General Info:
DC's (USN and TAR) do the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare defense. They also instruct personnel in the methods of damage control and CBR defense, and repair damage control equipment and systems.
What They Do:
The duties performed by DC's include: operating, repairing and maintaining installed firefighting systems and equipment, damage control equipment, and chemical, biological and radiological defense equipment; training shipboard personnel in the operation, maintenance and repair of damage control systems and equipment, life saving devices, and various firefighting methods; performing emergency repairs to decks, structures and hulls by emergency pipe patching, plugging, and shoring; performing maintenance and repair of watertight closures and assorted fittings; performing emergency repairs to piping fittings and fixtures; acting as the ships Fire Marshal and fire fighting leaders; training ship's company in chemical, biological and radiological defense
Detailed List of Required Duties
VE+AR+MK+AS=200 or MK+AS+AO=150
Other Requirements:
Must have normal color perception.
Technical Training Information:
Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of this rating through on-the-job training or formal Navy schooling. Advanced training in this rating is available during later stages of career development.
Great Lakes, IL --75 calendar days
Great lakes, IL -- 19 calendar days
Great Lakes, IL -- 54 calendar days
Introduction to technical documentation, basic mechanical theory, safety precautions and programs, alignment and operation of piping systems and equipment, hand tools, precision instruments, lubricants, bearings, couplings, gears, valves, pumps and the Maintenance Material Management System (3M) Group instruction and practical application
Indoctrination, installed firefighting systems and equipment, shipboard damage control, shipboard ventilation systems, fundamentals of ship stability, firemain and drainage systems, communications, emergency breathing devices, desmoking and gas analyzing equipment, chemical biological and radiological defense, wet training, emergency access equipment, watertight closures and fittings, portable pump repair and operation, and emergency cutting Group instruction, consisting of live firefighting involving various structures and aircraft.
After completion of "A" school, USN Damage Controlmen are assigned to ships of all types in the United States or overseas, TAR Damage Controlmen are assigned to NRF ships in CONUS. In a typical 20-year period in the Navy, they spend about 65 percent of their time on sea duty and about 35 percent on shore duty. Upon completing sea tours, USN Damage Controlmen will be assigned to shore duty in Fleet Concentration areas. TAR Damage Controlmen will be assigned to reserve centers across the nation including the heartland. While assigned to a reserve center TAR Damage Controlmen will train and administer Selected Reserve Personnel.
Working Environment:
Damage Controlmen work in a variety of climates at sea and ashore. They normally perform their work at sea in a controlled climate, but are often called upon, to work in machinery spaces and flight decks in various sea states and weather conditions. USN DC's are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, TAR DC's are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations. They may work in noisy environments on some assignments. People in this rating work closely with others, usually supervise and teach others and often do physical work.
Advancement (Promotion) Trends
