the CO and remain in effect until canceled or changed with  subsequent  (new)  orders  from  the  CO.  These instructions are called standing orders. Verbal orders may be issued by any responsible officer or petty officer. Normally, they remain in effect for a limited period of time. Eleven General Orders of a Sentry Normally,  general  orders  for  a  sentry  call  for reporting to the petty officer of the guard. However, at any given station, you will make your reports to the petty officer of the watch, officer of the day, officer of the deck, or to the person designated as your immediate supervisor of the watch. Before standing watch, you need to know your chain of command for the watch. There are 11 general orders for a sentry. They are reproduced  here  in   bold   letters,  along  with  a  brief explanation of each. You should memorize them word for word. You don’t need to memorize the explanations, but you should understand the meaning of each order. 1. To  t a k e  c h a r g e  o f  t h i s  p o s t  a n d  a l l government property in view. The number of the post, type of sentry duty, and limits of your post are part of your special orders. Within the limits of your post, you have authority over all persons, and it’s your duty to challenge and, if necessary, detain all persons acting in a suspicious manner. You should apprehend all persons involved in disorder or discovered committing a crime. All persons detained or apprehended are turned over to the petty officer of the guard. You should fire your weapon only as a last resort. Smoking in a prohibited area, for example, is hardly a shooting offense. There are times, however, when firing at another person may be justified, but only after all means of defense or crime prevention have failed. In general, such times are as follows: a.  To protect your own or another’s life b.  To prevent the escape of a person known to have committed a serious crime, such as armed robbery, rape, or murder c.  To prevent sabotage, espionage, arson, and other crimes against the government d.  If you must fire your weapon, try to wound instead of kill the person you’re aiming at 2. To  walk  my  post  in  a  military  manner, keeping always alert and observing everything that takes place within my sight or hearing. Keep turning your head as you walk your post, observing everything ahead and to the sides. If you hear a strange noise, investigate it. You cannot expect to stand all your watches in fair weather. When the weather is bad, you will be issued appropriate clothing. Do not stand under a tree to keep out of the rain or stay behind a building to get out of a cold wind; during times of bad weather and darkness, you must be particularly alert. 3. To  report  all  violations  of  orders  I  am instructed  to  enforce.  If  a  person  is  acting  from thoughtlessness, you need only remind the offender of the regulation being broken. For example, if you see a person starting to light a cigarette in a no smoking zone or a visitor blundering into a restricted area, you need only tell the person the regulation in effect. If the person is willfully violating a regulation, however, like trying to jump the fence or stealing Navy property, you must stop  the  person  and  place  the  offender  under apprehension; then call for the petty officer of the guard. If the person tries to escape, give the order to halt. If the person does not obey, fire into the air; if the person does not stop, fire at the fleeing party’s legs, subject to the limitations given under general order 1. If the offender escapes, report the matter as quickly as you can to the petty  officer  of  the  guard.  In  every  instance,  try  to remember what the offender looked like so that you may identify the person. Do not leave your post to chase the offender unless immediate action is essential. By firing your weapon and shouting, you can alert other sentries to intercept the offender. Do not fire at an offender if anyone else is around who could be hit by your shot. It is better to let the wrongdoer escape for the time being than to shoot an innocent person. 4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse (quarterdeck) than my own. Suppose your post is number 3. To call the petty officer of the guard for any purpose other than relief, fire, or disorder,  you  call,  “Petty  officer  of  the  guard  (or corporal of the guard), post number 3.” Sentry number 2 will repeat your call, giving your number, and so will sentry  number  1.  Thus  the  petty  officer  will  know 3-8 Student Notes: