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Although we have listed only some of the
OOD’s duties and responsibilities, those listed
show the enormous responsibility involved. When
an individual is designated OOD (underway), the
commanding officer has placed special trust and
confidence in that person’s capabilities.
Although the OOD is responsible for the deck
and the conn, the OOD normally delegates the
conn to the JOOD. Just what are the deck and
the conn? The deck refers to the OOD’s watch;
it means the OOD is in charge of all deck
functions and supervises the maneuvers of the
ship. The conn means the control, or direction
by rudder and engine orders, of the movements
of a ship. The JOOD is in training for OOD and
must, therefore, learn how to conn the ship. Even
when delegating the conn, the OOD still remains
responsible for the actions of the conning officer.
A matter of extreme importance is that the
bridge watch team know who has the deck and
the conn. Only one person at a time can conn the
ship, and that person must be known by the watch
team. For this reason, when one officer transfers
the conn to another, that officer announces this
transfer in the pilot house. Normally, the conning
officer being relieved announces, “This is [Rank
or Rate and name of the officer being relieved].
[Rank or rate and name of relieving officer] has
the conn.” The officer assuming the conn then
announces, “This is [Rank or Rate and name].
I have the conn. ” Each member of the watch team
acknowledges this report. Customarily the
helmsman and lee helmsman report the course
being steered, the magnetic-compass course, and
the speed and rpm indicated. A similar announce-
ment is also made for relief of the deck.
COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER
WATCH OFFICER (CICWO)
The officer who supervises the operation of
the combat information center (CIC) is the CIC
watch officer (CICWO). The CICWO acts as a
representative of the CIC officer. The duties of
the CICWO include the following:
Supervising personnel on watch in CIC,
ensuring air, surface, and submarine
contacts are detected and reported within
the capabilities of the equipment
Keeping the OOD advised of recom-
mended procedures for maintaining sta-
tion, avoiding navigational hazards and
collisions, and speed or course changes
necessary to change or regain station
Keeping the OOD informed concerning all
radars in operation and those under repair
Ensuring all CIC logs are properly main-
tained for the duration of the watch
Supervising and evaluating the on-the-job
training of enlisted CIC personnel on
watch, including the ship’s lookouts
The CICWO normally makes reports to the
OOD. If a tactical action officer (TAO) is assigned
to the watch bill, the CICWO reports to the TAO
on matters of tactical employment and defense.
Tactical Action Officer (TAO)
The tactical action officer (TAO) acts as the
commanding officer’s representative concerning
the tactical employment and defense of the unit.
The TAO is responsible for the safe and efficient
operations of the combat systems and for any
other duties prescribed by the commanding
officer. The TAO, who is not assigned to the
watch bill during normal peacetime steaming
(Condition IV), stands watch in CIC.
When so authorized by the commanding
officer, the TAO may direct the OOD to take
tactical actions required to fight or defend the
unit. The TAO and the OOD have to work as a
team. With the TAO in CIC and the OOD on the
bridge, the TAO’s direction could possibly place
the ship in danger. In these cases the OOD should
decline the direction and immediately advise the
CO.
Communications Watch Officer
Another important position in the underway
watch organization is the communications watch
officer. The communications watch officer is
responsible for receiving all incoming message
traffic and ensuring it is properly routed. The
communications watch officer sends all opera-
tional messages to the CIC watch officer. The
communications watch officer is also responsible
for transmitting the messages the unit needs to
send and ensuring all radio frequencies are
properly set. A ship must be able to communicate
to accomplish its mission.
ENGINEERING OFFICER OF
THE WATCH (EOOW)
The engineering officer of the watch (EOOW)
is in charge of the safe and proper operation of
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