uses Instructions, Notices, Manuals and Guides -- collectively called "directives" -- to clarify National and DOD policy and provide guidance to the Services, combatant commands, and defense agencies in accomplishing certain missions. Chairman's instructions, manuals, and notices convey CJCS policy that does not contain joint doctrine or concern employment of the forces in joint operations. 

Unrestricted (Unlimited) – Directives with this releasability reside on both the NIPR and SIPR sites based on classification. NIPR access includes the WWW, and SIPR directives are available to the entire SIPR community.

.Mil/.Gov Access – A subset of Unrestricted releasability, Directives that have this are placed in a controlled-access (.mil/.gov only) library in the NIPR SharePoint site. They are not releasable to the public, and are usually classified FOUO. Access on SIPR, however, is open to the entire SIPR community.

Restricted – Directives with this releasability are not accessible via the NIPR directives site. On SIPR, electronic release is restricted to the controlled access portion of the CJCS/JS Directives library, which is accessible to Joint Staff personnel only. Outside users who require access must contact either IMD or the OPR.

Included under restricted releasability are all Joint Staff (JS) Instructions, Manuals, Notices, and Guides unless an exception is made by the OPR. These directives are generally applicable only to the Joint Staff.

Not Releasable – Directives with this releasability are not approved for electronic release. Access can only be granted by the Office of Primary Responsibility. An index of these directives is available in list form only (no documents) on the SIPR CJCS/JS Directives SharePoint site.

PLEASE NOTE: All CJCS/JS Directives with a /CLASSIFICATION//REL TO/ marking, e.g. SECRET//REL TO USA, ACGU, have been placed under restricted releasability in order to facilitate proper security measures IAW JSSO guidance. 

Per the CJCS/JS 5701.01 series:

Instructions - Primarily contain CJCS/JS policy, but can also include procedures. They may implement or supplement DoD Issuances, and/or establish and prescribe JS Forms. Signature level depends on subject matter and current practice.

Manuals – Primarily contain CJCS/JS procedure, but can also establish policy. May supplement CJCS/JS instructions or stand alone. Signature level depends on subject matter and current practice.

Notices – Primarily contain policy, guidance, or information of a one-time or brief nature, and may include a specific effective period. Signature level depends on subject matter and current practice. In addition, there are also -

• Cancellation Notices, which are used to cancel CJCS/JS Instructions, Manuals, Notices, and Guides, and expire 1 year after being published and;

• Change Notices, which are used to employ small changes to CJCS/JS Directives.

Guides – Primarily contain detailed information, emphasis, and guidance from the Chairman on a specific topic, and carry a CJCS-level signature as well.

CJCS/JS Directives do not contain joint doctrine or concern employment of forces in joint operations. Please see the JSM 5701.01 series for more information. 

The following description is from the CJCSI 5120.02 series on the Joint Doctrine Development System and discusses the differences between doctrine and policy (Policy = CJCS/JS instructions, manuals, notices, and guides):

“Doctrine and Policy. Policy and doctrine are closely related, but they fundamentally fill separate requirements. Policy can direct, assign tasks, prescribe desired capabilities, and provide guidance for ensuring the Armed Forces of the United States are prepared to perform their assigned roles; implicitly, policy can therefore create new roles and a requirement for new capabilities. Conversely, doctrine enhances the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces by providing authoritative guidance and standardized terminology on topics relevant to the employment of military forces.

Most often, policy drives doctrine; however, on occasion, an extant capability will require the creation of policy. Policy makers and doctrine developers should work interactively and in full understanding of the other arena, striving to issue harmonized policy and doctrine. It is not always clear when a void is identified whether filling it will require new (or revised) doctrine or policy (or perhaps both). As a general rule, if the need can only be adequately addressed by using such prescriptive words as “shall” and “must,” then the void is in policy, and policy development should precede doctrine development.”

Items to remember:

CJCS/JS Directives – Policy and Guidance contained within do not involve the employment of forces.

Joint Doctrine – Does not establish policy.

CJCS/JS Directives – The Directives Program is maintained by the Joint Secretariat, Information Management Division, Records and Research Branch (SJS/IMD/RRB).

Joint Doctrine – Program maintained by the Joint Education and Doctrine Division (JEDD – J-7)

CJCS/JS Directives – Access on NIPR here.

Joint Doctrine – Joint Publications (doctrine) can be accessed via the Joint Doctrine Electronic Information System (JDEIS) on NIPR SharePoint at this