scope:

Purpose

a. Pursuant to Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) responsibilities stated in reference (a), and to ensure oversight of recommendations to modify Department of the Navy (DON) overseas posture, this instruction provides policy direction for the proposed Overseas Force Structure Changes (OFSC) and Host-Nation Notification (HNN).

b. Revisions to this instruction direct Service Headquarters to submit OFSC/HNN proposed changes on matters that the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSDP) has deemed to have national-level policy significance. These revisions shall clarify the role of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Plans, Policies, Oversight, and Integration (DUSN (PPOI)) in the OFSC/HNN process within the DON.

Applicability

a. This instruction applies to the introduction, change, or removal of any overseas force and other changes with national policy significance as determined by OUSDP. In all cases, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) must approve each OFSC. An overseas force is one that is outside the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories, and consists of an aggregation of military personnel, weapon systems, equipment, and necessary support, or combination thereof. Other changes that do not affect force assignment will normally be addressed in the unit deployment process or deployment order process.

b. Navy and Marine Corps Service Headquarters shall submit OFSC proposals for SECDEF approval after obtaining SECNAV concurrence with the proposed action.

(1) Service Headquarters and Service Component Commands shall not conduct any action that meets the threshold for an OFSC without ensuring an OFSC proposal was initiated and the HNN process was completed.

(2) OFSC proposals will be submitted for changes to:

(a) Overseas organizations listed in the SECDEF "Forces for Unified Commands" memorandum published annually in the Global Force Management Implementation Guidance.

(b) Overseas organizations commanded by an officer in the grade of O-4 or higher.

(c) Broad Department of Defense (DoD) responsibilities, international agreements, and treaties.

c. Service Headquarters shall also submit OFSC proposals/HNN requests for changes that do not meet the above criteria but are deemed by OUSDP to have national-level policy significance as defined in reference (b).

d. SECDEF approval of an OFSC proposal must be clearly demonstrated before the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USDP) executes the HNN. The HNN request process shall also be used to provide a Host Nation notice of an impending action that could impact U.S.-Host Nation relations.

e. This instruction does not apply to:

(1) Unit Deployment Program. The information in this instruction does not apply to changes in overseas force structure accomplished via the existing Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff-managed unit deployment program or deployment order process.

(2) Pre-positioned Equipment. This instruction does not apply to pre-positioned equipment, supplies, munitions, or shipping.

(3) Realignment of Overseas Sites. The information in this instruction does not apply to the realignment of overseas sites such as real estate or facility changes that do not result in a force structure change or have not been deemed as by OUSDP to have national-level policy significance.