WATCH STANDING IN NAVY

Proper Watch Standing In the United States Navy

Proper Watch Standing In the United States Navy

Introduction

This is a modern era with modern naval ship system that is outfitted with most elaborate, sensitive and sophisticated man machine system. In this war era, not only U.S. Navy System is incorporating these man machine system in their watch organizations, all countries are engaging to adopt new tactical in standing watches. At sea stations, a visual communication comprises on messages that require immediate and compliance. Use of tactical communications, ship stations are gathered in maneuvered and formation jointly as a unit. Aircraft, combat information, weapons are synchronized for mutual defense or attack of the groups. (Committee on Technology for Future Naval Forces, 1997)

Discussion

The tactical communication is crucial in navy duty, and because of it importance, it must be handled by experts, special trained and skilled and trained officers. Most probably, the staff-watch officers or staff communication officers are on a flagship broadcast signals for tactical command officers (OTC). This mechanism is done by voice radio that are placed or fixed in flag plot. It can be proceed by flagship signal bridges. (Cutler, 2002)

Standing watch refers to be on duty at a particular posting for a particular time or portion of a day. Accordingly, each day is divided into several watches. Each standing watch is assigned to a “duty section”. Section can be 3rd, 4th, or 6th of women and men stations, these stations are ships or bases. Navy's standing watch is a Security and Sounding watch, and the purpose of the watch is to assure that bilge will not be filled up by water. If lack or inadequacy of fuel or water, if a navy man is on watch in Flying Squad, then he has to response any kind of smoke, flooding, or fire reports. Reporting of miss-happening is to solve any emergency situation. (Cutler, 2002)

Traditionally, the watches were divided into following categories.

Mid watches

0000 (midnight) - 0400

Morning watches

0400 - 0800

Forenoon watch

0800 - 1200 (noon)

Afternoon watches

1200 - 1600

First Dog watches

1600 - 1800

Second Dog watch

1800 - 2000

First watch

2000 - 0000

The modern types standing watches are using in Navy system.

Command Duty Officer (CDO)

Officer of The Deck (OOD)

Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD)

Junior Officer of the Watch (JOOW)

These types have several divisions and functions, and a number of standing watches are come under these four types of standing watch. (Committee on Technology for Future Naval Forces, ...