TOPHATTERSRONINST 3120.1
28 Sep13
CHAPTER 3 - WATCHSTANDING
SECTION 1 - SQUADRON Duty Officer
300. Purpose. The purpose of this instruction is to set forth the basic guidance and policies governing the standing of the Squadron Duty Officer watch.
301. Introduction. The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO) is part of the watch standing party and as such falls under the cognizance of the Operations Officer. The SDO serves as the principle advisor the Operations Officer on the administration of the routine matters of the drill.
302. Responsibilities. The SDO is responsible for carrying out and enforcing all General Orders and Standing Orders from the Assistant Operations Officer (AOPS), Operations Officer (OPSO), Executive Officer (XO), and Commanding Officer (CO). In addition to the above mentioned the SDO is also responsible for the following specific items:
a. Maintaining record and keeping track of all cadets present, leaving early, and arriving late.
b. Enforcing the Plan of the Month (POM) and ensuring the unit is functioning according to the POMs schedule.
c. Supervising the Watch.
d. Setting the first watch of the day and ensuring Quarterdeck cleanliness is maintained.
e. Be present at PT sessions that occur during the watch.
f. Inform of AOPS, OPS of any abnormal circumstance not previously covered by instructions.
g. Greeting guests/ VIPs at the Quarterdeck.
h. Spot checking the Quarterdeck Log for correctness.
i. Form the unit for, quarters, muster, instruction and inspections.
j. Address any non-divisional specific issues and
k. In the case of divisional specific issues ensure the correct Division Officer is informed.
303. Meal Procedures. The SDO is responsible for obtaining a proper count of cadets and officers going to chow. The correct number is given to the CO while the cadets form up outside. The SDO takes the check or unit debit cardto the galley and obtains a receipt. The receipt is promptly turned into the CO upon return to B-30.
304. Parent's Notes. The SDO is responsible for the collection and documenting all notes from the parents regarding their cadet's attendance for the drill weekend. When a note from a parent is received on the Friday night check-in, the SDO shall verify times that a cadet may leave early or return during the drill weekend. In the event that a cadet must leave during the hours of 2200-0500, the parent or guardian of the cadet must come to the quarterdeck. No cadets are permitted to leave the unit unless accompanied by the parent.
305. Turnover. SDO turnover will take place at the galley after morning chow with standard naval procedure. Upon first entry to the building the SDO is to make the announcement, as written in the Quarterdeck Log: “This is (Rank, Name), I assume all duties and responsibilities of Command Duty Officer”.
SECTION 2 - QUARTERDECK
306. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to explain the quarterdeck procedures in place during drill weekend. All personnel should know these procedures and should be followed at all times while the quarterdeck is open and running.
307. Location. The Top Hatters Quarterdeck is located at the top of the ladder well, on the third deck of building B-30. This is just outside of the main hatch leading into the Top Hattersspaces. The Quarterdeck is a place for official business, and will be treated as such. Participants will not “shoot the breeze” with Watch personnel. Watch personnel will not write or carve on the quarterdeck podium, nor will they lean on the podium. There will be absolutely NO skylarking on the quarterdeck. Anyone caught defacing the Quarterdeck podium will immediately be brought up on charges and a Captain’s Mast will be set for the next day.
308. Manning. The Quarterdeck will be manned at all times while the command is in the building for training or after normal duty hours. Authority to relieve the watch rests with the operational chain of command.
309. Quarterdeck Personnel. Two personnel will be assigned to each shift. These shifts will normally last for a period of 2 hours. Both members of the Quarterdeck watch will be dressed in the Seasonal Service Dress Uniform.
a. Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW). The Petty Officer of the Watch is the cadet responsible for manning the quarterdeck, making log book entries, and communicating with the SDO/OPSO on the proper function of the watch. The POOW shall be assigned a watch of 2-4 hours and shall man that watch until properly relieved by the oncoming watch, the SDO or the OPSO. The watch shall be maintained whenever the unit is in the building or as otherwise directed. After taps the POOW may make rounds when gender related issues are in question but may only do so when relieved on the quarterdeck by the Messenger of the Watch. While on watch, the POOW will wear a duty belt.
b. Messenger of the Watch (MOOW). The Messenger of the Watch is the principal assistant to the Petty Officer of the Watch. The MOOW is responsible for delivering messages, relieving the POOW in such case that the POOW needs to be absent from the quarterdeck (i.e. summoned by an officer, head call, etc.). The MOOW is further responsible for making rounds after taps, and assisting the watch as otherwise directed. While on duty, the MOOW will wear a duty belt.
c. Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). Although not officially part of the quarterdeck watch, the SDO is the first point of contact for any problem or questions encountered by the Quarterdeck Watch. The SDO will be in the spaces during their shift. If there is a problem during overnight hours, the POOW should send the MOOW to wake the SDO.
310. Watchbill. On Friday evening of the drill weekend the watchbill will be set by the Squadron Leading Petty Officer. It will then be forwarded to the SDO, no later than 2100. The SDO will deliver it to the OPSO, who will sign off on it and ensure it is posted.
a. Cadets who are selected for the most recent of the quarter selections are exempt from watch standing for the next calendar quarter.
b. If a Cadet of the Quarter selectee is not at drill for whatever reason, the 3 months will not carry over for an additional month.
