INTRO TO NAVSCI
Shipboard Organization and
Military Duties of a Naval Officer
Learning Objectives
• The student will . . .
– Know shipboard command relationships and
organizations for both operational and
administrative environments
– Identify the organization of shipboard battle,
special operation, and peacetime routine
watch teams, in port, at anchor, underway,
and the responsibilities, accountability, and
duties of each watchstander
Learning Objectives
• The student will . . .
– Identify the shipboard administrative
organization, including the primary duties of
the CO, XO, Department Heads, and Division
Officers
– Identify the various conditions of readiness
– Identify the purpose of the Watch, Quarter,
and Station Bill
Learning Objectives
• The student will . . .
– Recall the purpose and contents of the ship’s
deck log and the engineering log.
– Describe the duties and authority of naval
officers.
Authority
• U.S. Navy Regulations outlines the
authority of all naval personnel. Upon
commissioning, the officer is granted the
authority and responsibility to perform
his/her duties.
• http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/regs.htm
Your First Day Onboard Ship
Getting Underway for a day
- Meeting the crew
- How do they run the ship?
- Special events, training
Coming aboard ship
• - The OOD (In-Port)
• - “Request permission to come aboard.”
The OOD (In Port)
• Supervises the quarterdeck
• Ensures security of the ship
• Carries out the Plan of the Day (POD)
Command Duty Officer (CDO)
• Inport – Senior line officer
– Authorized to take ship to sea if required
(designated in writing)
– Direct representative of the CO
• Underway - Assist the Captain during
special evolutions (Flight Operations, for
example)
Other Quarterdeck watches
• Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW)
– OOD’s primary assistant
– usually armed
• Messenger of the Watch
Department Heads
• Responsible for all aspects of their
department
– Answer to XO & CO
– Examples of departments:
• Operations
• Weapons/Deck
• Engineering
• Supply
Navigation
Medical/Dental
Air (carriers)
“Welcome to Engineering!”
• You are the new Electrical Division Officer
on board.
• Meet your fellow DivO’s!
– Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA)
– Damage Control Assistant (DCA)
– Repair Division Officer (R-Divo)
Division Officer
• Responsible to DH
• Carries out policies of the command
• Sees that tasks assigned to the division
are carried out in a timely manner
• Inspects divisional spaces, equipment, &
personnel
• Responsible for training division members
Now meet your division!
• Your DH takes you down to the
propulsion plant.
• Here, you meet EMC Jones, your new
Chief.
• He has mustered your division so that
they can meet you.
Division Chief Petty Officer
• Most senior enlisted member of the
division (LCPO)
• Wears khaki uniform (E-7 or above)
• Your right hand man!
– A good CPO can teach you a great deal!
Divisional Leading Petty Officer
(LPO)
• The senior-most “blue-shirt” in your
division.
• Often a First Class Petty Officer (E-6)
• Delegated authority by you (through your
Chief) to run the division
– maintenance
– some admin
– some counseling of junior enlisted
Work Center Supervisor
• An experienced petty officer who
understands how maintenance should be
done
• May have more than one (depending on
the size of your division)
• Typically a Second Class PO (E-5)
Maintenance men
• Your most junior personnel
• Typically E-4 and below
• 18 - 20 years old
How are your men assigned?
• By the Watch, Quarter, and Station
Bill
– Delineates personnel by
• Name, Rank, Billet
• Battle Station
• Watches for each Condition of Readiness
• Cleaning Stations
• Abandon Ship Stations
• R&A Details, Special Sea Details
The top of the chain
• Executive Officer (XO)
• Commanding Officer (CO)
The Executive Officer
• Second in command to the CO
• Coordinates all departments
• Assists CO in the areas of
– morale, welfare (MWR)
– assignment of personnel and records
– preparation of ship’s bills and orders
– education & training
– loading and berthing (living quarters)
The Executive Officer
• Assists CO in the areas of
– ship’s correspondence
– approving of leave and liberty
– Discipline
• Holds XOI (Executive Officer’s Inquiry)
• Precursor to Captain’s Mast
• XO makes recommendation to CO
The Commanding Officer
• The CO has absolute responsibility for the
overall safety, well-being, and efficiency
of his/her command, including
– safe navigation
– preparation for battle
– morale, welfare, and living conditions of the
crew
– and much more
The Commanding Officer
• The CO can delegate authority, but never
responsibility
• Delegates training and education to the
XO
• Supervises conduct of all personnel
• Only unrestricted line officers can
command underway
You’ve met the people . . .
Now see how they’re
organized!
Administrative Chain of Command
CO
XO
Air Boss
OPS
DIVO's
DIVO's
GATOR
CHENG
E-DIV
OFFICER
(You)
DIVO's
CPO
LPO
WCS
WCS
Maintenance
Men
Maintenance
Men
DCPO
FIRST LT
WEPS
SUPPO
Medical DH
Dental DH
DIVO's
DIVO's
DIVO's
DIVO's
UNDERWAY! SHIFT COLORS!
Ship’s Watches
Bridge Watch
• Officer of the Deck (OOD) – Takes charge of
the safe and proper operation of the ship. CO
places special trust and confidence in this
person. “ I have the deck.”
