Diplomatic Communication Protocols

[Odinson]

DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS​

Available to Foreign Governments​

Communications from the leaders and representatives of the United States Federal Government are virtually always sent through proper diplomatic channels to ensure that messages and information from American sources can be trusted. Diplomatic Headers such as "United States | Communique to the United Kingdom" are written in a particular order and with specific words so that recipients of the message can: determine the authenticity of the message, determine the type of message being transmitted, and get an idea of who the message is coming from. Diplomatic Headers are broken into three parts.

Using the previous example, the parts are explained as follows: "United States" indicates that this is a legitimate message from a legal representative of the United States Federal Government (or legal agent with permission), "Communique" is a Message Status used to describe who the message is coming from and if it is diplomatic/military/intelligence focused, and "to the United Kingdom" indicates the sovereign government or entity that the message is directed towards (shortened names are normally used here, while formal names are used within a message). Message Statuses are further explained below.​

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DIPLOMATIC
MESSAGE STATUS​

Message
Formal communication from either the President or Vice President of the United States, or their offices.

Wire
Diplomatic communication from a senior State Department official such as the Secretary of State, Deputy Secretary of State, etc. or a cabinet-level official of the Federal government.

Communique
Diplomatic communication from an American Ambassador.

Dispatch
Message from military leaders or any official from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, intelligence officials, or federal law enforcement.

Missive
Physically written letter.

Statement
Public communication that is typically celebratory or notating a significant event.

Notice
Diplomatic communication that delivers some kind of ultimatum, order, summons, or warning.

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MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
MESSAGE STATUS​

NMCC Flash Transmission
Emergency Action Message of extreme urgency from the National Command Authority (President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff) regarding: the use of strategic weapons or weapons of mass destruction, initial enemy contact messages, or operational combat messages. These communications require instant transmission to the recipient and are required to be brief, direct, and clearly written.

NMCC Immediate Transmission
Emergency Action Message for communications from the National Command Authority relating to situations gravely affecting the security of the nation in situations such as: widespread civil disturbance, warning of grave natural disaster, and requests for or directions concerning search and rescue operations. These communications require immediate transmission.

NMCC Priority Transmission
Emergency Action Message for communications from the National Command Authority regarding critical news or information that does not have time to be transmitted through normal diplomatic channels.

General Transmission
Communication from a senior civilian official from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security (i.e. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of The Navy, Deputy Secretary of the Army, etc.) or a senior intelligence or law enforcement official.

Dispatch
Communication from a senior military official in the United States armed forces.