Drills and Emergencies In the Navy you have been taught that training pays off. The more you train, the better you perform. The same is true with drills. Drills are held for only one reason and that is to be prepared in a real situation. Proper  damage  control  training  has  made  the difference between winning and losing battles on several occasions. As a petty officer you will be assigned greater responsibility  within  the  damage  control  (DC) organization. You may be assigned duties as a division damage control petty officer (DCPO), which is covered in chapter 6, or in any other position in DC. You may be called on to assist in training assigned personnel. As a trainer, you must ensure that your trainees are capable and ready to respond should damage occur. All damage control personnel must know how to apply the correct principles and use the materials available in the most effective way possible. That knowledge can be gained only through education, training, and actual practice. Injury or incapacity of one individual should not significantly reduce the effectiveness of any damage control function. For example, repair party personnel must be  “jacks-of-all-trades.”  They should be able to do each other’s jobs, and this can be done only by cross training in each other’s skills. In an emergency, widespread capability may be needed to save a ship. Safety Precautions As mentioned earlier, your duties as the POOW are many and varied. One of your most important jobs is safety. Safety is not yours alone, but a responsibility of all hands. The greatest killer of our people is a disregard for safety when doing a task. As you perform your duties, you should watch for violations of safety rules. When you notice a safety violation being committed, you should remain calm and explain to the violator what is being done wrong and how to correct the situation. Next you want to discuss the matter with the supervisor of the working party. It is that person’s responsibility to ensure that all safety standards are being adhered to on the job, no matter how large or small the job may be. Every ship in the Navy has certain safety devices to protect you and your shipmates. Two examples are the small  grounding  strap  on  a  piece  of  electrical equipment on the quarterdeck and the lifelines that surround the main deck area. While on watch if you notice frayed wires on equipment, painted grounding straps on gear, or any other unsafe area, notify someone immediately so that the situation can be corrected and the hazard removed. Even routine jobs, such as loading stores with a crane, require a great deal of attention to safety. The store’s loading party on the main deck, as well as the party on the pier, must wear safety helmets at all times. Another area subject to high risk is the eyes. If you see Sailors scaling paint without eye protection, stop and have them put on safety glasses or a face shield. It is for their own protection. As was mentioned earlier, safety is an all hands responsibility. Be safety minded at  all  times.  If  you  see  a  problem,  correct  it immediately before it is too late. Honors and Ceremonies The U.S. Navy is rich in tradition and pride. While standing the POOW, you are a part of that tradition. This section will help you to better understand the many honors and ceremonies in which you will be involved. You will need to know about various flags, pennants, and side honors. FLAGS AND PENNANTS.—While on watch as POOW,  you  should  be  alert  for  the  display  of significant flags and pennants from other ships and 8-13 Q6. In the case of a bomb threat what is the key to disarming the situation and avoiding catastrophe? 1. Information 2. Knowledge 3. Security force 4. MAA force Q7. When the pistol has a lanyard attached, what must be done during exchange of the pistol to the next watch stander? 1. Keep  the  lanyard  around  your  neck  until your relief has positive control of the pistol 2. Keep  the  lanyard  at  your  side  so  it  won’t get in the way 3. Keep the lanyard in your hand that doesn’t hold the pistol 4. Detach   the   lanyard   from   the   weapon during the exchange REVIEW QUESTIONS