CHAPTER 14
TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATION
Visual communication procedures and doctrine
exist only to help Signalmen perform their duties.
Procedures and doctrine can be taught through
on-the-job training, but this method is usually
unsatisfactory because procedures are learned only as
different situations arise. Classroom instruction and
drills are less expensive for hours spent and results
achieved. This is because methods, procedures, and
safety precautions must be taught in their order of
importance or in some other logical order that will aid
the trainee in committing them to memory.
Your training program should include complete
information on message forms, operating signals,
prosigns, visual responsibility, flashing light,
semaphore, and flaghoist. Circumstances, however
may dictate the priority you give to each subject. If you
have a well-established training program and
personnel with experience, follow the program in its
planned sequence. By so doing, you assure the widest
possible degree of coverage during the ship's regular
training cycle. If, on the other hand, you have a group
of inexperienced people and you are setting up a new
training program, you will find it profitable to alter
your training program. Emphasize those subjects of
immediate importance and ignore, for the time being,
those portions that are less urgent.
The Commanders-in-Chief, Atlantic and Pacific
Fleets, have primary responsibility for the tactical
training of naval forces. Naval vessels can expect a
comprehensive assessment by Afloat Training Groups
(ATGs) to include a review of future training
requirements, current training programs, personnel
billeting, and material/equipment status to assist them
in preparing a unit training package. Another phase of
this review will be performance based. Information on
assessments can be obtained from the ATG prior to its
commencement. Another source of information is
COMNAVSURFLANTINST/COMNAVSURF-
PACINST 3502.2A.
In this chapter, you will learn about drills and
exercises, standing orders, and operation orders and
plans.
DRILLS AND EXERCISES
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the
procedure for grading and critiquing visual
drills and exercises. Explain the importance of
security when participating in visual drills and
exercises.
Drills and exercises are a large part of the
communications department's training program.
Noncompetitive exercises and emergency drills are
performed to acquaint personnel with correct
procedures and methods to increase their efficiency.
Competitive (graded) exercises are performed when
they are assigned by the type commander or other
competent authority. Results of these exercises are
used to keep the type commander informed of the
readiness state of individual units. Maximum
benefit is derived when an exercise is observed and
analyzed by the umpires and various assistants who
are assigned by the officer scheduling the exercise
(OSE).
Strike Warfare (STW), Antisurface Ship Warfare
(ASW), Intelligence (INT), Electronic Warfare (ELW)
and Command, Control and Communication
Exercises (CCC), FXP 3, lists exercises that are
designed for visual communications or have visual
communications as a part of the overall exercise.
These exercises include Flaghoist, CCC-15-SF;
Flashing Light, CCC-16-SF; Semaphore,
CCC-17-SF; and Comprehensive Communications
Assessment, CCC-27-SF. Each of the exercises has its
own system of grading. You should be aware of these
systems to detect discrepancies when observing an
exercise. Remember, observation of personnel during
an exercise is a method of determining what area needs
more intensive training. For visual communications
grading sheets, see chapter 14 of FXP 3.
CRITIQUES
A critique is a critical review of an exercise held
in the form of a conference. All graded exercises
should end with a critique, attended by the umpire,
assistants, and key personnel of the unit being graded.
14-1
