The letter is then presented to the appropriate
retrieving them quickly. SSICs are broken down into
13 major groups as shown in table 1-6.
official for signature. After the correspondence is
signed, it is dated with the date on which it is signed,
These 13 major groups are broken down into
the file copies are removed for filing, and the
primary, secondary, and tertiary subdivisions. For
correspondence is forwarded to the appropriate
example:
addressees.
8000 Ordnance Material (major group)
FILING SYSTEM
8500 Underwater Ordnance (general primary
group)
The size and complexity of the Navy demands
8510 Torpedoes (secondary group)
standard methods for filing paperwork.
S t a n d a r d i z a t i o n w i t h i n t h e N av y a l s o e n a b l e s
8550 Mines (secondary group)
administrative personnel to leave one duty station and
8551 Aircraft Laid (tertiary group)
report to another without having to learn a different
8553 Submarine Laid (tertiary group)
filing system. (The same principle applies to the Mine
Force: personnel may leave one mine shop and report
The file arrangement within any office depends on
to another without having to learn a different filing
the mission of the command and the volume of its
system.) For these reasons, the Navy has established a
official correspondence. General correspondence is
coding system the Department of the Navy Standard
normally stored in metal file cabinets. This includes
Subject Identification Codes, SECNAVINST 5210.11.
letters and memorandums received or originated by the
These codes are required on all Navy and Marine
command. Messages are also kept in these files.
Corps letters, messages, directives, forms, and reports.
Folders are used to keep correspondence orderly in
A standard subject identification code (SSIC) is a
the files. Standard file folders are available in two
f o u r- o r five - d i g i t n u m b e r t h a t r e p r e s e n t s t h e
sizes: letter size and legal size. The total number of
document's subject. The use of SSICs provides a tested
folders and the appropriate primary, secondary, and
tertiary subject identification numbers (or the
m e t h o d f o r fi l i n g d o c u m e n t s c o n s i s t e n t l y a n d
Table 1-6.--Standard Subject Identification Code Groupings
SSIC
SUBJECT
1000-1999
Military Personnel
2000-2999
Telecommunications
3000-3999
Operations and Readiness
4000-4999
Logistics
5000-5999
General Administration and Management
6000-6999
Medicine and Dentistry
7000-7999
Financial Management
8000-8999
Ordnance Material
9000-9999
Ships Design and Material
10000-10999
General Material
11000-11999
Facilities and Activities Ashore
12000-12999
Civilian Personnel
13000-13999
Aeronautical and Astronautical Material
1-13
