DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000
NAVY PENTAGON
W
ASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 3510.17
NWDC/N72
5 Jul 2022
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3510.17
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: NAVY DOCTRINE DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Ref: (a) OPNAVINST 3510.15B
(b) NTRP 1-01
(c) CJCS Manual 5120.01A of 29 December 2014
(d) OPNAVINST 5711.95F
(e) NATO Allied Administrative Publication (AAP)-03K
(f) CJCSI 5705.01F
1. Purpose
a. To provide policy relative to the intent and use of doctrine within the Navy; to delineate
responsibilities and authorities for the development, approval and distribution of the Navy’s
Service-level doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) and associated terminology; and
to provide guidance for Navy participation in multi-Service, joint and allied doctrine
development processes.
b. This revision updates the responsibilities and organizations listed to align with current
doctrine development processes. It also updated the standard subject identification code to align
with the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Manual 5210.8 of August 2018. This instruction is a
complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5420.106A.
3. Scope and Applicability. The provisions of this instruction are applicable throughout the
U.S. Navy.
4. Policy
a. Doctrine expresses operational institutional wisdom. The Navy produces doctrine and
TTP for two purposes. First, doctrine guides the employment of forces during operations for the
achievement of objectives. Second, because the Navy must train as it fights, doctrine also serves
as a force development tool; the basis for training and professional military education. Just as
warfighters adjust fires from a known point, doctrine represents the point of departure that is read
and commonly understood in advance of the fog and friction associated with combat and other
complex operations.
