USS COVENTRY Table of Organization
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===================================== USS COVENTRY NCC-81420 COVENTRY-Class Destroyer Tactical Squadron 49, GREEN Fleet ===================================== SHIP TABLE OF ORGANINAZATION Version 1.0 (Created SD 170715) ===================================== CREDITS: -------- The contents of this table are largely based upon the like document created by D'Maris Coffman for use with USS QUASAR. TABLE OF CONTENTS: ------------------ Part 1- Introduction Part 2- Operational Cycles 2.1- Primary Training Cycle 2.2- Intermediate Training Cycle 2.3- Operational Phase Part 3- Billets and Responsibilities 3.1- Senior Line Officers 3.11- Commanding Officer 3.12- Executive/First Officer 3.13- Operations Manager/Second officer Part 4- Watches 4.1- Officers of the Day 4.11- Watch Rotation Part 5- The Groups 5.1- Command Group 5.11- Command Master Chief (CMC) 5.2- Operations Group 5.3- Combat Information Group 5.4- Support and Logistics Group 5.5- Staff Group Part 6- Departments 6.1- Operations (OPS) 6.11- Operations Manager (OPS) 6.12- Ship's Services (SSO) 6.13- Computer Core (CORE) 6.14- Sensors 6.15- Communications (COMM) 6.16- Cryptography and Intelligence (CRYPTO) 6.17- Flight Operations (FlOps) 6.2- Combat Systems (TAC) 6.21- Torpedoes (STRIKE) 6.22- Phasers (GUNS) 6.23- Shields 6.24- Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) 6.25- Fire Control (DAMCON) 6.26- Pinpoint Defense Systems (PDS) 6.3- Navigation/Astrogation (NAV or FCO) 6.31- Stellar Cartography (STELCART) 6.32- Ship Control (HELM) 6.33- Navigational Sensors (NAVSEN) 6.4- Engineering (ENG) 6.51- Propulsion (P) 6.52- Gravitics (G) 6.53- Electronics (E) 6.54- Diagnostic (D) 6.55- Repair and Maintenance (R) 6.5- Sciences (CSciO or SCI) 6.6- Security (SEC) 6.7- Medical (MED) 6.71- Chief Medical Officer (CMO) 6.72- Staff Attending Physicians 6.73- Residents 6.74- Head Nurse 6.75- Staff Nurses 6.76- Pharmacologist/Toxicologist 6.77- Medical Techs, Orderlies, etc. 6.8- Counseling (COU) 6.9- Marine Compliment Part 7- Conslusions ================================================================== Part 1- INTRODUCTION ==================== This document sets out the Table of Organization (TO), i.e. the organizational structure, of the USS COVENTRY. It is concerned entirely with the role playing aspects of the ship. Information about the administration and mechanics of this writing group may be found in the Style Guide (which will soon be placed on the new web site). With that in mind, a few additional remarks are relevant. With that in mind, a few additional remarks are relevant. First, the COVENTRY is a ship-of-the-line in Tactical Squadron 49 (TACRON-49) of GREEN Fleet in the ASR universe. As such, the ship is nominally assigned as an escort vessels, and serves to screen the flag ship from attackers and to performs scouting and surveying functions. More information about the COVENTRY ont he ship's web site at: (http://alt-starfleet-rpg.org/fleets/greenfleet/coventry/index.htm). Second, the material below was taken from a variety of contemporary sources. One in particular are the web pages of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet, particularly the USS Cowpen. The original author (D'Maris Coffman) has made every effort to extrapolate this to the 25th century and Trek technology, drawing both on her own knowledge and the best of ASR practice. Comments, critiques, concerns, clarifications, etc. are most welcome, particularly if your character happens to be in charge of the department involved. ====================================================================== Part 2- OPERATIONAL CYCLES ========================== The USS COVENTRY has three operational phases--primary training, intermediate training, and operational. This mirrors USN practice, though the distinctions have been simplified for our purposes. 2.1- PRIMARY TRAINING CYCLE --------------------------- During the primary training cycle, the focus is on training crew, professional development of personnel (certifications, bridge watch officers qualifications, space warfare officer exams, etc). During this phase, the ship reports to what is called the "Type Command," which is behind the scenes in ASR (yet it is assumed to exist). The Type Command is responsible for seeing that software upgrades, hardware maintenance, etc. also happen during the primary training cycle. 2.2- INTERMEDIATE TRAINING CYCLE -------------------------------- An intermediate training cycle follows the primary one. This often may be rather short, compared to months spent in a primary training cycle. For our purposes, this is the period where the COVENTRY is joined by the other ships in her task force for group exercises. The ship moves from under the purview of the Type Command back to the Theater Command (GREEN Fleet, TACRON-49). 