INTRODUCTlON

At this stage in your naval career, you are well aware that training on a continuous basis is essential if you are to reach your desired goals, and if the mission of the Navy is to be successfully accomplished. The purpose of this manual is to serve as one of many sources of information as you continue your training to become proficient in the tasks you will be required to perform at the E-6 and E-7 levels of your rating. A knowledge of the information in this manual, combined with the everyday practical experience, should help you learn to perform assigned tasks and accept greater responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND REWARDS

As you attain each higher promotional level in your rating, you, as well as the Navy, benefit. The fact that you are using this training manual indicates that you have found personal satisfaction in developing your skills, increasing your knowledge, and getting ahead in your chosen career. The Navy has benefited, and will continue to do so as you become more valuable as a technical specialist in your rating and as a per-son who can supervise and train others, thus making far reaching and long lasting contributions to the success of the Navy.

In large measure, the extent of your contribution to the Navy depends upon your willingness and ability to accept increasing responsibilities as you advance. When you assumed the duties of an EN3, the Navy rewarded you with an increase in pay and responsibility, a responsibility not only for yourself but for the work of others. With each advancement, you accept an increasing responsibility in military matters and in matters relating to the occupational requirements of the Engineman rating.

You will find that your responsibilities for military leadership are about the same as those of petty officers in other ratings, since every petty officer is a military person as well as a technical specialist. Your responsibilities for technical leadership are specific to your rating and are directly related to the nature of your work.

Operating and maintaining the machinery and equipment for which an Engineman is responsible is a job of vital importance. It is a teamwork job which requires that special kind of supervisory ability that can only be developed by personnel who have a high degree of technical competence and a deep sense of personal responsibility. Certain practical details that relate to your responsibilities for administration, supervision, and training are discussed in subsequent chapters of this training manual. At this point, lets con-sider some of the broader aspects of your ever increasing responsibilities for military and technical leadership.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL EXTEND BOTH UPWARD AND DOWNWARD.

Officers and Supervisors will expect you to carry out their orders. Enlisted personnel will expect you to translate the general orders given by officers into detailed, practical on-the-job language that can be understood and followed even by relatively inexperienced personnel. In dealing with your juniors, it is up to you to see that they perform their work properly. At the same time, you must be able to explain to officers any important needs or problems pertaining to the enlisted personnel.

YOU WILL HAVE REGULAR AND CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TRAINING.

Even if you are fortunate enough to have a highly skilled and well trained group, you will still find that additional training is necessary. For example, you will always be responsible for training lower rated personnel to perform their assigned tasks. Occasionally, some of your best workers may be transferred and replaced by in-experienced or poorly trained personnel. Also, some particular job may call for skills that none of your personnel have. These and similar problems will require you to be a training specialist who can train individuals and groups in the effective execution of assigned tasks.

YOU WILL HAVE INCREASING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WORKING WITH OTHERS. You will find that many of your plans and decisions affect a large number of people, some of whom are not in your division and some of whom are not even in the engineering department. It becomes increasingly important, therefore, to understand the duties and responsibilities of personnel in other ratings. Every petty officer in the Navy is a technical specialist in his/her own field. Learn as much as you can about the work of other ratings, and plan your own work so that it will fit in with the overall mission of the organization.

AS YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN-CREASE, YOUR ABILITY TO COM-MUNICATE CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY MUST ALSO INCREASE. The basic require-ment for effective communication is a knowledge of your own language. Use correct language in speaking and in writing. Remember that the basic function of all communication is understanding. To lead, supervise, and train others, you must be able to speak and write in such a way that others can understand exactly what you mean. You must be able to convey information accurately, simply, and clearly.

A second requirement for effective communication in the Navy is a sound knowledge of the Navy way of saying things. Some Navy terms have been standardized for the purpose of ensur-ing efficient communication. When a situation calls for the use of standard Navy terminology, use it.

Still another requirement for effective communication is precision in the use of technical terms. Command of the technical language of the Engineman rating will enable you to exchange ideas with other personnel of the same rating. Personnel who do not understand the precise mean-ing of terms used in connection with the work of their own rating are at a disadvantage when they try to read official publications relating to their work. They are also at a great disadvantage when taking written examinations for advancement. Although it is always important to use technical terms correctly, it is particularly important when you are dealing with lower rated personnel. Sloppiness in the use of technical terms may be extremely confusing and frustrating to an inexperienced person.

YOU WILL HAVE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR KEEPING UP WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS. Practically everything in the Navypolicies, procedures, equipment, publications, systemsis subject to change and development. As an EN1, and even more as an ENC, you must keep yourself informed about all changes and new developments that might affect your rating or your work.

Some changes will be called directly to your attention; others you will have to look for. Try to develop a special kind of alertness for new in-formation. Keep up to date on all sources of technical information. Information on sources of primary concern to the Engineman is given later in this chapter.

As you prepare to assume increased responsibilities at a higher level, you need to be familiar with (1) the military requirements and occupational standards given in the Navy Enlisted Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational Standards, NAVPERS 18068 (with changes); (2) the Personnel Advancement Requirement (PAR), NAVPERS 1414/4; (3) appropriate rate training manuals; and (4) any other material that may be required or recom-mended in the most current edition of the Bibliography for Advancement Examination Study, NAVEDTRA 10052. These materials and their use are discussed more thoroughly in Military Requirements for Petty Officers 1 & C, NAVED-TRA 10057 (current edition), and Engineman 3 & 2, NAVEDTRA 10541 (current edition). Other sources of information will be described later in this chapter.