You should become familiar with critiques and derive maximum benefit from the one you attend as a member of the exercise ship so you can present meaningful appraisals. During the exercise, observers must keep a chronological record of the events that take place or make notes of occurrences that may have a bearing on the outcome of the exercise, such as the following: Procedural errors Handling times Outstanding performances Equipment failures and repairs The important aspects of each observer's notes are presented as a part of the critique. The following points about the exercise should be covered: Manner of performance Errors committed Deficiencies of material or procedure Recommendations for improvements of material and personnel performances The last point, recommendations for improve- ments, may be more important than any other item because improvement is the goal of all training. Recommendations may be limited to minor changes in procedures or to training in a particular area. Conversely, they may encompass overhaul of entire systems and addition or replacement of equipment. Tentative grades may be assigned at critiques. Final appraisals, however, are the responsibility of the type commander, who can compare the performance of one unit with another. The type commander also strives for uniformity of grading within the type. VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS (CCC-15-SF THROUGH CCC-17-SF) Visual communications exercises may be used for day-to-day training and evaluations or as the criteria for operational readiness inspections (ORIs). For all exercises, preparation and execution must be oriented toward training.   It is intended that various communications exercises from FXP 3 be performed in combination to test all installed systems and functions. The operational or type commander designates the exercises for your ship. During periods of emission control (EMCON), visual signaling may be the only method of communications available. Therefore, proficiency in visual communications must be maintained. The series of visual signaling exercises (CCC-15-SF through CCC-17-SF) is designed to train and evaluate personnel in visual signaling procedures. COMMUNICATIONSEVALUATION The visual communications exercises may be used individually or in combination to satisfy the following evaluation requirements: training, ORI, predeployment COMM/ELEX inspection, and overall communications exercises. The officer conducting the exercises (OCE) supplies the following information: 1. Where: Ship's name, location (in port/under way) 2. When: Starting time and duration of exercise(s) 3. Which: What exercises and for which installed system(s) 4. Who: The senior observer Any additional comments required will be issued so the exercise unit will be fully prepared. GRADING The number of points assigned for each evaluation factor is the norm. However, the senior observer may deduct points to the degree that circumstances show a need. Additionally, if performance or material readiness is of exceptionally poor quality, the senior observer may deduct more points than are assigned. The senior observer obtains the final grade for the exercise by subtracting points lost from 100. SECURITY Any action resulting in a reportable security violation, or any action, if not stopped or prevented by an observer, that would have resulted in a reportable security violation will cause an exercise to be evaluated as unsatisfactory. No numerical grade will be assigned, and the exercise will be canceled at that point. Report violations through the chain of command. The reporting of a security violation can be as low as operator or as high as supervisor. All nonreportable security violations will result in the loss of five points of credit. Three or more of these nonreportable violations will result in grading that exercise unsatisfactory. Examples of nonreportable violations are classifications not in letters larger than 14-2