Reference & AI

DAFI 38-404

Air Force

PROGRAM ACTION DIRECTIVES (PAD's, PROGRAM GUIDANCE LETTERS (PGLs), PROGRAMMING PLANS (PPlans), AND PROGRAMMING MESSAGES (PMsgs)

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 38-404, "PROGRAM ACTION DIRECTIVES (PAD's, PROGRAM GUIDANCE LETTERS (PGLs), PROGRAMMING PLANS (PPlans), AND PROGRAMMING MESSAGES (PMsgs)", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated February 13, 2024.

Published

February 13, 2024

OPR

SAF/AA

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

Open the PDF

on static.e-publishing.af.mil

DAFI 38-404 — index record

NumberDAFI 38-404
TitlePROGRAM ACTION DIRECTIVES (PAD's, PROGRAM GUIDANCE LETTERS (PGLs), PROGRAMMING PLANS (PPlans), AND PROGRAMMING MESSAGES (PMsgs)
PublishedFebruary 13, 2024
Certified currentFebruary 13, 2024
Office of primary responsibilitySAF/AA
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionRewrite, February 13, 2024
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (22 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction implements the strategic objectives described in Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 38-4, Continuous Improvement and Airmen Powered by Innovation Program, and supports the direction for an enterprise-wide systematic performance improvement program. This instruction provides guidance on Program Action Directives (PADs), Program Guidance Letters (PGLs), Programming Plans (PPlans), and Programming Messages (PMsgs), to include providing oversight and management of the PAD and PGL process described in Headquarters Air Force Directive (HAFMD) 1-19, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management.

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been revised to address updated process changes, satisfy audit recommendations, and renumbered to numerically align the previous DAFI 10-501 with the Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 38-4 Continuous Improvement and Airmen Powered by Innovation Program, which AFI 10-501 implemented. Major changes include incorporation of provisions relating to the USSF, removal of the Enterprise Productivity Improvement Council, and other administrative updates. For expanded information, visit the AF Portal to access SAF/MG’s current PAD/PGL Management site (https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/10100/PAG-PGL_Portfolio/SitePages/Home.asps).

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEWp. 5
  2. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  3. Chapter 3—GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURESp. 10
  4. Chapter 4—PROGRAM ACTION DIRECTIVE PROCESSp. 13
  5. Chapter 5—PROGRAM GUIDANCE LETTER PROCESSp. 20
  6. Chapter 6—PROGRAMMING PLAN PROCESSp. 26
  7. Chapter 7—PROGRAMMING MESSAGES PROCESSp. 30
  8. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 34
All 34 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEWp. 5
  2. 1.1. Introductionp. 5
  3. 1.2. Program Action Directivep. 5
  4. 1.3. Program Guidance Letterp. 5
  5. 1.4. Programming Planp. 5
  6. 1.5. Programming Messagep. 5
  7. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  8. 2.4. The MAJCOM, FLDCOM, DRU, or FOA Commander will:p. 8
  9. 2.5. The Program Action Directive/Program Guidance Letter OCR will:p. 8
  10. 2.6. The Programming Plan/Programming Message OPR will:p. 9
  11. 2.7. The Programming Plan (PPlan)/Programming Message (PMsg) OCR will:p. 9
  12. Chapter 3—GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURESp. 10
  13. 3.2. Development/Management Toolsp. 10
  14. Chapter 4—PROGRAM ACTION DIRECTIVE PROCESSp. 13
  15. 4.1. Initiate Phasep. 13
  16. 4.2. Program Action Directive Planning/Build Phasep. 13
  17. 4.3. Program Action Directive Execution Phasep. 16
  18. 4.4. Program Action Directive Closure Phasep. 18
  19. Chapter 5—PROGRAM GUIDANCE LETTER PROCESSp. 20
  20. 5.1. Program Guidance Letter Initiate Phasep. 20
  21. 5.2. Program Guidance Letter Planning/Build Phasep. 20
  22. 5.3. Program Guidance Letter Execution Phasep. 22
  23. 5.4. Program Guidance Letter Closure Phasep. 24
  24. Chapter 6—PROGRAMMING PLAN PROCESSp. 26
  25. 6.1. Programming Plan Initiate Phasep. 26
  26. 6.2. Programming Plan Plan/Build Phasep. 26
  27. 6.3. Programming Plan Execution Phasep. 28
  28. 6.4. Programming Plan Closure Phasep. 28
  29. Chapter 7—PROGRAMMING MESSAGES PROCESSp. 30
  30. 7.1. Programming Message Initiate Phasep. 30
  31. 7.2. Programming Message Planning/Build Phasep. 30
  32. 7.3. Programming Message Execution Phasep. 31
  33. 7.4. Programming Message Closure Phasep. 32
  34. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 34

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

500 DAFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

Air Force index

REF: DAFI 38-404, effective February 13, 2024

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 38-404

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

Open the official PDF