<p>My pleasure. :)</p>
<p>Before going anywhere with specifics of underway watches vs. inport watches, let me lay down some definitions so that I don’t lose anyone…</p>
<p>Watch rotations on ships are broken down by “Duty Section”. A section is a subset of the crew and includes representatives from each department onboard. Crews are normally divided into between 3 and 5 sections, although sometimes 2 sections (port and starboard) are seen, and I’ve heard stories of as many as 7 (a nearly orgasmic luxury - see below). It is EXTREMELY rare to have more than 4, and the most common structure is 3.</p>
<p>Each duty section has a representative selection from each department: Engineering, Weapons, Operations, Supply, Officers, etc. The sections take turns manning the watches, which differ depending on if the ship is inport or underway.</p>
<p>When ship’s work is knocked off (finished for the day) while inport, everyone goes on liberty except for the assigned duty section, which remains aboard overnight. It is their job to man the ship, handle emergencies, etc. The following morning, the next duty section takes over and the prior section gets to go on liberty at the end of the day. The duty section has certain standard watches such as OOD Inport, POOW, Messenger, Duty Engineer, etc.</p>
<p>While underway, the entire ship’s crew is present, but the jist of the rotation remains the same. There are a given number of watches, and they rotate every 4 to 6 hours. How often you stand watch depends on how many sections there are, which in turn depends on how many people are qualified for a given watch.</p>
<p>Some examples:</p>
<p>A 5-section inport watch rotation means that the average crewmember will be required to remain onboard in a duty capacity not less than once every five days. However, if your particular function (Command Duty Officer - CDO, for example) has only three qualified individuals aboard, then those three will be standing watch every three days. If you are unfortunate enough to have only two qualified people, then you are on Port and Starboard watches, which means every other day. That REALLY sucks. 3-section is the minimum desired, and even then it guarantees that you never get a full weekend off (you either have duty on Friday night, or all day Saturday, or all day Sunday).</p>
<p>While underway, each department comes up with their own watch rotation, so while OOD Underway may be on 4-section, the guys down in Radio may be on Port and Starboard while the EOOW (Engineering Officer of the Watch) may be on 3. Normally, everyone is on 3.</p>
<p>So what does this mean while underway?</p>
<p>Watches aboard ship while underway are broken down as follows:</p>
<p>Midwatch: 0000-0400
Rev (Reveille) Watch: 0400-0800
Forenoon Watch: 0800-1200
Afternoon Watch: 1200-1600
First Dogwatch: 1600-1800
Second Dogwatch: 1800-2000
Night Watch: 2000-2400</p>
<p>The Dog Watches are shortened to allow watchstanders to catch evening meal.</p>
<p>For some reason my first ship’s Rev watch went from 0400 to 0900, earning it the dubious title of “The Morning Marathon”. It REALLY sucked! Inport watches run the same times, it’s just that the watches themselves are different: the OOD is Inport vs. Underway (two totally different qualifications), etc.</p>
<p>So, on average, if you are in a 3-section rotation, you will be on for about 4 hours and off for about 8. If you are on a 4-section rotation, you are 4 on and 12 off. Port-and-starboard watches are almost always 6 and 6, but 8-and-8 and 12-and-12 are also possible. While inport, a 3-section rotation means you are on one day and off two. Seven sections means you are on one and off six (hence the orgasm mentioned above).</p>
<p>No one ever said life in the military was easy. In many ways, life in the Navy is the toughest, even if we DO have air conditioning and hot meals aboard!</p>
<p>BTW, here is an excellent article that is chock full of truths. He writes better than I do: <a href=“Opinion”>Opinion;
<p>Hope that helps…</p>
<p>ETA: I should stress that this is STRICTLY for SWO. I am unaware of how pilots structure their watch rotations (or if they even stand watches to begin with), nor am I aware of other communities such as USMC, SEAL, etc. I could speculate, but I don’t get paid to do that unless ordered to.</p>