WATCH-TO-WATCH INVENTORY

To ensure positive control of NWPL publications, a watch-to-watch inventory should be conducted. At the change of each watch, the watches jointly conduct a visual inventory of every publication held by the watch section. Those loose-leaf publications requiring a page check at the end of the watch must be indicated on the inventory sheet.

The signing of the watch-to-watch inventory by the relieving watch certifies that the publications were sighted, the required page checks were conducted, and that the relieving watch stander is responsible for them. Any discrepancies should be resolved prior to the relieving of the watch.

All signatures in the watch-to-watch inventory must be in ink. The inventory may be destroyed after 30 days if it is no longer needed for local reference. If watch-to-watch inventories are not required aboard ship, a daily inventory is required.

EXTRACTS

Naval warfare publications may be extracted/ reproduced for use in training or operations of U.S. forces. All extracts must be properly marked with the security classification and safeguarded in accordance with the Security Manual.

The classification assigned to an extract is the highest classification assigned to any article, paragraph, page, or pages from which the information is taken. Guidance for allied (NATO) publications is found in their NATO letters of promulgation.

RECEIVING NEW OR REVISED PUBLICATIONS

When new or revised publications are received, you should check the Foreword and the U.S. Letter of Promulgation for the effective status of the publication. The Foreword shows the effective status of the publication for allied usage; the U.S. Letter of Promulgation for U.S. use.

A revision to a publication can be issued that is effective for U.S. use but not for allied use. Particular care should be taken not to destroy the previous edition until the new revision is effective for allied use as well.

ALLIED COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

With worldwide cooperation among friendly nations and the United States, the need arose for coordinated and standardized communications. To meet this need, the allied communications publications (ACPs) were developed. The ACP series provides communications instructions and procedures essential to conducting combined military operations and communications in which two or more allied nations are involved. A Radioman's work often requires familiarity with ACPs.

JOINT ARMY-NAVY-AIR FORCE PUBLICATIONS

Joint Army-Navy-Air Force publications (JANAPs) were developed to coordinate and standardize communications among the U.S. military services. The publication Status of Noncryptographic JANAPs and ACPs, JANAP 201, lists the short and long titles, content of each publication, and the current edition of JANAPs and ACPs.

NAVAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

Naval telecommunications publications (NTPs) are the main communications publications in use by the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. The NTPs include information and guidance from basic communication information (NTP 4), to frequency spectrum management (NTP 6), and commercial traffic (NTP 9), just to name a few areas of communications. NAVAL WARFARE PUBLICATIONS

Naval warfare publications (NWPs) incorporate the results of fleet tactical development and evaluation programs and fleet and allied (NATO) experience. NWPs also provide information about the tactical capabilities and limitations of equipment and systems. NWP 0 (NWP 1-01) provides guidance for managing the NWPL and lists the publications contained in the library.

FLEET TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

Fleet telecommunications publications (FTPs) are the guiding doctrine of a NCTAMS for the communications area under its jurisdiction. To provide optimum communications responsiveness to fleet requirements. FTPs incorporate the unique communications procedures for the COMMAREA into a standardized fleet-oriented procedural document. FTPs are based on the NTP series.

COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION BULLETINS

Communications information bulletins (CIBs) are developed by each NCTAMS to provide reference information on specific tactical communications subjects. CIBs also provide communications operating personnel with communications procedural information applicable to a specific COMMAREA. NTP 4 lists the CIBs and their contents.

SUMMARY

As you have learned from this chapter, the naval communications establishment is quite complex. We communicate not only with other U.S. naval commands, both at sea and ashore, but also with other U.S. military services and allied nations. Before the messages that you send reach their destinations, they may travel through other networks in the Defense Communications System.

We have introduced you to the basic principles of communications management, evaluation of both personnel and the work area, and duties of individual positions within the command. We have also covered various categories of messages that have both internal and external use in the message center.

This chapter has introduced you to the standard procedures associated with handling incoming and outgoing messages. Because of the volume of messages a telecommunications center processes, it is essential that communications personnel observe all the handling procedures to prevent losing or delaying delivery of messages to subscribers.

Understanding the communication plan will give you a view of the ever-changing overall plans for your ship or shore station and its requirements for mission completion.

The various publications that you, as a communicator, rely on are continually being updated. Communications is an area that is constantly changing in areas of equipment and procedures. Therefore, it is important you become thoroughly familiar with all the publications and current changes that pertain to your communications area.

The tasks of a message center are extremely important. Your understanding of the handling procedures is key to providing fast and accurate communication to the fleet.