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Z-Gram #14; dated 27 August 1970

Collateral Duties

R 270004Z AUG 70
FM CNO (Z-14)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N01300//
COLLATERAL DUTIES

A. OPNAVINST 1300.7

1. REF A WAS ISSUED TO DISCOURAGE THE PROLIFERATION OF COLLATERAL DUTIES. THERE STILL REMAIN, HOWEVER, ALMOST ONE HUNDRED SUCH OFFICER COLLATERAL DUTIES APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS ECHELONS OF THE FLEET OR SHORE ESTABLISHMENT. EACH MAY HAVE BEEN DESIRABLE AT ONE TIME, BUT IF WE ARE TO GIVE MORE THAN LIP SERVICE TO REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATION AND PAPERWORK, ALL OF THESE MUST BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED IN THE CONTEXT OF TOMORROW’S NAVY.

2. THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION HEREIN IS THE MANAGEMENT DEFICIENCY INHERENT IN OUR GENERAL PRACTICE OF ASSIGNING THE GREAT MAJORITY OF COLLATERAL DUTIES TO COMMISSIONED JUNIOR OFFICERS. THE EXPENDITURE OF TIME AND ENERGY ON THE PART OF THE INDIVIDUAL JO TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES OFTEN ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT AS WELL AS OTHER MILITARY DUTIES AND RESTRICTS HIS EFFORTS TO INCREASE HIS PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE BY DEPRIVING HIM OF TIME NECESSARY FOR STUDY AND TRAINING. IF THIS DEFICIENCY IS TO BE CORRECTED, WE MUST INSURE THAT COLLATERAL FUNCTIONS WHICH SHOULD BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE EXISTING COMMAND STRUCTURE ARE SO HANDLED THAT MORE RELIANCE IS PLACED ON OUR WARRANT OFFICERS (WO) AND PETTY OFFICERS (PO) WHO ARE FULLY CAPABLE, WILLING AND QUALIFIED TO PERFORM CERTAIN COLLATERAL DUTIES.

3. THE NEED FOR DESIGNATION OF SOME OF THE PRESENT COLLATERAL DUTIES AS SEPARATE ENTITIES IS QUESTIONABLE, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE DUTIES ARE INTEGRAL TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIVISION OFFICER OR ANOTHER EXISTING PRIMARY DUTY, OR WHERE THE DUTIES WERE CONCEPTUALLY DESIGNED ONLY FOR LARGE SHORE STATIONS/STAFFS RATHER THAN FORCES AFLOAT. ADDITIONALLY, CERTAIN COLLATERAL DUTIES ARE FOUNDED ONLY ON A HISTORICAL BASIS AND APPEAR TO HAVE NO WRITTEN DIRECTIVES STATING THE REQUIREMENT. THEREFORE MANY COLLATERAL DUTIES HAVE AS THEIR BASIS REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE SHIP/STATION AND PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF ITS ASSIGNED PERSONNEL.

4. THE FOLLOWING ARE HEREBY CANCELED AS SEPARATELY DESIGNATED COLLATERAL DUTIES AND ALL ATTENDANT NAVY-REQUIRED REPORTS, RECORDS AND INSPECTIONS THEREOF WILL BE ELIMINATED FORTHWITH:

    CHARITIES AND FUN DRIVE OFFICER
    CIGARETTE FUN CUSTODIAN
    CIVIL READJUSTMENT OFFICER
    COLD WEATHER OFFICER
    CRUISE BOOK OFFICER
    CUSTOMS OFFICER
    DRIVE SAFE OFFICER
    FORMS CONTROL OFFICER
    HEALTH OFFICER
    PHYSICAL FITNESS OFFICER
    SAVINGS BOND OFFICER
    SCORE COUNSELING OFFICER
    SHIPS HISTORY OFFICER
    SPECIAL CLOTHING CUSTODIAN
    STAR COUNSELING OFFICER
    TEST EQUIPMENT OFFICER
    TRANSPORTATION OFFICER
    VOTING OFFICER

SUCH TRAINING, ADMINISTRATIVE AND READINESS VALUE AS THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS INDICATE CAN BE PERFORMED WITHIN ANY EXISTING COMMAND STRUCTURE WITHOUT CONTINUING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS. IT SHOULD NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, BE NECESSARY TO DESIGNATE A PHYSICAL FITNESS OFFICER; EACH DIVISION OFFICER TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF HIS MEN AND THIS CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE WITHOUT CUTTING THROUGH COMMAND LINES OR BUILDING VAST REPORTING AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. DUTIES SUCH AS FORMS CONTROL ARE INHERENT IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADMIN/PERSONNEL OFFICER (I.E., WITHIN EXISTING COMMAND STRUCTURE) WHILE SCORE AND STAR COUNSELING SHOULD BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAREER COUNSELING.

5. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT OTHER OFFICER COLLATERAL DUTIES LISTED HEREUNDER CAN AND SHOULD, WHEN PRACTICABLE, BE PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED WARRANT, COMMISSIONED WARRANT, CPO’S OR IN MANY CASES PO’S WHO ARE PROPERLY MOTIVATED. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE ABOARD SHIPS WITH FEWER THAN TWENTY (20) OFFICERS. WHERE NECESSARY, INSTRUCTIONS OR NOTICES MUST BE REVISED TO SO INDICATE:

    ATHLETICS OFFICER
    BENEFITS AND INSURANCE OFFICER
    COMTAC PUBS CONTROL OFFICER
    DEGAUSSING OFFICER
    DIVING OFFICER
    ELECTRICAL SAFETY OFFICER
    EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFICER
    FORMS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
    GAS FREE ENGINEER
    LAY LEADER(S)
    LIBRARY OFFICER
    LOOKOUT AND RECOGNITION OFFICER
    3M COORDINATOR
    MOVIE OFFICER
    PHOTOGRAPHIC OFFICER
    POSTAL OFFICER
    SHIP’S STORE OFFICER
    POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER

6. CINC’S ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ELIMINATION OR MODIFICATION OF ANY OTHER COLLATERAL DUTIES.

BT

__________

Transcription note: Original message does not include signature block.

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
3M: Maintenance and Material Management
CINC: commander-in-chief
COMTAC: Communications/Tactical (publications)
CPO: chief petty officer
JO: junior officer
OPNAVINST: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction

[END]
Published: Wed Sep 28 12:38:45 EDT 2016