THE SECTION LEADER

Military Requirements for Petty Officer 3rd Class
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5-24 The Navy is a complex organization that is constantly changing. There are numerous publications and instructions that the petty officer third class must consult to keep current. OPNAVINST 5400 series and the United States Government Manual printed by the Office of the Federal Register National Archives and Records Administration covers missions and functions of Navy commands. Additionally there are many government and Navy sites on the Internet which give general information regarding naval organization. THE SECTION LEADER Each division has a duty section leader, also called a duty representative (duty rep), who is the senior petty officer. On a small ship, you as a petty officer third class may be assigned the duties of a section leader. However, depending on the size or class of ship, you may not be assigned as a section leader until you become a second class petty officer. Aboard larger ships with large sections, you may have to wait until you make first class to become a section leader. Therefore, being assigned as a section leader depends upon the size of the command and the number of personnel in your duty section. As a section leader, you will have information to report. Always use the chain of command. During normal working hours you should report to your leading petty officer (LPO). If the LPO is a petty officer first class, he or she will, in turn, report to the leading chief petty officer (LCPO) or to the division officer. After normal working hours you report to your department duty officer, who reports to the command duty officer (CDO). When you are assigned as a section leader, you assume additional responsibilities for the work, conduct, appearance, and welfare of the personnel in your section. Along with these additional responsibilities, you are granted additional authority to carry out your duties properly. The section leader is the first step up the ladder of naval authority. You may be the supervisor for all the routine and special activities of the people in your section. These activities include reveille, quarters for muster, observance of the proper uniform of the day, and of items posted in the Plan of the Day or Plan of the Week. In addition, you will be responsible for the damage control functions of your duty section after normal working hours. When your duty section is being relieved, you should pass on to your relief any pertinent information regarding the section. This information could involve new safety hazards or cleanliness of the ship. POLICE PETTY OFFICER Your command may have a division police petty officer (PPO). This position may be called another name such as compartment petty officer, barracks petty officer, and so forth, but the duties and responsibilities are the same. The PPO is usually a junior petty officer and is not part of the master-at-arms force. The PPO’s duties encompass areas such as cleanliness of divisional berthing and stowage areas, holding reveille, maintaining silence after taps, and maintaining order. In addition to these duties, PPOs stand their regular watches and perform their normal duties. Sometimes they may be required to augment the MAA force in details such as searching the ship and provisioning for new personnel. MASTER-AT-ARMS The chief master-at-arms (CMAA), often called the sheriff, is responsible to the executive officer for maintaining good order and discipline. Personnel of the Master-at-Arms (MA) rating usually fill this billet on larger ships. On ships not having a CMAA, a chief petty officer from another rating usually will be appointed by the commanding officer and will be assigned CMAA as a collateral duty. If you are not part of the MA rating and are assigned to the MAA force, your tour of duty usually will be 6 months. If you are assigned as an MAA, your job will require tact, a lot of common sense, and thorough knowledge of Navy and command regulations. Remember, an MAA is much like a police officer and, as such, must be courteous and friendly and must enforce regulations without favor to anyone.

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