A DoD Instruction is an issuance that implements the policy, or prescribes the manner or a specific plan or action for carrying out the policy, operating a program or activity, and assigning responsibilities.

Detailed procedures for key areas in the SAPR program are found in the DoD Instruction 6495.02 below, with additional DoD Instructions that inform SAPR program activity.

• DoD Instruction 6495.03 - Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (130 KB)

  Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the implementation, management, and oversight of the D-SAACP in accordance with the certification requirements in section 584 of Public Law 112-81 (Reference (a)), DoD Directive (DoDD) 6495.01(Reference (b)), DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6495.02 (Reference (c)), and in accordance with the authority in DoDD 5124.02 (Reference (d)).

• DoD Instruction 6495.02 - Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures (639 KB)

  Comprehensive procedures for responding to the crime of sexual assault within DoD, ensuring that sexual assault victims are cared for with dignity and respect. Specific procedures implement requirements outlined in the NDAAs, initiatives directed by the Secretary of Defense, formal recommendations from the Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel (RSP), and new substantive changes to address areas of need. For an info paper of the updated DoD Instruction, click here.

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• DoD Instruction 1030.2 - Victim and Witness Assistance Procedures (463 KB)

  Procedures for assisting victims and witnesses of crimes committed in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

• DoD Instruction 1332.30 - Regular and Reserve Commissioned Officer Separations (253 KB)

  This instruction establishes DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures governing separation of regular and reserve commissioned officers from the military Services. It provides new protections for military victims of sexual assault who are being separated from service and provides mandatory processing requirements for discharging officers convicted of committing sexual violence (see page 20 of DoDI 1332.30), issued Nov. 25, 2013.

• DoD Instruction 1332.14 - Enlisted Administrative Separations (296 KB)

  This instruction establishes DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures governing administrative separation of enlisted Service members from the military Services. It provides new protections for military victims of sexual assault who are being separated from service and provides mandatory processing requirements for discharging enlisted Service members convicted of committing sexual violence (see pages 50 and 51 of DoDI 1332.14), issued Jan. 27, 2014.

• DoD Instruction 5505.18 - Investigation of Adult Sexual Assault in the Department of Defense (90 KB)

  DoD Inspector General (IG) Guidance requires all Military Criminal Investigation Organizations (MCIOs) to investigate all cases of sexual assault brought to their attention, regardless of the severity of the allegation.

• DoD Instruction 6400.06 - Domestic Abuse Involving DoD Military and Certain Affiliated Personnel (276 KB)

  Procedures for establishing, implementing, and updating domestic abuse policies in the military.

• DoD Instruction 6400.07 - Standards for Victim Assistance Services in the Military Community (221 KB)

  Issued on Nov. 26, 2013, this DoD Instruction provides overarching Department policy, responsibilities and standards for victim assistance services throughout the military.

A DoD Directive is a broad policy document containing what is required by legislation, the President, or the Secretary of Defense to initiate, govern, or regulate actions or conduct by the DoD Components within their specific areas of responsibilities. DoD Directives establish or describe policy, programs, and organizations; define missions; provide authority; and assign responsibilities.

• DoD Directive 6495.01 - Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program (141 KB)

  Overarching Department policy on sexual assault prevention and response.

A Directive Type Memorandums (DTM) is a memorandum issued by the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, or Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Principal Staff Assistants (PSAs) that, because of time constraints, cannot be published in the DoD Directives System. DTMs are procedural in nature and are typically converted into a DoD Directive or DoD Instruction within 180 days, unless the subject is classified with limited distribution or is material of limited or temporary relevance.

• DTM 14-002 - The Establishment of Special Victims Capability within Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIOs) (92 KB)

  This DTM establishes the DoD Special Victim Capability for the DoD Inspector General and MCIOs.

• DTM 14-003 - DoD Implementation of Special Victim Capability (SVC) Prosecution and Legal Support (91 KB)

  This DTM Includes policy to establish the DoD Office of Legal Policy.

• DTM 14-007 - Sexual Assault Incident Response Oversight (SAIRO) Report (KB 119)

  This DTM was issued and includes policy to ensure that timely actions are taken regarding an unrestricted report of sexual assault, and to protect a victim's privacy within that report.

DoD Memorandums & Guidance refers to documents signed and issued by the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, or Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Principal Staff Assistants (PSAs) that, because of time constraints, have not yet been published in the DoD Directives System. Memorandums & Guidance are procedural in nature and like DTMs, are typically converted into a DoD Directive or DoD Instruction, unless the subject is classified with limited distribution or is material of limited or temporary relevance.

• Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness Memorandum for Certification Standards for DoD SAPR Program Managers (771 KB)

  The Department, working with the Military Departments and the National Guard Bureau, developed standards for the selection, training and certification of SAPR Program Managers, and divided SAPR Program Managers into one of two categories: those who work directly with sexual assault victims and those that do not.

• Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness Memorandum for the Fifty-Year Retention of Forms Related to Reports of Sexual Assault (330 KB)

  This Memorandum mandates the retention of certain forms related to reports of sexual assault for fifty years, regardless of the type of report or whether such retention was requested by the victim. Specifically, the law requires that the DD Form 29 10, "Victim Reporting Preference Statement," and DO Form 2911, "DoD Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Report," be retained for fifty years in both Restricted and Unrestricted Report cases.

• Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness Memorandum for Regulations on Inclusion and Command Review of Information on Sex-Related Offenses in Personnel Service Records (290 KB)

  This Memorandum provides for two new requirements with regard to accountability for sex-related offenses: the inclusion of information on sex-related offenses in the personnel service records of members of the Armed Forces and the mandatory review of the personnel record notation by the commanding officer of each Service member's sex-related offenses. The Services must develop and issue regulations to implement this requirement.

• Secretary of Defense Guidance for Mental Counseling and Security Clearances (1.4 MB)

  This guidance provides instruction for the completion of Question 21 on the Standard Form 86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions. Question 21 asks whether the applicant has consulted with a health care professional regarding an emotional or metal health condition or was hospitalized for such a condition within seven years prior to completing the SF 86. Victims of sexual assault who have consulted with a health care professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition during this period strictly in relation to the sexual assault are instructed to answer "no" to question 21.

• Director of National Intelligence Guidance on Security Clearances ("Question 21") (138 KB)

  This guidance further supports military victims of sexual assault who hold or wish to hold a government security clearance, but may be reluctant to seek mental health counseling for fear they may have to disclose the counseling on their application. This guidance allows military victims of sexual assault to answer "No" to Question 21 on the Standard Form 86, "Questionnaire for National Security Positions," which asks applicants if they have in the last seven years consulted a health care professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition, or were similarly hospitalized.