USS Ranger Shifts System
This is the shifts system implemented on USS Ranger.
It's a weekly rotating 3 shifts system with a split dog watch and watch duty/work split during the shift.
- Alpha shift: 0800 - 1500: 7 hours
- Beta shift: 1500 - 2200: 7 hours
- Gamma shift:
- First dog watch (1DW): 2200-2400: 2 hours
- Last dog watch (DW): 0000-0800: 8 hours.
Most of the crew will be rotating weekly following this pattern, and moving from the one they are in to the next in rotation:
- Alpha shift A: 0800-1200 Watch duty, 1200 Meal, 1200-1500 Work, 2200-2400 1DW
- Beta shift B: 1500-1900 Work, 1900 supper, 1900-2200 Watch duty
- Alpha shift B: 0800-1200 Work, 1200 Meal, 1200-1500 Watch duty
- Gamma shift: 0000-0800 Dog Watch
- Beta shift A: 1500-1900 Watch duty, 1900 supper, 1900-2200 Work, 2200-2400 1DW
Of course, most departments will have some kind of dog watch schedule, so while Engineering will probably be well staffed during the nights, Sickbay or the Flight deck will probably be less staffed, so that's left to the Head Departments to organize. Breakfast is usually at 0700 hours in the mess hall, but YMMV.
Senior staff and other key personnel have a more detached schedule, basically 24x7 disponibility, and usually work during the Alpha, except for bridge rotations, where the OoD will command according to schedule, with a JOoD and the corresponding shift bridge crew.
Bridge shifts are Alpha, Beta and Gamma, running hours with short breaks as time permits. If you are on bridge duty, you are exempt from the other tasks.
This leaves plenty of time to study, relax, social life, interests and eating, spleeping, etc.
Normally, shift relief happens at the sharp hour, so the relieving crew is expected to appear 10-15 minutes before so they are properly briefed if necessary.
