AIG/CAD. See NT3 SUPP-1  for  AIG/CAD predetermined  standard  distribution.  General  messages information. are  titled;  for  example,  ALCOM,  ALMILACT,  and Composing clear and concise text. NAVOP. Because the title indicates the distribution, it serves as the address designator in the address line of Applying  the  proper  security  classification, special  handling,  and  declassification  markings required  by  the   Department  of  the  Navy Information  and  Personnel  Security  Program Regulation,   OPNAVINST  5510.1H,  and making sure records are maintained to show the source  of  derivation  for  the  classification assigned. Selecting  the  appropriate  precedence. Coordinating  message  staffing. the message heading. To attain uniformity of format with joint procedures, general messages are assigned, following  the  general  message  title,  a  consecutive three-digit serial number followed by a single slant and the last two digits of the current calendar year; for example, NAVOP 015/93. The general message title and number/year stand alone on the line after the classification  and  before  the  subject. WRITING A MESSAGE Making sure the message is correctly formatted General  Administrative  (GENADMIN)  is  the and free of errors. format  used  for  most  narrative  messages  with  the Ensuring  the  proper  use  and  selection  of exceptions being those narrative messages from which appropriate message handling instruction(s) a publication, instruction, or other directive requires a and/or  operating  signal(s). different  format. The  Communications  Improvement  Memorandum (CIM) Program is an after-the-fact training aid to inform Precedence message  drafters,  releasers,  and  communications personnel of procedural errors in order to prevent their When  writing  a  message,  the  drafter  has  the recurrence. responsibility  for  the  determination  of  precedence, CIMs are intended to enhance the user’s awareness although the releaser confirms, or may change, the and the overall efficiency of the NTS. Receipt of a CIM precedence   assigned.   There   are   four   precedence should  not  be  interpreted  or  considered  as  a  reprimand categories.   Each   precedence   has   an   established to an individual or command but as an informal notice speed-of-service  (SOS)  objective  that  provides  the fastest  communication  support  possible.  The  four of a procedural error. precedence categories and their SOS objectives are as TYPES OF MESSAGES follows: PRECEDENCE SOS  OBJECTIVE There  are  four  types  of  classified  and  unclassified narrative  messages:  single  address,  multiple  address, FLASH book,  and  general  message. As  fast  as  possible  with an objective of less than 10 minutes . A single address is a message that has only one IMMEDIATE 30 minutes addressee, either action (TO) or information (INFO). PRIORITY 3 hours . A multiple address is a message that has two or more  addressees,  whether  action  or  information,  and  is ROUTINE 6 hours of such a nature that the drafter considers that each addressee  should  know  the  other  recipients. The importance of  not assigning  a  higher  precedence than  is  necessary  cannot  be  overemphasized.  The . A book is a message that is destined for two or following elements must be considered: more addressees but is of such a nature that the drafter considers that no addressee need or should be informed . The urgency of the subject matter, remembering of  the  other  addressee(s).  For  example,  a  commercial that  importance  does  not  necessarily  imply  urgency. contract bid is a book message. .   The   time   element   involved,   including . General messages are designed to meet recurring consideration   of   time   difference   between   widely requirements   for   issuing   information   to   a   wide, separated geographical areas. 4-2