balance of days the individual has accumulated, and disciplinary action will cause conditions to deteriorate expiration of active obligated service (EAOS) of the individual. PREDEPLOYMENT,   POSTDEPLOYMENT, AND  HOLIDAY  LEAVE  AND  LIBERTY.  — Predeployment, postdeployment, and holiday leave and liberty are granted to the maximum number of personnel authorized by fleet regulations. The leave is annual type. Liberty and duty section assignments for other personnel must comply with maintenance standards and good housekeeping and guard force requirements. EMERGENCY LEAVE. —Emergency leave is granted  when  the  existence  of  an  emergency  is determined. Verification may be by letter, telegram, or telephone call to the member’s command attesting to the existence of an emergency situation. Another emergency situation is the death or dying of a member in the immediate family of the service member or the spouse. Emergency leave may also be granted when the presence of the service member would help solve serious family problems. GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE Maintaining  an  atmosphere  of  good  order  is essentially a matter of how your people perceive their surroundings. If they are happy, lead with authority, are recognized for their achievements, and are treated fairly, they will respond by performing their assigned duties to the best of their ability. You may recall from your days as a recruit or young petty officer that the seniors you were most willing to follow were those who were the most consistent in their decisions and treatment of subordinates. Insubordination has no respect for rank; if tolerated, it will infect a military unit and destroy all existing discipline. If you sanction sloppy work habits and military appearance, all uniformity and the quality of oneness will decay. You undoubtly recall the line from the chief petty officer’s creed that says, “The exalted position you have now received, and I use the word exalted advisedly, exists because of the attitude, example and the performance of the chiefs before you. It shall exist only so long as you and your compatriots maintain these standards.” Once you have shown the standards of conduct and performance you expect from the men and women in your charge, most will obey and follow your example. We will always have the 10 percent, the “hard cases” and “sea lawyers,” who require your personal attention. Those members must be dealt with systematically on a case by case basis. Postponing until severe measures become necessary. Awards Senior petty officers have a basic responsibility to encourage subordinates in their efforts to support command objectives. You can do that by recognizing the initiative and exemplary performance of subordinates and commending them publicly when appropriate. Such recognition may include the following: Awarding  letters  of  appreciation  or commendation or recommending such letters for signature of higher authority Initiating recommendations for personal awards Assigning preferred duties Initiating  recommendations  for  special recognition, such as sailor of the month, quarter, and year Making recommendations for reenlistment and assignment  to  training,  education,  or advancement  programs Documenting exceptional personal performance in enlisted evaluations Positive reinforcement and praise of an individual’s outstanding performance boosts the morale of everyone in the unit, not just in your division. Awards are presented  to  deserving  individuals  publicly  as recognition for their achievements and as an incentive to others. MERITORIOUS MAST. —The term mast refers to the assembling of the crew for various purposes. Mast gets its name from the old sailing days when the setting for executing naval justice was the weather deck near the ship’s mainmast. The captain holds meritorious mast to award official recognition for jobs well done. Enlisted members who perform beyond their usual requirements of duty, or display exceptional judgment or initiative qualify for meritorious mast. Be sure to display their names and a brief explanation of the reason for their commendation on command bulletin boards. LETTER OF APPRECIATION. —A letter of appreciation (LOA) is one way you can directly express your appreciation to your subordinates. It is also a method of showing other commands appreciation for their noteworthy service or help. An LOA does not gain points toward your final advancement multiple but is an excellent way to express your thanks for a job well done. 3-9