ROUTINE DUTIES

Aboard ship all persons except authorized "late sleepers" are required to turnout of their bunks promptly at reveille. To ensure compliance, the MA should walk through the berthing compartments 15-20 minutes tier reveille. Names of personnel remaining in their bunks should be taken and either checked against the list of authorized late sleepers or be provided to the person's leading petty officer. Names of repeat offenders should be reported to the CMAA for action. On larger ships, a "Reveille PO" is sometimes assigned this responsibility.

During all-hands evolutions, frequent inspections of the unit should be conducted by the MA force. Persons shirking duty should be reported to the officer in charge of the evolution.

The MA force should know the lighting requirements for standing lights and know where the lighting switches are located. Standing lights are turned on at sunset and are secured at sunrise unless otherwise directed by proper authority. This task is usually handled by the messenger of the watch, but supervisory control of the standing lights lies with the CMAA.

At sea, MAs may periodically be sent topside after Darken Ship is set to check for light leaks or violations and to ensure the smoking lamp restriction is enforced on deck. Violators should be reported to the CMAA. Light leaks caused by equipment problems should be reported to the OOD and damage control central.

When taps has sounded, MA force personnel should tour the ship to ensure compliance. All white lights should be turned off and red lights turned on in berthing compartments. Radios, tape players, and the like should be turned off and internal noise kept to an absolute minimum. External noise should be kept at a level that will not disturb persons trying to sleep.

The responsibility for enforcing rules and regulations lies not only with personnel of the MA force, but with every military person aboard ship. When a rule or regulation is violated, the MA should take immediate action to correct the situation. If the violation can be corrected immediately, take steps to do so. If the problem cannot be corrected immediately, make sure explicit instructions are issued to the violator. Follow up to ensure the violator follows the instructions. Violations such as improper uniforms or haircuts should be brought to the attention of the violator's immediate supervisor. Placing a person on report should be the absolute last resort for minor offenses. However, when persons are involved in more serious offenses, such as unauthorized absence, assault, or possession of drugs or narcotics, or are frequently involved in minor offenses, you have no alternative but to place the violator on report.

LIBERTY PARTIES

An MA should be present to assist the OOD in controlling departing and returning liberty parties. The quarterdeck area should be kept clear of unnecessary personnel at all times. In accomplishing this task, MAs should use a great deal of tact and diplomacy. A person returning to the ship under the influence of alcohol should be handled very carefully. If a confrontation develops, the MA should remove the individual from the quarterdeck as quickly as possible, with only the minimum amount of force required. A word of caution: Never THREATEN to use physical force. If it becomes necessary to use force, use it.

VISITING

General visiting will be permitted aboard ship only as authorized by competent authority. Personal visits by relatives and friends of the ship's company should be authorized by the commanding officer.

Public Affairs Officer

When authorized visitors are to be received aboard, the public affairs officer should prepare suitable literature for distribution to them. Such matters as the history of the ship and a brief on the origin of the ship's name may be included The public affairs officer should also obtain copies of the visitor's boat schedules and should distribute them to the MA at the landings and to the public through local public affairs officers.

Deck Department Head

The deck department head (weapons officer or first lieutenant) should organize and instruct guides for the visitors and should designate heads and other facilities for visitor's use. This officer should also prepare special boat schedules for visitors and provide copies to the public affairs officer after they have been approved by the XO.

Damage Control Assistant

The damage control assistant (DCA) normally is responsible for preparation of NO VISITORS and NO SMOKING signs. These signs are placed in appropriate

places by the various department heads. The NO SMOKING signs are placed where required, and the NO VISITOR signs at each access to restricted areas (combat information center, radio central, emergency radio, sonar spaces, weapons system spaces, ready-service weapons rooms, magazines, engineering spaces and auxiliaries, electronic warfare spaces, plot and IC rooms, and so forth). Be sure to check the ship's addendum to the SORM to ensure all restricted spaces are posted.

Department Heads

Heads of departments also provide sentries as necessary at accesses to restricted areas and for surveillance of traffic routes. They make sure the ship is ready to receive visitors and observe the progress and conduct of the visit. They also ensure the security of restricted matter and spaces, such as classified publications and correspondence, equipment, and ammunition.

Guides

As visitors arrive, the OOD will assign a guide to groups of approximately 10-15 visitors, have literature distributed, and direct the guides to commence the tour following a prespecified route. Unless authorized by the commanding officer, visitors' cameras should be checked with the OOD, who should make sure they are tagged with the owner's name and are properly safeguarded.

Guides should point out and explain items of interest, request visitors to remain together, and be alert for their safety.

Some procedures for the guides may include the following: l Know the route thoroughly, including locations

of hazardous areas, restricted spaces, visitor head facilities, first aid boxes, and telephones. Be equipped with a map of the tour route showing the above spaces and have a flashlight in the event of a power failure. . Know how to use communication equipment,

including hand-held radios (if issued), ship's telephones, sound-powered equipment, and "squawk boxes." Provide written information to the guides listing the telephone number(s), sound-powered circuit information, and/or squawk box information for the quarterdeck, sick bay, and DC central. . Require the guides to count the number of

persons in each party before and after the tour and to report any discrepancies to the OOD. If enough persons are available, a guide should be assigned to lead the party and another person assigned to follow the visitors to collect stragglers. l If an emergency situation develops, the guide

should not leave the party unattended but should use the nearest radio or telephone to call the OOD. These situations may include persons knowingly leaving the tour route; creating disruptions; attempting to force their way into restricted areas; medical emergencies; lost children; and any number of similar problems.

The CMAA

The CMAA may be responsible for posting and instructing sentries and guides and for general policing of visitor areas, observance of safety precautions, general good order, and compliance with visitor instructions. The CMAA may also have departmental duty petty officers act as roving patrols to assist sentries and guides and to make sure they remain properly stationed and alert.

The MA Force

Immediately following the debarkation of the last visitor, a thorough inspection should be conducted by the MA force to make sure all visitors have cleared the ship. Results of this inspection should be reported to the OOD.

INSPECTIONS

The procedure for conducting zone inspections is normally outlined in the ship's bills or instructions. The

primary function of the MA force during zone inspections is to act as guides for the inspectors. The CMAA normally escorts the commanding officer.

The DCA is responsible for preparation of the zone inspection procedure. The XO usually designates the inspection parties for each zone. Division officers should make sure personnel are standing by their spaces during the inspection.

Personnel inspection procedures differ from ship to ship. The CMAA should understand the process, including any special requirements of the commanding officer. Questions regarding the process should be referred beforehand to the XO. The CMAA normally escorts the commanding officer. The commanding officer may refer questions regarding grooming and uniform standards to the CMAA during the inspection. It is, therefore, very important to keep abreast of any changes to the uniform regulations.

EMERGENCIES

Adequate personnel from the MA force should be present at the scene of emergencies to maintain order and to keep the scene clear of unnecessary personnel.

When the word is passed that a person is overboard, the MAs maybe directed to search the ship for persons failing to muster. The CMAA should make sure the ship is divided into specific search areas to ensure a quick but thorough and orderly search.

During general quarters, the MAs maybe assigned to various battle stations. If not, establish roving patrols to safeguard any personal gear or valuables left unsecured by crew members.