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