scope:

REISSUANCE AND PURPOSE

This Directive:

Reissues and updates Reference (a) according to References (b) and (c).

Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for reporting and investigating allegations of misconduct against senior officials of the Department of Defense.

APPLICABILITY

This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, including the National Guard and Reserve components, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG DoD), the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components").

Nothing in this Directive shall affect the authority of the Heads of the DoD Components and commanders to initiate inquiries or investigations into matters pertaining to their Component or command, and to determine the nature and severity of disciplinary or administrative action in particular cases, consistent with Reference (d) and DoD Instruction 5505.3 (Reference (e)) or other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.