2.3- OPERATIONAL PHASE ---------------------- During the operational phase, the COVENTRY and the other ships in her force have mission orders and are under the direct supervision of COMTACRON49 and the officer-in-tactical command (see below) of a given mission. Officer-in-tactical (mission) command: The officer-in-tactical command is the officer responsible for the overall mission. In ASR, this is most usually the unit CO; however, in the case of COVENTRY, the commander of the tactical squadron is considered the officer-in- tactical command. During the current mission, the officer- In-tactical command is Captain Peter J. Erickson, Commanding Officer, USS COVENTRY. ===================================================================== Part 3- BILLETS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ==================================== 3.1- SENIOR LINE OFFICERS ------------------------- There are three senior line officers on the USS COVENTRY. They are the CO, XO and OPS, and they represent the shipboard chain of command. 3.11- Commanding Officer ------------------------ The commanding officer (CO) is ultimately responsible and accountable to his superiors for the ship. During primary and intermediate training cycles, the CO reports to the Type Command. During this period, the operations and logistics groups concentrate on maintaining combat readiness, keeping systems up-to-date, and for training of personnel, as well as ongoing projects (sciences). During the operational phase (where the ship has mission orders), the CO is responsible for his ship's role in the mission. When a commanding officer of a ship also serves as officer-in- tactical command for a given mission, the CO is responsible for ensuring that all Star Fleet assets under his purview (including escorts and support craft). If there is a flag officer or other senior officer aboard who is the officer-in-tactical command, the CO is accountable to said officer for his ship's role in the mission, but remains the absolute authority in matters pertaining to the ship itself. Mission specialists and the commander of any independent marine attachment (rump battalion or larger) report directly to the officer-in-tactical command. Regardless of a CO's actual rank, his position is that of ship's captain and he is addressed as such. However, for a destroyer such as COVENTRY, the CO usually merits the rank of LCDR (O-4) or an inexperienced CDR (O-5). 3.12- Executive/First Officer ----------------------------- The executive officer (XO, Exec) is responsible above all else for the day-to-day operation of the ship. The XO is also the professional development officer and assists department heads in facilitating training of all line officers. The XO designs and administers all watch officer exams, certifications and qualifying exams as they relate to shipboard operations and command. The XO is also responsible for the ship's routine and for keeping crew discipline. All department heads report to the XO. Regardless of his rank, he is senior to all naval officers who are part of the ship's permanent complement. On a ship the size of COVENTRY, this officer is typically a Lieutenant (O-3). 3.13- Operations Manager/Second officer -------------------------------------- The operations manager (OPS/2O) is the senior member of the shipboard operations group which consists of three departments: operations, combat systems (tactical), and navigation/astrogation. In this capacity, the operations manager also allocates ship's resources and coordinates interdepartmental projects, including those which involve engineering or sciences. OPS also has a permanent place in the senior officer watch rotation. On a destoryer such as COVENTRY, the OPS is usually a LTJG (O-2) or a LT (O-3). ====================================================================== Part 4- WATCHES =============== The underway watch rotation (the only one that really concerns role play on the COVENTRY) consists of six four-hour watches which cycle every twenty-four. Each overall watch has two watch officers, one senior and one junior. There are subsidiary watches at OPS, TAC, and NAV, as well as ENG and SEC. While department heads may participate in the watch rotation as junior watch officers, they only takeover their primary bridge consoles doing alerts. 4.1- OFFICERS OF THE DAY ------------------------ Beyond the permanent watch officers, there are also officers of the day. Senior officer of the day is limited to those officers who have passed the senior BrOT (bridge officer's test). Junior officer of the day is open to any junior officer who has passed the junior BrOT. Both are good experience for any ambitious officer. 4.11- Watch Rotation -------------------- Watch (time) Senior Watch Officer Junior Watch Officer ------------ -------------------- -------------------- Alpha (0800-1200) XO JOOD Bravo (1200-1600) OPS SCI Charlie (1600-2000) TAC NAV Delta (2000-0000) OPS SCI Echo (0000-0400) TAC JOOD Foxtrot (0400-0800) NAV JOOD OOD: SCI, PRO, etc (if qualified) JOOD: Varies Also bear in mind that division officers serve as watch officers for their departmental watches (operations, engineering, tactical and navigation watches). In sciences, there is no standing watch. Attending physicians rotate as shift supervisors. A shift in sickbay is two regular four hour watches; the sciences department may also run in eight hour shifts at the discretion of the chief science officer. ====================================================================== Part 5- THE GROUPS ================== The departments are grouped into operations, support/logistics, and staff groups. These distinctions are most important during the training phases. They also reflect the uniform colors employed aboard the USS COVENTRY. During operational phases, these groups become less important as the entire ship comes mission-focused. ON smaller ships such as COVENTRY, the Marines (if a detachment is deployed on-ship)are treated as if they were a regular department, and are ultimately answerable to the CO and XO of the vessel; as such, their specifics will be dealt with towards the end of this document. 