311. Quarterdeck Log. Top Hatters Squadron shall utilize THS Form 202 (Rev 11/13) as its Quarterdeck Log. No other forms shall be used as the log.
a. Lettering. All quarterdeck entries shall be made using all capital letters using standard English grammar and punctuation in black ball point pen.
b. Header. The header of each quarterdeck page along with the watch time and personnel standing the watch shall be filled out as per the example.
c. Corrections. All corrections in the log shall be made by neatly one lining and initialing the incorrect information or line and placing the correcting parties' initials above it. The correct information then will be written on the next line or next to the incorrect information as applicable.
d. Late Entries. When a late entry is to be made the actual time the entry is being written shall be placed in the left column in chronological order, followed by the words “Late Entry:”. Immediately following the colon will be the time the late entry was supposed to be written and then the entry itself.
e. End of Day
(1) At 2359 each day the log will be closed out with a diagonal line. Above the line will be written “NO FURTHER ENTRIES THIS PAGE” and the party closing the log will sign below.
(2) On the next page the header and watch information will be re-filled out. The first entry will be at 0000 and read “START OF NEW DAY”.
f. Watch Inspections. Any time the SWO, OPSO, or SDO performs a periodic check of the quarterdeck, the quarterdeck watch, and the quarterdeck log book they shall make their own entry at that time stating “WATCH CHECK PERFORMED BY” and print their name. They will then initial by the entry.
g. Quarterdeck Log Format. The quarterdeck log is to be formatted as per the provided sample which shall be made available to, and posted in the front of the quarterdeck log.
h. Historical Quarterdeck Log Files. At the end of each drill quarterdeck logs will be reviewed by the SWO (typically the OPSO) and maintained for 3 years in the quarterdeck log archive file typically located in the Operations Office.
312. Quarterdeck Relief Procedures. Thirty minutes prior to the scheduled change of watch, the Messenger of the Watch will wake the relief. The relief will be on station 5 minutes before the scheduled change of watch time. These extra 5 minutes allow the watch to pass on any additional information or special instructions to the relief. At the scheduled shift change time, the POOW and MOOW will follow proper relief procedures, exchange duty belts and log the change of watch.
313. Special Situations. The USNSCC is a coed training program, and there may be times in which a male and female are assigned quarterdeck together. Situations like this are special, and in many cases can be delicate. Because of this, the following guidelines for special situations have been developed.
a. Males and femalesare assigned quarterdeck watch, they will be assigned only at times when all personnel are asleep, and both squad bays can be safely monitored after lights out.
b. When a male and female are assigned quarterdeck watch, they will rotate rounds, so each can check the security of their berthing area.
314. The 1MC
a. Purpose. The 1MC is the general announcing system for the unit. Its use, except for emergencies, shall be restricted to the time after reveille and before taps. Word over the 1MC is to be passed by the POOW or officers only.
b. Standard Phraseology. Standard phraseology must be used when utilizing the 1MC as per the example provided in the quarterdeck log. Pertinent events to be passed include, but are not limited to:
(1) Reveille.
(2) Tattoo.
(3) Taps.
(4) Sweepers.
(5) Meetings.
(6) Musters.
(7) Official visitors.
(8) The COs arrival and departure.
(9) Divine services.
(10) Emergency announcements.
(11) Any other word as directed by the POM or Wardroom Staff.
SECTION 3 – DUTY
315. Duty Section. A duty section is a group of cadets, assigned and organized under the leadership of a Section Leader for the purpose of fulfilling duty obligations for an assigned day.
a. Assignment. Cadets will be assigned by the LPO to a duty section upon their arrival to drill. Three sections will be created. In the event a drill is longer than three days long the sections will rotate in order. Each section will have enough cadets, keeping gender requirements in mind, to cover each watch during their day of duty. The senior most cadet in each section will serve as the section leader. LPOs (Squadron, NSCC, NLCC, and INDOC) will not be assigned to duty section.
b. Responsibilities. The duty sections are responsible for all matters of duty during their assigned day. Specific responsibilities include:
(1) Manning of quarterdeck watches.
(2) Cleanliness of the spaces throughout the day.
(3) Sweepers.
(4) Working parties (i.e. setting up for events).
(5) Any other responsibilities as assigned by the duty section chain of command.
c. Turnover. Duty section turnover will take place prior to departure for morning chow with standard naval procedure. The watch standers at that time shall conduct their turnover prior to the unit’s departure.
316. Duty Section Organization
a. Introduction. The duty section will function with its own chain of command. This command has positional authority over the duty section, on its assigned day of duty, for specific matters pertaining to the performance of its functions.
b. Senior Watch Officer. The senior watch officer is responsible for all duty section functioning and oversees all matters thereunto related. The SWO is typically the OPSO unless otherwise assigned.
c. Squadron Duty Officer. The SDO is in charge of all duty section matters and serves as the point of contact for section leaders on his/her day of duty. The SDO is also the after-hours point of contact for watch standers.
d. Section Leaders. The section leaders are in charge of a particular duty section for the duration of the weekend. Section leaders shall be the most senior cadet in each duty section. They are responsible for proper functioning of their duty section and:
(1) Assisting in the writing of the watch bill for the weekend.
(2) Supervising daily cleaning stations.
(3) Assisting in maintaining the Quarterdeck Log.
(4) Carrying out all orders passed from the duty section COC.
3-1 Enclosure (1)