– Make all required reports to the CO.
– Supervise all personnel on watch, ensuring all
required deck log entries are made.
– Be aware of the status of the engineering plant and
keep the Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW)
advised of power requirements.
– Carry out the daily ship’s routine.
Bridge Watch
• Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD) –
directs the movement of the ship.
– Usually is also the Conning Officer.
– When someone “has the Conn”, they are the
ONLY person who can give orders to the
helm and lee helm.
– Everyone on the bridge MUST know who has
the Conn at all times!
Bridge Watch
• Enlisted Watchstations
– Helmsman – On the helm, takes rudder orders
– Lee Helmsman – On the lee helm, takes engine
orders
– Quartermaster
• Assists OOD in safe navigation of the ship
• Plots ship’s position on the chart
• Helps OOD keep the Deck Log
– Boatswain’s Mate – Maintains the 1MC and ship’s
time
Deck Log
• Includes every occurrence of significance
to the ship/crew
• Includes
– engine orders
– courses, speeds, positions
– weather, damage, accidents
– changes in ship’s personnel or passengers
– etc, etc.
Deck Log
• Primary chronological record of all
watches
• Deck Log can be used as legal evidence
– Collision, grounding
While on the bridge . . .
• Suddenly, you hear
• “Ding Ding! Ding Ding! Ding Ding! Ding
Ding!”
• What was that?
Telling time by the Bells
• Every half-hour, an odd number of bells
are struck.
• Every 4 hours, the cycle repeats.
– 0800,
– 0830,
– 0900,
– 0930,
– 1000,
8
1
2
3
4
bells struck.
bell
Ding!
bells
Ding, Ding!
bells
Ding, Ding! Ding!
bells
Ding, Ding! Ding, Ding!
Telling time by the Bells
• Every 4 hours, the cycle repeats.
– 1030, 5 bells
– 1100, 6 bells
– 1130, 7 bells
– 1200, 8 bells
– 1230, 1 bell
– etc, etc.
Combat Information Center
• Combat Systems Watch Officer (CICWO)
– Supervises the combat information center
(CIC)
– Ensures that OOD is kept advised of
recommendations for maintaining station and
safe navigation.
Combat Information Center
• Tactical Action Officer (TAO)
– Assigned by the CO during wartime steaming
or higher threat
– Responsible for tactical employment of ship’s
weapons systems and ship defense.
– The CO gives this person direct authorization
to fire weapons (without getting his
permission, if necessary)
Engineering
• Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW)
– Responsible for the safe operation of the
ship’s engineering plant.
– Keeps the Engineering Log and Bell Book
Engineering Log
• Daily record of all aspects affecting the
engineering plant
– Operation of ship’s propulsion and auxiliary
machinery
– Any significant change to plant status is
entered:
• Start-up or shut-down
• Changes in electric plant
Engineer’s Bell Book
• Chronological record of all orders to the
engine room(s) affecting ship’s speed
Underway Watch Organization
CO
TAO
CICWO
CIC
Watches
OOD
JOOD
(Conning Off.)
Helm
JOOW
NAV
EOOW
Lee Helm
PPWO
PPWO
Boilers/Reactors
Gas Turbines
Main Engines
Auxiliaries
BMOW
Electric Plant
Bridge
Lookouts
Quartermaster
Steering Gear
Watch
Proper Watch Turnover
• Oncoming watchstander makes a tour of
his/her watchstation and reads logs.
– EOOW: Propulsion plant
– OOD: Various places throughout the ship
(Engineering plant, CIC)
• Offgoing watchstander briefs his/her
relief
– Events that happened during previous watch
– Upcoming events
Proper Watch Turnover
• Oncoming watchstander makes sure that
he/she has full understanding of the
situation before relieving the watch.
• (Saluting) “I relieve you, sir.”
• (Saluting) “I stand relieved.”
• “Attention in the pilot house! This is LT
Mendenilla, LT Solomon has the deck.”
• “This is LT Solomon, I have the deck.”
Proper Watch Turnover
• Watch team acknowledges:
– “Helm, aye. Steering course 085, checking
087.”
– “Lee helm, aye. All engines ahead 1/3
indicating 115 turns for 12 knots.”
– “Quartermaster, aye.”
– “Boatswain’s Mate, aye.”
“Set the Sea & Anchor Detail!”
Sea & Anchor Detail
• When? Pulling in and out of port,
transiting through a channel or canal, etc.
• Extra bridge watchstanders
• Extra watchstanders in the propulsion
plants
• Extra watchstanders in Rudder Control
room
• Extra lookouts
“General Quarters!”
“General Quarters! General
Quarters! All hands man your
battle stations!”
(Bong! Bong! Bong! Bong! . . .)
Battle Organization
• 5 Conditions of Readiness
– I:
GENERAL QUARTERS!
• Maximum state of readiness. “Battle Stations!”
• IA: Amphibious Assault
– II:
– III:
– IV:
– V:
Special watch for gunfire support
ships
Wartime Cruising
Normal peacetime cruising
Peacetime watch in port
Possible test questions
• Describe the ship’s administrative chain of
command. What does each member do?
• List all of the underway watches. What is
each one responsible for?
• What are the major departments aboard
every Navy ship?