1. Shipboard Organization and Military Duties of a Naval Officer
INTRO TO NAVSCI
Shipboard Organization and
Military Duties of a Naval Officer

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Your First Day Onboard Ship Getting Underway for a day
- Meeting the crew
- How do they run the ship?
- Special events, training

8. Coming aboard ship - The OOD (In-Port)
- “Request permission to come aboard.”

9. The OOD (In Port) Supervises the quarterdeck
Ensures security of the ship
Carries out the Plan of the Day (POD)

10. 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)

11. Other Quarterdeck watches
Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW)
OOD’s primary assistant
usually armed
Messenger of the Watch

12. Department Heads Responsible for all aspects of their department
Answer to XO & CO
Examples of departments:
Operations Navigation
Weapons/Deck Medical/Dental
Engineering Air (carriers)
Supply

13. “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)

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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!

17. 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

18. 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)

19. Maintenance men Your most junior personnel Typically E-4 and below
years old

20. 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

21. The top of the chain
Executive Officer (XO)
Commanding Officer (CO)

22. 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)

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Now see how they’re organized!
You’ve met the people . . .
Now see how they’re
organized!

27. Administrative Chain of Command

28. UNDERWAY! SHIFT COLORS!

29. Ship’s Watches

30. 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.

31. 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!

32. 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

34. Deck Log Includes every occurrence of significance to the ship/crew
engine orders
courses, speeds, positions
weather, damage, accidents
changes in ship’s personnel or passengers
etc, etc.

35. Deck Log Primary chronological record of all watches
Deck Log can be used as legal evidence
Collision, grounding

36. While on the bridge . . . Suddenly, you hear
“Ding Ding! Ding Ding! Ding Ding! Ding Ding!”
What was that?

37. Telling time by the Bells
Every half-hour, an odd number of bells are struck.
Every 4 hours, the cycle repeats.
0800, 8 bells struck.
0830, 1 bell Ding!
0900, 2 bells Ding, Ding!
0930, 3 bells Ding, Ding! Ding!
1000, 4 bells Ding, Ding! Ding, Ding!

38. 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.

39. 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.

41. 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)

42. 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

43. 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

44. Engineer’s Bell Book
Chronological record of all orders to the engine room(s) affecting ship’s speed

45. Underway Watch Organization

46. 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

47. 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.”

48. 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.”

49. “Set the Sea & Anchor Detail!”

50. 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

51. “General Quarters!”
“General Quarters! General Quarters! All hands man your battle stations!”
(Bong! Bong! Bong! Bong! . . .)

52. Battle Organization 5 Conditions of Readiness I: GENERAL QUARTERS!
Maximum state of readiness. “Battle Stations!”
IA: Amphibious Assault
II: Special watch for gunfire support ships
III: Wartime Cruising
IV: Normal peacetime cruising
V: Peacetime watch in port

53. 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?