DAMAGE CONTROL ASSISTANT

The damage control assistant (DCA) is responsible, under the engineer officer, for the control of damage. This includes the control of stability, list, and trim. It also includes fighting fires, repairing damage, and maintaining CBR defense.

The DCA is the overall coordinator of damage control matters within the command organization. This responsibility includes the ship's damage control training program. During emergency situations, the DCA controls the damage control problem with the technical advice and assistance of all departments. Fires and other damage that occur while the ship is at general quarters will be handled as a battle casualty. Corrective action under the direction of the DCA will be taken by the repair parties in the vicinity. On aircraft carriers, the ship's air officer will direct repair parties for fires in aircraft or associated equipment on the flight deck or in the hangar bays.

The DCA will carry out the following damage control duties and responsibilities:

1. Prepare directives for the signature of the commanding officer in connection with all damage control functions requiring coordination of departments.

2. Submit to the planning board for training, a schedule of all-hands damage control training requirements, including battle problem requirements.

3. Prepare a damage control training syllabus and provide damage control instructors for allhands training.

4. Furnish standard damage control equipment (tools, portable lights, and portable pumps) to repair party lockers and to other prescribed locations throughout the ship. Conduct periodic inspections of such equipment.

5. Assign Damage Controlmen and Hull Maintenance Technicians to various repair parties in accordance with the ship's battle bill and manning document.

6. Conduct inspections throughout the ship, accompanied by the cognizant department head, to ensure that the ship's watertight integrity is maintained. Ensure that all departments are maintaining a high degree of damage control readiness.

7. Ensure that the master damage control book is updated whenever alterations are made to the ship.

8. Ensure that damage control compartment checkoff lists are posted.

9. Ensure that damage control markings, routes, stations, and labels are posted throughout the ship.

10. Ensure that emergency escape routes to weather decks are clearly labeled.

11. Maintain a damage control central (DCC) with facilities to evaluate damage to the ship's hull and equipment and to make decisions to counteract the effects of such damages. Coordinate repair parties and keep the commanding officer informed of major developments.

12. Prescribe routes for transporting injured personnel to battle dressing stations.

13. Ensure that an effective organization is always present for execution of each of the emergency bills.

14. Inform the engineer officer of any condition or practice that lowers the damage control readiness of the ship.

15. Organize Repairs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 in accordance with the ship's battle bill.

16. Personally direct the training of Repairs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and DCC personnel.

17. Ensure, in coordination with department heads, that DDCPOs and DCPOs are trained to accomplish their assigned duties.

18. Act as, or supervise the duties of, the gas free engineer.

19. Ensure that a liquid load status is provided daily to damage control central and all repair lockers (list status in feet and inches).