5.1- COMMAND GROUP ------------------ The command group is comprised of the aforementioned senior line officers- CO, XO and OPS- as well as the Command Master chief and any administrative personnel attached to the Commanding Officer, such as Yeomen. 5.11- Command Master Chief -------------------------- The Command Master Chief (CMC), alternately known as the 'Chief of the Boat' or the 'Boatswain,' is the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer on board COVENTRY. Her job is to act as a liaison between the rest of the ship's command group and the enlisted personnel. As such, this task is always given to the senior-most enlisted person on board. As a general rule of thumb, this person is a career officer, possibly on the verge of earning a warrant commission, and well-respected by her fellow enlisted personnel. Usually, the CMC is a Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). 5.2- OPERATIONS GROUP --------------------- The operations group consists of operations, combat systems (tactical), and astrogation/navigation departments. On the COVENTRY, all of these people will wear command red. This group is responsible for the performance of the ship while underway, particularly in combat. The operations manager is the senior member of the operations group, and is accountable to the XO for its overall readiness during training cycles. 5.3- SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS GROUP -------------------------------- The support/logistics group consists of engineering, sciences, security, and protocol. All of these people wear mustard, though scientists, technicians, etc who are part of the Science Corps (as opposed to science officers who are support officers serving as administrators) wear blue along with other staff officers. The purpose of the support/logistics group is ensure the proper functioning of the ship, so that the operations group can perform its own function. Department heads within the support/logistics group report directly to the XO on matters of readiness during training cycles. 5.4- STAFF GROUP ---------------- The staff group on COVENTRY consists of the medical and counseling departments, and provides specialized professional services to the ship; as such, these personnel wear blue (staff) uniforms. The heads of each department- The chief medical officer and counselor- report separately to the XO. ====================================================================== Part 6- THE DEPARTMENTS ============================ 6.1- OPERATIONS (OPS) --------------------- 6.11- Operations Manager (OPS) ------------------------------ The role of the operations manager vis-a-vis the operations group has already been discussed. The operations manager is also the operations department head. In that capacity, OPS is the chief operations officer and supervises the operations division officers. OPS on an COVENTRY- class ship is typically a lieutenant, junior grade (O-2)or a lieutenant (O-3). The operations department (as distinct from the operations group) is composed of six divisions. All division officers may take operations watches, though the ship services officer (SSO) is often excused from such duties owing to the scope of his normal commitments. These divisions are discussed below: 6.12- Ship Services (SSO) ------------------------- The ships services (SSO) division is responsible for the mundane tasks that keep a starship operating and the crew in good health and spirits. With the assistance of the engineering staff (primarily E-division), ship's services ensures the operation of replicators, holodecks, etc. The ship's services division also assigns quarters, stewards, and deals with housekeeping. Moreover, with the assistance of the counselor, ships services makes certain that recreational and education programs go off as planned, and assists the protocol officer in seeing to the comfort of dignataries. This officer is typically an Ensign (O-1). 6.13- Computer Core (CORE) -------------------------- The computer core officer is responsible for maintaining the ship's computer computer core. In these duties, the computer core supervisor is assisted by a number of operations specialists. This crewman is typically a Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-7/8). 