Okay, you’ve finished checking in. Now what?
Well, most ships schedule an indoctrination class for new arrivals within a month of their arrival. A few commands substitute the check-in procedure almost entirely with an Indoc class.
Indoc – two weeks (or three, depending upon the command, and their current mission) of classroom instruction. During this time, you may or may not be mustering with your division – most commands treat the Indoc class as a division of it’s own, with CMC as DIVO. The first week usually consists of the following topics (this is not meant as an inclusive list):
- Indoc Division Introduction
- Command History
- CO’s Welcome
- XO’s Welcome
- CMC’s Welcome
- Command Managed Equal Opportunity (CMEO)
- Sexual Assault Victim Intervention (SAVI)
- Safety Officer
- Administration
- Disbursing
- Senior Enlisted Watchbill Coordinator
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
- Religious Services
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
- Operational Security (OPSEC)
- Automated Information Systems
- Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) Program/Measurement
- Command Master-At-Arms/Legal
- Command Financial Specialists
- Intro to Personal Qualification Standards (PQS) Programs
- Fraud, Waste and Abuse
- Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Control
- Introductions of Mentors and Mentoree’s
- Maintenance and Material Management Program
- 301 Maintenance Person Training
- Electrical Safety & Tag Out Procedures
- Career Counselor
- Medical & Dental
- Navy Rights and Responsibilities
- Family Advocacy Program
The second week is “normally” nothing but Basic Damage Control.
Yes, almost all the things that one should learn in Boot Camp – but keep in mind that most sailors go from Boot to their “A” School, and some things get forgotten during that time, as they are unused. Also, there are sailors like myself, even with many years of service, that need these courses as a refresher after being away from sea for an extended period of time. And then there are updates (such as new type of EEBD, and the replacement of the Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (OBA) with the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)), data specific to the command; you don’t want to fall asleep during this class.
Continued in Part 4 - Assignments, Watches, and Ship's Routine