DA Form 1687: Block-by-Block Walkthrough, Submission, and Retention

To fill out DA Form 1687, the Army’s Delegation of Authority – Receipt for Supplies, complete all 16 blocks across its three sections, collect a handwritten and CAC-enabled digital signature from each authorized representative and from the delegating officer, then send the form to your Supply Support Activity and property book office before anyone tries to request or sign for property. The current edition is dated December 2023 and is available as a fillable PDF from the Army Publishing Directorate at armypubs.army.mil. The proponent is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4.

Every unit that draws from an SSA needs at least one active DA Form 1687 on file. DA Pamphlet 710-2-1 makes the form mandatory for all property requiring formal accountability at the user level, and specifically for Class VII major end items, narcotics, ammunition, controlled forms, COMSEC, and weapons. Commanders can extend it to other categories at their discretion.¹ For ammunition, the Ammunition Supply Point will not process a DA Form 581 without a valid 1687 already on file.

Block-by-Block Walkthrough

The form has three sections: authorized representatives at the top (Blocks 1–6), the authorization itself in the middle (Blocks 7–9), and the “I Assume Full Responsibility” section at the bottom (Blocks 10–16). Supply personnel compare every entry against the form before releasing property, so accuracy in each block is what keeps transactions moving.

Authorized Representatives (Blocks 1–6)

Block 1 – Date. The calendar date you prepare the form.

Block 2 – Organization Receiving Supplies. The unit name. If a hand-receipt or sub-hand-receipt holder is delegating authority, include the hand-receipt number or section name.¹

Block 3 – Location. City and state of the unit.

Block 4 – Last, First, Middle Initial. List each authorized representative by name. If you don’t use every line, write “NOT USED” on the next blank line so no one can add names later.

Block 5 – Authority. For each name in Block 4, enter YES or NO in the REQ (request) and REC (receive) columns. YES under REQ lets that person submit supply requests; YES under REC lets them physically sign for and pick up items. You can grant one, the other, or both.²

Block 6 – Signature and Initials. Each representative provides both a handwritten signature and a CAC-enabled digital signature. DA PAM 710-2-1 requires both, and the SSA will verify them against each person’s Common Access Card. Contractor personnel who don’t hold a government CAC are exempt from the digital signature; annotate “Contractor” after their name in the authorized personnel block.¹

Authorization (Blocks 7–9)

Block 7 – Delegates To / Withdraws From. Mark an X in “Delegates To” to grant authority. The “Withdraws From” box is used only when revoking a previous delegation.

Block 8 – The Authority To. Specify the classes of supply the listed representatives may handle. Be precise. Entering “Class II, Class IX” limits the delegation to clothing/equipment and repair parts; a broader entry covers more categories. Match the classes to the DODAAC’s authorized supply types.²

Block 9 – Remarks. Identify the specific SSA the form is being sent to. If your unit deals with multiple supply activities, such as a main warehouse and a Central Issue Facility, prepare a separate DA Form 1687 for each. Do not combine them on one form.

I Assume Full Responsibility (Blocks 10–16)

This is where the commander or accountable officer formally takes ownership of the delegation.

Block 10 – Unit Identification Code. The six-character alphanumeric UIC for the assigned unit.³

Block 11 – DODAAC/Account Number. The unit DODAAC. Only one per form. If your unit has multiple accounts, prepare separate forms.²

Block 12 – Last, First, Middle Initial. Name of the responsible person, usually the unit commander or shop chief. This name must match the assumption-of-command letter on file.

Block 13 – Grade. Rank of the responsible person.

Block 14 – Telephone Number. Include the area code.

Block 15 – Expiration Date. The date the delegation expires. Do not set a date later than when the delegating authority expects to leave the position. Most supply activities accept expirations up to two years out.²

Block 16 – Signature. The responsible person signs here, using the same dual-signature rule as Block 6 (handwritten plus digital).

Submitting the Form

Keep one copy at the unit and send the remaining copies to the appropriate SSA and property book office.¹ The SSA files the original in a master file organized by UIC. Logistics personnel verify the delegating officer’s signature against the assumption-of-command orders on file and compare each representative’s CAC EDIPI number to the number on the delegation before releasing supplies.

The SSA will not process a request from anyone whose 1687 is missing, expired, or doesn’t match their identification. Mismatched signatures, incorrect DODAACs, and blank required fields will bounce the form back for correction. The form is also inspected during Command Logistics Review Team and Inspector General audits, so errors travel beyond the supply window.⁴

Adding or Removing a Representative

You don’t need to redo the whole form every time the roster changes. DA PAM 710-2-1 provides a streamlined process for both cases.¹

To add someone, prepare a new DA Form 1687 listing only the new person. In Block 9, enter “Added, previous editions remain in effect.” Existing delegations stay active and the new name joins the roster.

To remove someone, prepare a DA Form 1687 listing the person being deleted. The person being removed does not sign. Mark an X in the Withdraws From box in Block 7 and circle it with colored pencil or ink so it stands out. In Remarks, enter “Deleted, other personnel listed remain in effect.” Submit the form to the SSA so the name comes out of the active file. Units often fall behind here: if a soldier PCSes or changes roles and nobody submits the deletion, the name stays on file and could be used to draw supplies improperly.

When the Delegation Ends

The delegation expires on the date in Block 15. Once that date passes, the form is dead and new ones have to be prepared to keep transactions flowing. The expiration date is the delegating officer’s call, but it should never extend past the date that officer expects to leave the position.²

A change of command terminates every delegation under the outgoing commander. The incoming commander prepares and submits new DA Forms 1687 with their assumption-of-command orders. Units that wait until after the ceremony risk a gap during which nobody is authorized to draw supplies, which hits hardest during field exercises or deployment cycles.

Individual authority also ends when a person leaves the unit or moves to a role that no longer requires supply access. If the unit doesn’t formally revoke the delegation, the authorization technically remains on file until someone catches it during an audit.

Storage, PII, and Retention

DA Form 1687 carries personally identifiable information, including names, ranks, and signatures, that falls under the Privacy Act of 1974. Federal agencies must safeguard records containing PII from unauthorized access and disclosure.⁵ Store completed forms in locked cabinets or access-controlled digital folders, and limit visibility to personnel who need the information for supply operations.

Don’t throw expired or revoked forms away. Retain the form and its supporting documents for a minimum of six years, which covers the typical audit window for command logistics reviews.⁴ Keep digital copies alongside the current active delegations so inspectors can trace who was authorized to sign for what, and when that authority ended.

Consequences of a False or Improper Form

Signing a DA Form 1687 with false information, such as fabricating a commander’s signature, listing unauthorized personnel, or backdating the form, exposes the signer to prosecution under Article 107 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for making a false official statement. Article 107 covers anyone subject to military law who signs a false official document or makes a false statement knowing it to be untrue.⁶ An improperly executed delegation can also freeze a unit’s entire supply account until the discrepancy is resolved, which affects every soldier in the organization.

1
Army Safety. DA PAM 710-2-1 Using Unit Supply System Manual Procedures
2
New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. DA Form 1687 Instructions for Both Warehouses
3
Dover Air Force Base. DA Form 1687 Delegation of Authority
4
Division of Military and Naval Affairs – New York State. DA Form 1687 Delegation of Authority Letter of Instruction
5
Department of Defense. FAQs
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 907 – Art 107 False Official Statements False Swearing