6.14- Sensors ------------- The sensors division officer is responsible for ensuring the proper calibration and operation of all the ship's sensor systems (navigational, long range, short range). In general, sensor software is maintained by the operations department. The G- and E-divisions in engineering handle the hardware side, while this operations division handles the operation and fine tuning of them. This crewman is typically a Chief Petty Officer (E-7). 6.15- Communications (COMM) --------------------------- The communications officer is responsible for ensuring the proper function of ship's communications equipment, especially the software (such as the universal translator) side. Because this billet benefits more from experience than education, the communications officer is often a Chief Petty Officer (E-7), or even a warrant officer (W1-W2). 6.16- Cryptography & Intelligence (CRYPTO) ------------------------------------------ The crypto department works closely with both the communications divisions officer and the combat information center (CIC) officer to process and direct intelligence to the appropriate parties. This division officer is typically an Ensign (O-1) but may also be a chief warrant officer (CW1-CW2). 6.17- Flight Operations (FlOps) ------------------------------- The flight deck is also nominally under the purview of the operations department. The flight operations officer is responsible for all embarked craft and the captain's yacht. The flight operations officer is typically a Ensign (O-1), and is the ONLY member of the Operations Department who does NOT wear a command-red underblouse; instead, the FLOPS wears the charcoal- gray of the Flight Operations Group. 6.2- COMBAT SYSTEMS (TAC) ------------------------- The combat systems department is headed by the chief tactical officer (TAC). This officer is typically an Ensign (O-1) on an COVENTRY-class ship. TAC is assisted by several division officers, who handle key parts of the offensive and defensive ship systems; all are usually experienced ratings. These divisions are, as follows: 6.21- Torpodoes (STRIKE) ------------------------ Strike, as the torpedoes' division officer is called, is responsible for the ship's torpedo systems, both regular and quantum (flux). The torpedo crews (who handle this manually in the event of system failure) report to Strike, and this officer is also responsible for torpedo stores. Strike is often lead division officer, and is typically an Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-7/8). 6.22- Phasers (GUNS) -------------------- Guns, or the phaser division officer, is responsible for the performance of ship phaser systems, including phaser and gatling (pulse) cannons. Gun crews, who handle the firing of phasers in the event of control system malfunction in combat, report to the phasers division officer. Guns is typically a Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-7/8). 6.23- Shields ------------- The shield division officer is responsible for the ship's shields (excluding navigational deflectors which are handled by the NAV dept), including optimizing their protective value. Because shield systems are highly vulnerable to opposition fire, the shields DivO often works closely with DAMCON (below) and the R- and E- divisions in engineering. Shields is typically a Chief Petty Officer (E-7). 6.24- Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM) --------------------------------------- Electronic counter-measures are critical to the survival of a ship in combat. Despite a battlecruiser's higher mass/power ratio than most capital ships (which make the ship more maneuverable), ECM still perform critical functions on these largely military ships. Counter-measures are used to draw off opposition fire, particularly torpedoes and particle beams (causing false weapons lock). ECM is typically a Petty Officer (E-4/5/6). 6.25- Fire Control (DAMCON) --------------------------- DAMCON is responsible for coordinating damage control efforts during and after combat. DAMCON works very closely with the R-division (repair & maintenance) in engineering and is always the liaision officer to engineering for the combat systems department. DAMCON is typically an experienced Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-7/8), ideally with some engineering expertise as well. 6.26- Pinpoint Defense Systems (PDS) ------------------------------------ PDS is responsible for operating and maintaining the pinpoint defense system, a network of short-range lasers designed to intercept and destroy incoming missile fire. This officer is typically a Petty Officer on a smaller ship like COVENTRY. 6.3- NAVIGATION/ASTROGATION (NAV or FCO) ---------------------------------------- Primarily, navigation officers are responsible for plotting the safest, most efficient course of travel (a task which can be elusive even with the computer) and for coordinating with OPS and TAC to take into account their considerations for plotting approaches to systems, etc. Moreover, NAV/A handles stellar cartography and keeps the star charts updated (Star Fleet is constantly bombarding its ships with updates). Navigation also supervises itself (traditionally a good billet for professional development of young officers.) NAV is typically an Ensign (O-1), and is assisted by three division officers, all typically experienced petty officers. 