ACN 021/22 - APR 2022 DIRECTIVES POLICY CHANGE FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (CG-61), DIRECTIVES AND PUBLICATIONS DIVISION (CG-612)

R 071526Z APR 22   MID200001642229U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST COMDT NOTICE
BT
UNCLAS
ACN 021/22
SSIC 5215
SUBJ: DIRECTIVES POLICY CHANGE FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT (CG-61), DIRECTIVES AND PUBLICATIONS DIVISION (CG-612)
A. Publication of Directives: Commandant Instruction (CI), ALCOAST
and ALCOAST Commandant Notices (ACN), COMDTINST 5215.6I
B. The Coast Guard Directives System, COMDTINST M5215.6H
1. This ACN announces the promulgation of REF (A) and the
cancellation of REF (B).
2. Major Changes.
    a. The lifecycle of a Coast Guard Directive is extended to 10
years with a 5 year mandatory validation process. Automatic
cancellations will occur if the validation process is not followed
or if Instructions are not rewritten by the expiration date.
    b. There will be no Commandant Instruction Manuals (CIMs) as
defined by page limits. All Directives will be called Commandant
Instructions. New title naming conventions have been established
for consistency.
    c. ALCOAST Commandant Notices (ACNs) are now used to communicate
permanent policy change(s) and will be incorporated into the
appropriate Directive at the time of transmission. This will
eliminate the need for Commandant Change Notices (CCNs) and
resolves ongoing internal control issues. New policy change
parameters apply.
    d. Commandant Notices (CN) are discontinued.
    e. The number of must clear offices has been reduced.
    f. Emphasis on Instructions are policy centric; process
and procedures are more suitable for Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) or other methods of publication.
    g. Accessibility is emphasized for published content. All
Commandant Instructions must comply with Section 508 standards.
    h. Sponsors of less urgent messages should consider alternative
communication options as they emerge.
    i. Directives and Publications Validation Form, CG-5215A must be
used to validate, update, transfer, and cancel Directives and Forms.
Obsolete instructions create organizational risk and must be updated
or cancelled.
    j. The obsolete SDL Grid on the Directive is eliminated, a
relic of paper distribution.
    k. COMDT (CG-61) will incorporate several suggestions
from CG Ideas at Work to enhance the posting and library structure
for all Directives on the Portal. This will be the first step in a
longer plan to make all policy and communication documents
easily retrievable by the workforce including by members in
the field and underway.
3. SOP Guidance for Directive publications including templates are
located at:
(Copy and Paste URL below into Browser)

https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/library/directives/SitePages/Home.aspx

Questions on policy changes may be directed to:
hqs-smb-directives@uscg.mil.
4. This message will be cancelled on 06 APR 2023.
5. Released by RADM David M. Dermanelian, Assistant Commandant
for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information
Technology (CG-6).
6. Internet release is authorized.