Letter    6-86 Date of Issue:     April 15, 1986             Effective Date:     April 15, 1986 In Reply Refer To:     W/OMlxl             File With:     A-01

Subject:    Use of  Standardized Terms in Policy Statements

Reference(s):

    To establish a uniform interpretation of policy and practice statements, the use of the word "'WILL" to indicate a mandatory policy or practice shall be discontinued in all WSOM Chapters, OML's, and ROML's, issued after April 30, 1986. Instead, the terms "SHALL", "SHOULD", AND "MAY" or "NEED NOT" shall be substituted as defined below.

"SHALL" -- means that a procedure or practice is mandatory.

"SHOULD" -- means that a procedure or practice is recommended.

"MAY" or "NEED NOT" means that a procedure or practice is optional.

"WILL" -- means futurity, not a requirement to be applied to a procedure or practice.

    By October 1, 1992, all WSOM chapters, OML's and ROML's shall use this uniform word interpretation.

Richard E. Hallgren
Assistant Administrator
  for Weather Services