CHAPTER 3 ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Military Requirements for Senior and Master Chief Petty Officer
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CHAPTER 3 ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to do the following: 1. Describe the organizational, administrative, and 3. counseling skills required of a division officer. 2. Describe the purpose and function of an enlisted 4. performance ranking board. Explain the purpose and function of the Navy Uniform Board. State the purpose of the Casualty Assistance Calls Program. Ship’s company divisions in the U.S. Navy, like most American naval customs and practices, are an adaptation from the British. For the most part the manning of early English ships was by “sottish, slovenly and lazy” seamen, to quote a top-ranking British officer of those times. Crewmen were subject to little or no standard discipline. By the middle of the 18th century, a growing spirit of insolence and licentiousness on many vessels alarmed the Royal Navy authorities. They began to concentrate on ways and means to remedy the “disorderly and audacious” situation. Naval officials were aware that well-planned and strictly supported discipline among military units ashore was important. It “gave force, preserved order, obedience, cleanliness, and caused alertness and despatch in the execution of business.” Sir Charles Middleton incorporated a similar code of discipline in English shipboard routine while commanding HMS Ardent (Middleton later became Comptroller of the Navy, 1778-1790, and First Lord, April 1805-January 1806). In his “Captain’s Order Book” (1 Aug 1775), Middleton wrote the following: “The first lieutenant to make out a watch, quarter and chasing (station) bill. Mates and midshipmen, petty officers and men, to be classed in four divisions; each division to be under the direction of a lieutenant. The lieutenants commanding the respective divisions to see that the clothes and beds of the men under them are made up to the quantity specified in the following report . . . . jackets 3, waistcoats 2, breeches 2, shirts 4, frocks 2, trowsers 2, shoes 2, stockings 4, beds 1, caps or hats 2. Provide for the inspection of clothing, punishment for those who are careless or dirty in their clothes or persons, as far as a few strokes (of the cat) by the midshipman commanding, through the boatswain’s mate. If habitual to be scrubbed in a tub by order of the division lieutenant. The Articles of War and rules of discipline to be read publicly once in every month.” The captain’s book contained, in all, 40 orders. It provided a cleaning bill and set punishments for swearing, drunkenness, and overstaying leave. It gave regulations for the use of ships’ boats, and outlined ship and gun drills. Middleton believed the division system of discipline to be the best way to keep large bodies of men in order. This idea was quickly shared and furthered by Admirals Richard Howe and Richard Kempenfelt, ardent workers for improvement of signal and battle tactics. Their orders enlarged upon the basic principles of Middleton’s disciplinary code. They provided for routines such as morning and evening musters. They also provided daily reviews of their men by division lieutenants as well as a weekly inspection of all hands by the captain. They argued, and rightly so, that individual divisions would catch the spirit of competition and rivalry for appearance and performance honors. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Organization is the element of administration by which the orderly arrangement of materials and personnel, by function, attains the objectives of the unit. Organization shows the working relationship among unit personnel along with task priorities and teamwork. 3-1

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