DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST
1160.6C
N13
5 Oct 2017
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1160.6C
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENT PAY PROGRAM
Ref: (a) DoD 7000.14-R Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations (FMRS)
Volume 7A, April 2017
(b) PDUSD (P&R) Memorandum of 20 Apr 09
(c) ASN (M&RA) Memorandum of 10 Dec 12
(d) DoD Instruction 1304.27 of 10 April 2009
(e) 37 U.S.C. §307
Encl: (1) Special Duty Assignment Pay Authorization Letter
1. Purpose
a. To establish policies, procedures, and responsibilities for the Special Duty Assignment
Pay (SDAP) program. This instruction is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its
entirety.
b. This revision includes the changes listed in subparagraphs 1b(1) through 1b(7).
(1) Changed responsibility for special duty assignment and SDAP level
recommendations from Navy Personnel Command for Enlisted Distribution (PERS-40) to
Assistant Commander, Navy Personnel Command for Career Management (PERS-4).
(2) Added responsibilities for coordination between enlisted community managers,
commanding officers (CO), and Commander, Navy Personnel Command Enlisted Career
Administration (COMNAVPERSCOM (PERS-81)).
(3) Added Military Pay and Compensation (OPNAV (N130)) to review administrative
changes to the eligibility chart such as unit identification code shifts, newly created unit
identification codes, and newly established Navy enlisted classifications (NEC) that are replacing
retired eligible NECs to ensure they are administrative in nature.
(4) Added eligibility requirement for CO to designate, in writing, a Sailor’s qualification
to receive SDAP. Also included is an example letter in enclosure (1).
(5) Removed statement regarding SDAP eligibility during terminal leave.
