CO's Night Orders are kept for how long after the date of final entry?

• A. Three years after date of final entry
• B. One year after final entry
• C. Five years after final entry
• D. Ten years after final entry

Answer: (A)

Night Orders are kept for three years after the date of final entry. This timing gives a solid window to review what was issued and followed during the watch, supports accountability during turnover periods, and provides a reasonable archival period without holding on to records indefinitely. Three years balances the need to preserve useful guidance and historical reference with the practicality of not overburdening the command with long-term storage. Shorter periods, like one year, could lead to loss of context during later reviews or investigations, while longer periods, such as five or ten years, are usually unnecessary for these day-to-day watch instructions.