GENERAL  DAMAGE  CONTROL  PQS Personnel   Qualification   Standards   (PQS) in  General  Damage  Control  exist  for  all  Navy personnel,  regardless  of  rank,  rate,  or  rating. These  standards  exist  because  many  Navy  per- sonnel  have  been  killed  or  seriously  injured because   of   ignorance   of   basic   damage   con- trol,  basic  fire-fighting  skills,  or  personal  pro- tection   methods.   In   one   scene   of   the   Navy training  film  Trial  by  Fire  (actual   footage of  USS  Forrestal  disaster),   some   sailors   are shown  isolated  from  safety  by  the  fire  and reading  the  instructions  for  donning  an  oxygen- breathing apparatus (OBA). Obviously, that was not  the  time  to  learn! Currently,   all   personnel   assigned   to   ships must  meet  General  Damage  Control  PQS  require- ments  (including  basic  fire-fighting  skills)  soon after  reporting  aboard.  The  commanding  officer decides  how  much  time  must  be  alloted  for full   qualification,    but   normally   this   period is  not  longer  than  6  months.  Personnel  in  the ship’s  engineering  department  and  specifically those  in  the  repair  division  are  tasked  by  the commanding  officer  to  provide  instruction  and monitor  qualification  in  General  Damage  Con- trol  PQS. Religious   Program   Specialists   assigned   to ships  may  be  required  to  serve  on  a  fire  party or a damage control team on duty days. Usually a   senior   petty   officer   from   the   engineering department   in   each   duty   section   is   assigned as  on-scene  leader  to  control  activities  at  the scene  of  the  fire  or  other  disaster.  If  assigned to   a   fire   party   or   damage   control   team,   the RP  should  attend  all  training  sessions  held by   the   on-scene   leader.   The   location   of   all repair  lockers,  the  ship’s  compartment  numbering system,  and  the  location  and  operation  of fire-fighting  equipment  must  be  learned.  This may  require  a  great  deal  of  time  and  effort, but   it   is   absolutely   essential!   The   lives   of many  shipmates  may  someday  depend  on  how well   fire-fighting   and   damage   control   skills are mastered. Most  fleet  training  centers  conduct  basic fire-fighting   and   damage   control   team   train- ing.  Area  commanders  assign  their  personnel to  this  training  according  to  available  quotas. The  training  usually  lasts  2  to  3  days  and simulates  actual  shipboard  situations.  If  an RP  is  assigned  to  a  fire  party  or  damage control   team,    this   training   would   be   most valuable. 6-4 MAINTENANCE   AND   MATERIAL MANAGEMENT  (3-M)  PQS In addition to General Damage Control PQS, the command may require all assigned personnel to meet maintenance and material management (3-M)  standards  as  well.  If  so,  the  ship’s  3-M Coordinator  (usually  a  first  class  or  chief  petty officer) will ensure that this training is provided. WATCH   STANDING Regardless of the duty station assigned, it is likely  that  the  assigned  RP  will  have  to  stand watches of one type or another. Local directives will  provide  training  guidelines  for  standing these  watches.  A  PQS  for  watch  standing  may exist,  and  personnel  may  be  required  to  stand one   or   more   watches   under   instruction   until fully qualified to perform watch-standing duties. Commands ashore may require senior RPs to stand  watches  as  officer  of  the  day  (OOD)  or shore  patrol  (SP).  At  most  shore  stations  there are  enough  senior  personnel  assigned  so  these duties   occur   infrequently   (normally   once   a month). Duty  aboard  ship  may  be  different.  Senior RPs may be required to stand watches as officer of the deck (OOD) in port once or twice a week or more often. Whenever the ship is operating at sea,  watch  standing  may  be  part  of  the  daily routine.   The   senior   watch   officer   (SWO)   will construct the watch bill as the situation dictates. Also, aboard some ships operating at sea, the commanding  officer  may  require  that  the  office of the chaplain be open around the clock. In that case, the leading RP should construct a watch bill reflecting  this  requirement  for  approval  of  the command  chaplain  and  senior  watch  officer.  If enough RPs are assigned, the leading RP should leave himself or herself off the watch bill in order to be on call for emergencies at any time. If it is necessary for the leading RP to be on the watch bill,  the  leading  RP  should  take  the  watch during  normal  ship’s  working  hours,  which  is usually the time of peak activity in the office of the  chaplain. Aboard  ship,  in  addition  to  following  other directives, assigned personnel will be directed by the  watch,  quarter,  and  station  bill.  In  case  of emergencies, such as fire, flooding, or imminent attack,  personnel  will  be  directed  as  to  place  of muster, whether or not to don protective clothing and)  or  life  jacket,  whether  or  not  to  activate equipment  and/or  weapons,  and  so  forth.  Part