The Engineman rating is a source of a number of Navy enlisted classification (NEC) codes. The NECs reflect special knowledges and skills in certain ratings. The NEC coding system is a form of management control over enlisted skills. It identifies skills and training required for specific types of operations or equipment. The Chief of Naval Personnel details skilled personnel to those ships that require these skills. There are a number of NECs that you may earn at certain grade levels by satisfactorily completing an applicable course of instruction at a Navy school. Your personnel office will have complete information on NECs and qualification procedures.

STANDARDS

The Navy has established certain standards to help you obtain the best results from your training program. These standards provide a step-by-step procedure for you to follow in order to gain the maximum knowledge available as you progress in your rating.

NAVAL STANDARDS

Naval standards are requirements that apply to all ratings rather than to any one particular rating. Naval requirements for advancement to third class petty officer deal with military conduct, naval organization, military justice, security, watch standing, and other subjects that are required of petty officers in all ratings.

You are required to pass a Navywide military/leadership examination for E-4 before you take the occupational examinations. These examinations are administered on a schedule determined by your commanding officer. Can-didates must pass the applicable military/leader-ship examination only once. Each examination has 100 questions based on information in Military Requirements for Petty Officer Third Class, NAVEDTRA 10044 (latest edition), and in other publications listed in the Bibliography for Advancement Study, NAVEDTRA 10052 (latest edition).

OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

Occupational standards are the minimum task requirements that are directly related to the work of each rating. Both the naval standards and the occupational standards are divided into subject matter groups.

In the Manual of Navy Enlisted Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational Standards, NAVPERS 18068 (latest edition), Section I contains the occupational and naval standards for advancement to each paygrade in each enlisted rating. Section II contains the NECs. The complete occupational standards for the Engineman third class are listed in the front of this rate training manual. These occupational standards were those included in NAVPERS 18068E and were the current occupational standards for EN3 at the time of the writing of this manual. These standards are covered in the information in this text; however, the text may not be considered current in areas that may be affected by later changes in the occupational standards. Your educational services officer should have a current edition of the occupational standards that apply to your rating at this time.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION STANDARDS (PQSs)

A Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS) is a written list of knowledges and skills. These skills are required for you to qualify for a specific equipment or system, or to perform as a team member within an assigned unit. The PQS program is a method for qualifying you to perform your assigned duties.

Personnel Qualifications Standards are di-vided into four sections: Theory, Systems, Watchstations, and a Qualification Card. The Theory section contains the facts, principles, and fundamentals concerning the subject for which you are qualifying. The Systems section deals with the major working parts of the installation, with the organization, or with the equipment with which the PQS is concerned. The Watchstation section defines the actual duties, assignments, and responsibilities you must perform to obtain your qualification. Finally, the Qualification Card contains questions that match those in the Watchstation section and provides a space for your supervisors or qualifying officers signature to show that you have met these qualifications. If you have any questions regarding PQS in general or specifically, see your supervisor or training petty officer.