7-3 Figure 7-2.—Classes of material within stock groups. NATO Stock Numbers A NATO agreement provided for the adoption of the United States NSN system as the basis for the NATO item identification system. A NATO stock number is identical to an NSN with the exception of the national codification bureau (NCB) code. The NCB code consists of the first two digits of the NIIN (see fig. 7-1). The NCB code either identifies the country that assigned the stock number or indicates that the stock number is used by two or more countries. For example, an NCB will be 00 or 01 to indicate the United States. The NCB codes currently assigned to each NATO aligned country are found  in  the  Afloat  Supply  Procedures,  NAVSUP P-485. Navy Item Control Numbers Items of material not included in the federal catalog system but stocked or monitored in the Navy supply system are identified by Navy item control numbers (NICNs). NICNs are 13-character item identification numbers used for permanent or temporary control of selected non-NSN items. An NICN consists of four numerals in the first four positions. The  next  two- positions consist of an alpha code (NICN code) that identifies the type of NICN. Finally there are seven digits or alphanumeric characters that, in conjunction with the NICN code, uniquely identify each NICN item in the Navy supply system. Some examples of NICNs and their codes are as follows. Other NICNs may be found in NAVSUP P-485. NICN NICN CODE APPLICATION 0108-LF-504-2201 LF Cog I stock number for forms 1234-LK-YA1-2345 LK Aircraft change kit numbers 0530-LP-485-0000 LP Cogs OI and OP stock numbers for publications Local Item Control Numbers Local item control numbers (formerly called local stock  numbers)  may  be  assigned  by  local  supply activities for consumable items not identified by an NSN, a NATO stock number, or an NICN. A local item number also consists of 13 characters. The first four characters are numerals that correspond to the FSC of similar NSN items, the fifth and sixth (NCB code area) are LL, and the remaining seven are all numerals. For example: 7520-LL-0001230 Appropriate FSC______________| | | | | Designation for a locally | | assigned identification number_________| | | Serially assigned | identification number______________________| Locally    assigned    item    control    numbers    are authorized for local use only (that is, for shipboard stock records, locator records, bin tags, issue documents, etc.). The numbers are not to be used in requisitions because they would be meaningless within the supply system. COGNIZANCE SYMBOLS A  cognizance  (cog)  symbol  is  a  two-character, alphanumeric code (for example, 1H, 2T, 6T, and 9Z). This symbol identifies and designates the cognizant inventory manager who exercises supply management over specific categories of material. Although not part of the  stock  number,  the  cognizance  symbol  may  be prefixed   to   the   stock   number   in   some   supply publications   and   allowance   listings   (for   example, 2T 1350-00-123-4567).    However,    the    cognizance