General Guidance on Read-Ahead Packages for the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary

• This guidance covers read-ahead packages for all meetings, briefings, interviews, phone calls, and events involving the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) and Deputy (DepSecDef).  It includes procedures and templates for standard read-aheads, Principal Committee/National Security Council (PC/NSC) read-aheads, talking/discussion points, phone call talking points, and foreign visits.
• E-mail updates reflecting changes in the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) schedules will be sent as they occur.
• Components will deliver an original read-ahead plus nine (9) copies of SD read-aheads using the attached guidelines and templates to Ms. Belinda Purifoy in room 3E880. Components will email DSD read-ahead material to DepSecDefSAMA@sd.mil in lieu of hard copies. 
• Deadline for read-aheads is 1200 two workdays prior to a scheduled event unless specified earlier.  For example, if the prep session for a visit is at 1400 on Wednesday, the read-ahead is due at 1200 on Monday. If a meeting is at 1000 Monday, the read-ahead is due at 1200 on Thursday the week prior.
• Components must notify the Executive Secretary at (703)692-7120 if they anticipate being late submitting a read-ahead.
• Primary offices are responsible for coordinating with secondary offices and consolidating material into a single product to avoid unnecessary duplication. Coordinating offices are responsible for timely coordination.  Primary offices will complete all coordination before submitting the read-ahead.
• Component principal or senior official must review, approve and initial all read-ahead packages before submission.
• For some meetings, the Secretary’s office may host a preparatory coordination meeting to ensure the agenda and materials meet the objectives.  In that case, read-ahead packages will be due 48 hours prior to the prep session.
• When preparing classified documents, refer to DoD 5200.1-PH, the DoD Guide to marking classified documents. Classified read-aheads must contain appropriate portion markings.
• The point of contact regarding questions about specific topics or required coordination is  Ms. Belinda Purifoy at 703-692-7120/7122, or one of the Executive Secretariat Military Assistants at (703) 692-7125.
• Templates for Read-Aheads can also be found at the following link: https://www.esd.whs.mil/CMD/Templates/