6.31- Stellar Cartography (STELCART) ------------------------------------ While science officers often make use of stellar cartography, this center falls under the purview of navigation. The stellar cartography division officer is directly responsible for keeping the charts up-to-date and for providing navigation the information necessary to plot and plan the safest, most efficient course. 6.32- Ship Control (HELM) ------------------------- The ship control division is responsible for the training of helmsmen and assistant helmsmen (quartermaster's ratings, no relation to supply) and is the physical location of the navigation watch. Ship control develops and refines evasive manuevers (with the collaboration of TAC and OPS) and is responsible for the performance of the helm and for the performance of navigational deflectors. 6.33- Navigational Sensors (NAVSEN) ----------------------------------- Navigational sensors are distinct from the rest of ship's sensors. They maintain continuous sensor sweeps and are critical to the safe operation of the ship. The information this division supplies permits continuous course corrections and adjustments. The division officer is accountable to NAV for the performance of this system. 6.4- ENGINEERING (ENG) ---------------------- Engineering is responsible for the repair, maintenance, and proper functioning of the ship's physical components. Headed by the chief engineering officer, engineering is broken down into five functional division, three (propulsion, gravitics, electronics) involve specific technologies, whereas the other two (diagnostics and repair & maintenance) are logistical in nature. All division officers report to the chief engineering officer. The chief engineering officer (ENG) supervises the division officers and reports directly to the executive officer (XO). ENG is responsible for the professional development of engineering officers. ENG is typically at least an Ensign (O-1) and is often a Lieutenant, Junior Grade (O-2). In dealings with enlisted personnel, ENG is assisted by a first mate. On the COVENTRY, the first mate should ideally be a Senior Chief Petty Officer, but would most often be a Chief Petty Officer. By naval convention, engineering divisions are referred to by their one or two letter abbreviation. 6.41- Propulsion (P) -------------------- The propulsion division is responsible for operation of the manuevering engines, impulse engines, warp drives, and d-warp drives (nodes). Propulsion is the largest of the engineering divisions and the division officer is perhaps an Ensign (O-1), but more likely a Chief or Senior Chief Petty Officer. Propulsion may be further subdivided into warp, dimension warp, and impulse centers with petty officers supervising those. 6.42- Gravitics (G) ------------------- Gravitic systems include those technologies which manipulate gravity per the SF Engineering page (shields, long range sensors, tractor beams, and gravitic cloaks when appropriate). The gravitics division officer is Chief Petty Officer (E-7). 6.43- Electronics (E) --------------------- Electronic systems are those technologies which rely on electro-magnetics, namely short range sensors, navigational sensors, transporters, structural integrity fields, etc. as well as internal ship systems. Like the G- division, the electronics division officer is typically a Chief Petty Officer (E-7). 6.44- Diagnostic (D) -------------------- The diagnostic division officer is responsible for the ensuring the operation of all shipboard diagnostic systems, particularly their software components. This officer works closely with the computer core division officer in operations and with the R&M division officer. Diagnostic division officers are typically Chief Petty Officers (E-7). 6.45- Repair & Maintenance (R) ------------------------------ The repair & maintenance division coordinates all of engineering's repair and maintenance efforts. This division officer works closely with the fire control (DAMCON) division officer in the combat systems department and with the ship services division officer in operations. The R- division officer is typically an Ensign (O-1), given the interdepartmental liaison duties. 6.5- SCIENCES (CSciO or SCI) ---------------------------- The science department (Sciences) has a dual role aboard a COVENTRY-class ship. First, and foremost, the science department is tasked with solving problems of a scientific nature brought to it by the command staff. These problems may be mission-related, or may reflect the challenges of space travel and exploration in a more general sense. A good chief science officer (SCI) will study the mission briefing material for ways in which the science department may support overall mission goals. This aspect of the science department's role is most obvious during an operational phase. Otherwise, the science department engages in ongoing research. When not called upon to perform specific tasks, the members of the department will be pulling together work done on previous missions, writing classified material up for Star Fleet and unclassified material up for publication, as well as conducting their own personal research. The SCI has a