scope:

PURPOSE. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5134.01 (Reference (a)), this Instruction:

a. Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for a human effects characterization process in support of the development of NLW, non-lethal technologies, and NLW systems

b. Establishes the Human Effects Review Board (HERB) in accordance with DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5105.18 (Reference (b)) as an independent DoD board to ensure appropriate scientific processes are used to characterize the human effects of all DoD NLW programs.

c. Establishes the Human Effects Readiness Level (HERL) as a measure of the availability, sufficiency, and maturity of data and information of the human effects of NLW.

d. Establishes health care capability (HCC) indexes as a basis to determine the risk of significant injury (RSI) from NLW.

e. Focuses on the human effects on NLW targets. Effects of weapons on operators are covered in other DoD procedures as required.

APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to:

a. OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components").

b. Requirements development for NLW.

c. Research, development, test, evaluation, and acquisition of all NLW within the Defense Acquisition System in accordance with DoDD 5000.01 (Reference (c)).

d. NLW human effects characterization data, reports, and related products that will inform NLW training and demonstration policies and employment decisions.

e. NLW research independent of the budget activities funding the research, the mission of the DoD organization conducting or supporting the research, the security classification of the research, the location of the research in the United States or a foreign country, or whether the research is conducted or supported under a program that is not considered research for other purposes.