Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 3200.16
April 21, 2015
Incorporating Change 1, December 4, 2017
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Operational Range Clearance (ORC)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This instruction reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 3200.16 (Reference (a)), in
accordance with the authority in DoD Directives (DoDDs) 5124.02 and 3200.15 (References (b)
and (c)), to establish policy, assign responsibilities, and provide procedures for conducting ORC
to maintain operational range safety and sustainability.
2. APPLICABILITY. This instruction:
a. Applies to:
(1) OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this instruction as the “DoD
Components”).
(2) Operational ranges within the United States.
(3) Operational ranges outside the United States to the extent compliance with this
instruction does not conflict with obligations under applicable international agreements,
including status of forces agreements, country-specific final governing standards, and DoD
4715.05-G (Reference (d)), whichever apply.
(4) The DoD Component with real property accountability for the range.
b. Does not apply to:
(1) Indoor ranges or other than operational ranges.
(2) Operational ranges used solely to support contingency operations, unless otherwise
specified.