control function, making certain that Star Fleet by and large ends up funding research of some utility to the organization as a whole. The chief science officer is not a scientist, but rather the chief administrator of the sciences department and is typically a Ensign (O-1). In this task, SCI is assisted by division officers who are also administrators, and are typically junior officers of varying ranks. Their most important tasks are to serve as an interface between the scientists and the command staff. In that, they are tasked with translating mission related demands into a scientific framework, putting together project teams (multi-disciplinary or otherwise), and judging between competing demands for resources. The specific number of divisions will vary at a given time, but be grouped around loosely related fields: social sciences, physical sciences, biological sciences, etc. Division officers are assumed to have undergraduate degrees (but no more) in the discipline which they supervise. 'Supervise' is a term used loosely because they are not supervising the content of research, but rather supporting the efforts of ongoing scientific study. Most of the scientists in their divisions will outrank them considerably (and have advanced degrees); however, they report to the DivO in an administrative sense. Also, the DivO's are responsible for making the SCI aware of potentially mission relevant research done in their division, as these things occasionally work the other direction as well. 6.6- SECURITY (SEC or CSO) -------------------------- The security department on the COVENTRY is fairly small; as such, it is typically combined with the Tactical Officer's duties. In such cases, the security department head may very well be a senior non-commissioned officer. In such cases, he/she is known as the CMAA (Chief Master-of- Arms & Armaments). Where TAC and CSO are combined, there is a CMAA who reports to the TAC/CSO, as he does on the COVENTRY. Security is concerned primarily with maintaining crew discipline and enforcing Star Fleet Regulations. There are three standing watches (which rotate through twice a daily cycle). Each watch has three squads of ten men-at-arms (the enlisted rating of security personnel). In addition, there is an administrative squad which primarily handles criminal and forensic investigations and paperwork. The CSO on an COVENTRY-class destroyer is typically an Ensign (O-1). 6.7- MEDICAL (MED) ------------------ 6.71- Chief Medical Officer (CMO) --------------------------------- The chief medical officer (CMO) is a department head and member of the senior staff. On the COVENTRY, this officer is typically a Lieutenant (O-3). The officer must be a medical doctor and must have completed residency. The officer need not be a specialist. The chief day-to-day responsibilities of the CMO are administrative. Though the CMO may well choose to see patients, the officer does not have a sickbay shift. 6.72- Staff Attending Physicians -------------------------------- There are generally three staff attendings in addition to the chief medical officer. Their ranks are typically Lieutenant, Junior Grade (O-2). Regardless of their ranks vis-a-vis the CMO, they report directly to that officer. Many of these officers are board certified specialists, but do not need to be. 6.73- Residents --------------- There are also usually three residents whose shifts mirror that of the attending physicians. They are the doctors who do the bulk of the 'grunt work' in sickbay. While attendings must sign off on their diagnoses and treatment plans, they are the ones most likely to see patients. They may or may not be studying to become specialists. All of these officers are at least Ensigns (O-1). With only three total, there is no head resident. First year residents are called interns. 6.74- Head Nurse ---------------- The head nurse is usually an Ensign (O-1) and is the officer to whom the other nurses report. She reports to directly to the chief medical officer, though her nurses report to the attending physician in charge of a given shift. 6.75- Staff Nurses ------------------ There are nine staff nurses. At any given time, most of these nurses will be senior non-commissioned officers. 6.76- Pharmacologist/Toxicologist --------------------------------- There is one pharmacologist/toxicologist on staff. That officer will be a Ensign (O-1) more than likely. 6.77- Medical Techs, Orderlies, etc ----------------------------------- There are a number of paramedics, medical techs, orderlies, corpsmen of various enlisted ratings, etc. In general, senior medical techs are petty officers. Paramedics are senior noncoms (with very experienced ones being chiefs), orderlies are junior enlisted. 6.8- COUNSELING (COU) --------------------- The counseling department varies a good deal from ship-to-ship. The ship's counselor is responsible for the mental health of the crew and for advising the captain in matters of shipboard morale. Some ship's counselors go at it alone, others have assistant counselors. There is an enlisted rating of naval counselor. These people are not professional mental health providers, but rather an equivalent of social workers. All ship's counselors have counseling certification from Star Fleet and are assumed to have at least undergraduate degrees (but more often intermediate and advanced degrees) in a related field: psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, or sociology. 