What are your thoughts on damage control? Do you believe your division is confident in their ability to defend the crew?

but corporal, if it's everybodies task, then why does everybody give those who practice it and are rated in it so much trouble and hassle by not following our instructions and training? Blowing much of it off until something damaging and costyly happens. I've seen this many of times in ships and commands surrounding us. peoples jobs are always first on their mind, granted, it's what they're paid for, but for some, damage control isn't even a single iota of a thought in their mind. especially newly minted members, with little to no major training on it ( yes even from our schools prior to our commands).

Broc, just call me Tony, I'm no longer in the military and I was an IT2 in the Navy. To answer your question, people get their ESWS primary because they are competent alternate DC man, on my ship, they stressed that. Depending on your command and the command climate, it's usually the deciding factor in the competent of the crew. On my ship, the USS Mobile Bay CG53, EVERYONE E4 and above had to be ESWS or your liberty is at stake when we make port call. If that's not enough motivation to be qualify than the individual must love living on the ship.

-_-" then comes the understanding that my ship is not so... correctly motivated? in that light. Mind you; almost 97% of the crew has ESWS, but ask an OS(SW) how to set up a SCBA recharge station ( when we gave the training multiple times prior that final ESWS board and has passed our LOKs since then), he'll give you a deer in headlights look... what is it then? is it our training method that isn't getting across? is our retention in peoples minds that low, or are we being way too lenient? just because your ESWS qual'd, doesn't prove you know the material, just that you know how to reference someone or something that does. i mean no offence to those who are qualified, i'm just defending the competency of my fellow dc'men.

You are correct, most ESWS are incompetent because the command allows them to be. Command like the one I've been in were pretty strict on qualification. Only a few people are authorized to sign off on the quals. Unlike most ship whereas everyone with a pin can sign it off regardless if it is their area of expertise. AND that is failing the new and future sailors.