Posted on Feb 21, 2018
Officers of the deck to undergo competency tests
1.54K
20
13
6
6
0
Way overdue --- In the next iteration they should test a full bridge complement while simulating random personnel and equipment casualties.
Officers of the deck to undergo competency tests
Posted from navytimes.com
Officer of the Deck Underway (OOD U/W)
Training
Teamwork
Maritime
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 4
2
2
0
Dear Big Navy: There is already a ready-made solution to this problem, and would cause almost no disruption: make them all qualify on the CG's 3rd mate, unlimited tonnage test. Any intelligent person who applies themselves can do it in about 2 months. Are you telling me we can't spare an extra 2 months to train officers driving billion dollar warships? The process is in place, the standards are in place, the Puddle Pirates have vast experience administering and evaluating it. Why why WHY ignore this oh-so-obvious resource?
I'm baffled.
I'm baffled.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
A 35 minute evaluation... yeah that'll do it... I had to re-qual every new ship, every new CO. I got quizzed and watched every time the CO or XO was on the bridge. To me, this is just another band aid "look we're doing something" fix, even though it isn't going to solve anything....
(2)
(0)
SN Greg Wright
MCPO Roger Collins - Meh that's true of everyone nowadays, Master Chief. 97% of shipping has pilots and tugs doing the docking and undocking evolutions. In the case of the Navy's current problems, they're fielding JO's who somehow can't get driving in the open ocean right. That's the larger problem since tugs and pilots are always used. But since they cut the required training for shiphandling over 15 years ago, I'm willing to bet there's very few current CO's who could dock a DDG without tugs. Certainly, larger modern ships can't (and don't).
All the shiphandlers you saw came from an age where they actually DID it.
All the shiphandlers you saw came from an age where they actually DID it.
(1)
(0)
LT Brad McInnis
SN Greg Wright - Hey!!! I docked a DDG without tugs! One thing I thought about was how many things the OOD does while supposedly standing watch. When I started, you had the OOD, a Junior OOD and a Conning Officer. The OOD's sole job was overseeing the Conning Officer and situational awareness. The JOOD was to handle everything else. Towards the end of my time at sea, the JOOD position was done away with because there weren't enough watch standers. I am not saying that a good officer with plenty of training can't do both jobs, but as the sea lanes get heavy and you are pulling into port, there are a shit ton of checklists and phone calls to do and make. If the OOD, who is supposed to be responsible for SA has their heads in a checklist, then there are problems.... who knows... something has to change and doing inspections like in the article aren't going to make much difference... my 2 cents!
(1)
(0)
SN Greg Wright
LT Brad McInnis - That's pretty impressive, LT. Do DDG's have bow thrusters? Or did you send a line and back down on it?
(1)
(0)
LT Brad McInnis
SN Greg Wright - I forget the pier # in SD, but we were out there by ourselves, at the far end of the pier. No ships on the other pier. Had a CO that deemed it necessary to do tough pier mornings, as you never knew what you would see overseas. Didn't want the 1st time pulling in with no tugs to be in Timbuktu or someplace like that. Was able to pull wide and drive riding like a car.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Technical or procedural competency is not the problem. I am sure all the OOD's know how to stand their watch. I see the problem as to do with the Navy's command structure and lack of discretion in decision making. I'm talked with many Navy JO's. USCG major weapons and ECM systems are managed by the Navy, so attendance at Navy schools goes along with playing with their toys.
I'm sure the OOD's on the recent Navy's collisions competently tracked the other ship right into the "Oops". But why didn't the OOD follow common sense instead of the SOP?
I'm sure the OOD's on the recent Navy's collisions competently tracked the other ship right into the "Oops". But why didn't the OOD follow common sense instead of the SOP?
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google