DUTIES UPON REPORTING TO A SHIP

You have just received your transfer orders to a ship and are now on board your new home. Your sponsor will take you down to the dental department. The first thing you will notice is the cleanliness and well-preserved (painted) dental spaces. Both dental and medical departments always have the most immaculate spaces on board ships.

REQUIRED READING

You will be required to accomplish many requirements when checking aboard. The following is a list of reading requirements that should be familiar to all Dental Technicians.

Shipboard Dental Procedures Manual

(CINCLANTFLT OR CINCPACFLTINST 6600.2)

Manual of the Medical Department

(MANMED), Chapter 6

Dental Departments Organization and Instruction Manual

ASSIGNMENT OF DENTAL PERSONNEL

Your LCPO or LPO will give you assignments to perform. Once you have completed all the check-in procedures and required ship's courses and classes, you may be assigned to work in the dental department as a chairside assistant, preventive dentistry technician, dental administration, X-ray technician, or the supply representative.

Collateral Duties

Collateral duties or assignments help both the dental department and ship accomplish their missions. Collateral duties vary from ship to ship. Your involvement in these collateral duties has a direct impact with the morale and welfare between the dental, medical, and other departments on board the ship. Your participation builds true "team spirit" to accomplish the ship's mission.

During your tour aboard the ship, you may be called upon to work as a food service attendant in the galley. Personnel in paygrades E1-E3 receive an inter-department transfer to the galley for a period of up to 90 days. After completion of the food service attendant duties, personnel are sent back to their respective departments.

If your ship receives an overhaul and is in a ship yard undergoing repair or renovation, the dental department might not be operational because of construction in those spaces. You may be called upon to participate in the ship's "Tiger Team." The Tiger Team consists of different teams that are assigned projects to accomplish throughout the ship.

The time you spend in the galley or working in other areas of the ship is an outstanding opportunity to meet the crew and start building "team spirit."

Assignment of Dental Personnel to Watches

Dental department personnel will be assigned to watches using the ship's policy. While in port or underway in a group, your ship may be assigned the "Dental Guard Ship," which is responsible for any dental emergencies that might occur.

Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill

It is the responsibility of the dental officer (dental department head) to correctly assign dental department personnel to the Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill as outlined in the Ship's Organization Manual and Emergency and Battle Bills.

The medical officer (medical department head) assigns duties and responsibilities to dental personnel during general quarters and mass casualty situations. Dental department personnel are under the supervision of the medical officer when providing medical care at battle dressing stations.

MEDICAL WASTE

A dental department can generate and accumulate large amounts of medical waste while at sea. The disposal of plastic materials and medical waste at sea by U.S. Navy ships has raised public concern over potential adverse environmental or human health effects. Dental departments will cooperate fully with other shipboard departments (medical, supply, safety, etc.) involved in waste disposal to establish and enforce appropriate command policy. The following References provide guidelines for waste disposal:

OPNAV P-45-113-93, Afloat Medical Waste Management Guide/Management of Infectious Waste

OPNAVINST 5090.1, Environmental and Material Resources Protection Manual

BUMEDINST 6280.1, Management of Infectious Waste

Most ships have designated areas to store medical waste while at sea. Transfer of medical waste occurs when in port to designated waste treatment facilities for disposal.