CHAPTER 14

SHIPBOARD DUTIES

An MAC will normally be assigned duties as the Chief Master-at-Arms (CMAA) aboard ship, providing the MAC is the senior MA aboard. On larger ships, the executive officer (XO) may select an E-8 or E-9 as the CMAA. An MA1 reporting aboard ship can expect to be assigned to duties ranging from CMAA, assistant to the CMAA, or other MA-related duties (training PO for the MA force, investigate, and so forth). The CMAA in those cases may be an MAC or an MA1 serving on independent duty.

Aboard ship, the CMAA is responsible to the XO for maintaining good order and discipline. On larger ships, the CMAA may report to a limited duty officer or warrant officer (649X/749X) assigned as the security officer. To assist the CMAA, a number of persons of different ratings and, in some cases, lower rated MAs are assigned to the MA force.

On many small ships, assignment to the MA force of those persons of ratings other than MA may only be a collateral duty, and the MA functions are only performed on duty days. Aboard larger vessels, personnel of ratings other than MA are normally assigned on a TAD basis and perform full-time MA duties. These TAD personnel normally serve a period of 6 months.

The rated MA's primary duties, ashore and afloat, are law enforcement oriented. Aboard ship, however, many additional duties exist that are non-MA related, primarily because the number of officers, CPOs, and POs means that a great number of odd-jobs must be distributed evenly. Some tasking may be made because of the superior quality of leadership that should be the mainstay of all rated MAs. The MA must be thoroughly knowledgeable with all applicable ship's instructions that govern his or her specific duties and responsibilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CMAA

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List and describe some of the duties of the CMAA.

Aboard a ship where no security officer is assigned, the CMAA functions as one of several executive

assistants to the XO and is responsible for the supervision of the MA force. The CMAA reports to the XO for the performance of assigned duties. For routine administration and accountability of personnel assigned to the MA force, the CMAA reports to a division officer assigned by the XO (normally X division). For the replacement of MA force personnel, the CMAA would normally forward a request to the personnel officer 30 days in advance of the desired transfer date.

SAFETY

The CMAA is a member of the enlisted safety committee. This committee is established to make recommendations concerning the ship's safety program to the safety council and to enhance interdepartmental communication in accident prevention.

TRAINING

The CMAA is responsible for making sure that all personnel assigned to the MA force are properly instructed in their duties. Time for instruction should be allotted each workday whenever possible.

PUBLICATIONS

Handling, correcting, and using official publications and directives are routine but important duties of the MA force. Much of the efficiency of the MA force depends upon your knowledge of the applicable publications and directives and how well you know how to use them.

The MA force must be able to identify the various publications, directives, and forms by title and have a good working knowledge of their contents.

SHORE PATROL AND BEACH GUARD

The CMAA afloat has the responsibility for training and/or briefing the ship's shore patrol and beach guard. When the ship is in a port where shore patrol and/or beach guard requirements exist, the CMAA should meet daily with personnel assigned to these duties to make sure they understand the scope of their responsibilities.

Shore Patrol

The primary mission of the shore patrol is to preserve order among members of the armed forces who are on leave or in a liberty status. They also provide assistance and information when necessary and apprehend, or otherwise control, military personnel who violate laws and regulations. Specific procedures for shore patrol are covered in chapter 12 of this manual.

Beach Guard

When boat landings are established, personnel may be assigned duty as beach guard. It is the duty of the beach guard to maintain order at the boat landing; control the boat traffic in the vicinity of the landing; enforce safety precautions both at the landing and in the boats; and see that boats are not left unattended, that the crews are in proper dress, and that the boats are not overloaded. As a beach guard, you should be particularly careful to make sure coxswains obey the Rules of the Road, boats do not back into the way of moving vessels, other boats are not endangered by the wake from Navy boats, and liberty boats are not overloaded with personnel. If adverse conditions warrant, the senior person at the landing may refuse to load boats or may request the ship provide boat officers for their craft.

I DIVISION

The I Division officer is appointed by the XO. The CMAA may be assigned this duty. If another person is assigned, the CMAA assists the I Division officer in supervising and coordinating the indoctrination of newly assigned personnel.

Persons assigned as I Division instructors should report to the I Division officer for a briefing of their duties at least 10 minutes before to their scheduled period of instruction.

EXECUTION OF THE SHIP'S ROUTINE

The CMAA assists the officer of the deck (OOD) in the execution of the ship's routine, including taps, maintaining silence after taps, supervising the control of standing lights, and the crew's turning out promptly for all-hands evolutions.

Other duties for which the CMAA is responsible are listed in OPNAVINST 3120.32, Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy (SORM). The CMAA

should frequently review the SORM and make sure it remains up to date, including any ship's modifications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MASTER-AT-ARMS FORCE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List and describe the pertinent duties of the MA force.

Personnel assigned to the MA force are responsible to the CMAA for assisting the OOD in the execution of the ship's routine. Pertinent duties of the MA force are detailed in the following paragraphs.