Naval Reserve Division (NRD) Duty Watches serve multiple training objectives.
Some of these bullet points are common to most NRDs :
- Inoculate sailors, to the traditions, roles and responsibilities of naval life.
• perform colours and/or sunset ceremonies, as directed,
• pipe the ship’s routine and any messages approved by the Officer of the Day (OOD),
• act as piping party for VIPs crossing the brow,
• all members must know the procedures found in the “Brow Pack”
• learn the watch and station bill system, and
• instill a sense of teamwork, responsibility and teamwork at the lowest levels.
- Immediate Emergency Reaction Team (IERT) to common emergencies.
Though these may not occur, there are many examples of them happening throughout my career.
• this task also simulate the emergency preparedness for shipboard life for fire, flood and medical emergencies, and
• NRD Training Department has occasionally run random emergency drills, in place of Sea Training.
The Duty Watch is expected to close up and respond as if it was a real scenario. A valued part of training.
- Access control:
• 100% ID check of everyone entering the facility,
• signing any guests in/out,
• maintain access points in use (brow, parking lot, jetty ect…),
• control the issue / return of keys, and
• building security: opening, closing and routine rounds during training.
- Generate small work part tasking pool, as required.
- Other duties as assigned by the OOD.
• example: Ring the ship’s bell to keep the Sip’s time
In practice, as others have mentioned, the above is simple routine stuff, and are important items that must be covered off whenever the Ship’s Company is training (day or night). Through sharing best practices, many NRDs follow similar procedures, modifying areas unique to their needs. An experienced OOD will muster the watch and after Colours, will task the Watch as needed, usually by a set rotation. When not required for the Watch, a sailor will be expected to participate in the night’s regular training. All involved: the department, the sailor and OOD will ensure the task rotation minimizes interference with critical training periods. Though the potential exists for conflict to arise, and is sorted out. This too happens in a ship board environment.
At the start of the training year, most Duty Watches are overborne with untrained junior members double banked with trained sailors. The goal is to provide inexperienced pers with enough experience quickly enough to reduce reliance on the handful of experienced sailors at the NRD. When everyone in the Ship’s Company attends training, and performs their Watches as scheduled, the system works very well for NRDs and provides sailors exposure of what to expect when they reach the fleet. On the other hand, when an epidemic of “no attendance” is allowed to encroach, with or without notice, this stains the remaining members of the Ship’s Company, who must pick up the slack.
The most effective solution I witnessed was a multilayered approach to encourage attendance and compliance. Administrative Measures are only one tool. Others have mentioned other tools as well. Combining these methods and applying them consistently is the key to a successful training year with maximum participation, and a full Duty Watch.
