Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1402.03, Volume 6
February 28, 2013
Incorporating Change 1, April 20, 2017
DA&M DCMO
SUBJECT: Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior Level (SL), and Scientific and Professional
(ST) Personnel Categories in the DoD Fourth Estate: Probationary Periods,
Disciplinary Actions, and Removals
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE
a. Instruction. This instruction reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 1402.3 (Reference (a)) as an
instruction in accordance with the authority in DoDD 5105.53 DoDI 5105.82 and Deputy
Secretary of Defense Memorandum (References (b) and (c)). It is composed of multiple
volumes, each containing its own purpose. The purpose of the overall instruction is to establish
policy, assign responsibilities, delegate authorities, and provide the DoD Fourth Estate Entities
with supplemental guidance to the policy, laws, and regulations relevant to the administration of
the SES, SL, and ST categories, in accordance with DoDD 1403.1 (Reference (cd)) and pursuant
to Title 5, United States Code (Reference (de)) and Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations
(Reference (ef)).
b. Volume. This volume:
(1) Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for SES, SL
and ST probationary periods, disciplinary actions, and removals.
(2) Incorporates and cancels chapter 9 of DoD 1402.3-H (Reference (fg)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This volume:
a. Applies to OSD, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint
Staff, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the
DoD that are not in the Military Departments or the Combatant Commands (referred to
collectively in this instruction as the “DoD Fourth Estate.”)
b. Does not apply to:
