Why do our regs and manuals have letters & numbers? Stop the madness!

SSG Robert Burns — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:02:18 -0500

What is the point of the letters and numbers? Why AR 670-1? Why not just "Uniform Regulation?"

Why FM 22-100 as opposed to "Leadership Manual"

Why are the numbers constantly changing?

Boards would be so much easier as well. CSM- "What regulation covers the uniform wear?" Soldier- "CSM the Uniform Regulation does."

Im sure there's a reason somewhere, but it's 1am right now and it's really bugging me.

Maybe someone knows and can inform me so that I can go to sleep.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 15 at 2013 1:27 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:27:09 -0500

As if it could be that simple =)

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Dec 15 at 2013 1:44 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:44:11 -0500

Actually, it is pretty simple. Well, some of it is at least. AR (Army Regulation) and then the numbers actually correspond to specific types of regulations. If you google the Army Publications list, you can see how they are broken down by function and section. Its kind of like the Dewey Decimal System in libraries. All of the pubs have numbers for easy reference AND names so people have some idea what's in them.

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Dec 15 at 2013 1:53 AM

SGT Javier Silva — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:53:20 -0500

SSG Burns,

The reason each regulation has a letter and number on it is to identify that regulation specifically. What would you do to identify separate uniform manuals and/or regulations? If you take a look at some of the regulations today, there are some regulations that set a standard, while a field manual introduces ideas on how to accomplish the standards set by the regulation. In order to do so, you have identify each one by letters and numbers. Also, it is a shorter identification of that regulation. When multiple conversations throughout the day, would you prefer to say "AR 670-1", "670-1" or "the Uniform Regulation"? Or "FM 22-100", "22-100", or "Leadership Manual"? It also helps you to memorize such regulations. It is also identified as follows in some correspondence: AR 670-1, Ch 2, Para 2(a)(1). Services hardly identify the formal title of a regulation in correspondence. If they do, it is done once, then the short title is then used regularly.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2013 7:47 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 07:47:07 -0500

We all know the Army has specific systems and purposes for everything (or for most we'd hope they do). I believe the numbers are tailored towards each field such as: Maintenance Manuals or Regulations are 750 series like FM 750-1, 750-3, etc.. ADP for training 7-0, 7-1..