6.9- MARINES (SFMC) ------------------- The commanding officer of the ship's Marine detachment, although not a department head, occupies a somewhat similar position with respect to the administration of the Marines aboard in matters pertaining strictly to the Marine Corps. He is one of the division officers of the combat systems department inasmuch as the Marine detachment is a regular part of the ship's company. Note: In practice, the Marine officer usually reports to the ship's commanding officer. When his men are detached for duty with other shipboard departments, they answer to the autority of the departmental officers. The Marine officer is almost always included in senior staff meetings. The Marine detachment commander is responsible to the ship's captain for the efficiency of his detachment and for the phases of ship's internal administration that are applicable to the detachment. He is responsible to the tactical officer for training conducted under his supervision, and for the care, preservation, and operation of such equipment, supplies, and spaces as are assigned to the Marine detachment by the department head. Marines serve as ceremonial and security guards in space or in part. Marines may be detached for other duties in space, such as communications, staff, liason, and flight duty. The functions of a Marine detachment detailed for duty aboard a ship are: 1. To provide a unit organized, trained, and equipped for operations in dock or as part of the ship's landing party. 2. To provide gun crews. 3. To provide internal security for the ship. In brief, this means that the MO reports to the CO directly. Since the XO speaks with the autority of the CO, he can also issue orders to the marines. Effectively then, even though technically not one, the Marines act, for all intents and purposes, just like a naval department. When a marine is working with another department (or when a person from another department is working with the marines, ie a medical corpsman) they report to that departments CO (resp. the MO). (Note as is standard practive, all officers and ratings wear the uniform of the department with which they are currently serving, ie medical corpsman wear a marine enlisted uniform, but with naval rank insignia.) With respect to the duties of the marines, they are not a police force. The security officers and men are responsible for internal discipline of the crew. The marines are responsible for the safety of the people on the ship and of the ship itself. They are not, except in extreme cases like a mutiny, used to enforce discipline. Marines serve as members of gun crews and have duty stations in critical spaces on the ship (bridge, main engineering, sickbay, aux. control, etc.) during alert. They are not the sole members of gun crews and will almost always be under the supervision of an officer or rating from the combat systems (tactical) department. In terms of the chain of command, the MO has the effective authority and position of a department head, but he is, strictly speaking, not part of the chain of command. He will never take command of the ship or hold a bridge watch. On a ship such as COVENTRY, the Marine compliment would likely be of platoon size (about 35 soldiers total), and would be commanded by a 1LT (O-2) or even a 2LT (O-1). This platoon would consist of 3 squads of 10 soldiers each, with each squad being commanded by a Sergeant (E-5) or Staff Sergeant (E-6). In addisiton, there would be an additional 5-man command team, which would include the MCO and the platoon XO (usually a 2LT or Sergeant-Major (E-9). This is all, of course, assuming that there is a Marine deployment on COVENTRY. As her mission profile changes, so will her need for Marines. ======================================================================== Part 7- CONCLUSIONS =================== I know some of this sounds confusing; it can be, especially if one doesn't have any military experience (such as myself). This was provided in order to help you get a grasp of your responsibilities with regards to the ship in general and your individual departments. Personally, I have found it quite helpful in structuring my own departments on various other ships. You, of course, have the freedom to use this at your leisure. However, should you choose to create PNPC characters within your department (which might be a good idea for most of us), I would like to see you follow these guidelines as to their jobs, etc. Of course, if you have any questions about this or are in need of clarification, feel free to drop me a line. Respectfully, -Scott Lusby =^= LT Delbrak Dommo Operations Manager USS COVENTRY NCC-81420 TACRON-49, GREEN Fleet <co-circe[at]alt-starfleet-rpg.org> -- http://alt-starfleet-rpg.org/fleets/greenfleet/coventry/index.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VERSION HISTORY: ---------------- 1.0- 1st live version (SD 170715)