Watercraft operators are part of a piloting team using electronic positioning systems, handheld navigation tools, and traditional watch standing procedures aboard many of the Army's watercraft. Watercraft Operators are primarily responsible for navigation, cargo operations and supervising other Soldiers on Army watercraft.
88K1O - Skill Level One
Seaman: Performs seamanship duties on Army watercraft which includes the use of electronic navigation equipment, navigational aids, military and commercial radios and single-letter international code flags. Watercraft operators and seaman also receive extensive training in damage control, firefighting and rescue procedures.
88K2O - Skill Level Two
Squad Leader: Staff Sergeants, Sergeants and Corporals are normally squad, section and team leaders and are a critical link in the NCO channel. These NCOs live and work with their Soldiers every day and are responsible for their health, welfare and safety. These squad, section and team leaders ensure that their Soldiers meet standards in personal appearance and teach them to maintain and account for their individual and unit equipment and property. The NCO enforces standards and develops and trains Soldiers daily in MOS skills and unit missions. The NCO teaches individual and collective training, develops unit cohesion, fosters the values of loyalty and commitment and builds spirit and confidence. The NCO evaluates performance oriented training and through coaching and counseling grooms young Soldiers for future positions of increased responsibility. Squad, section and team leaders teach everything from the making of sound and timely decisions to physical training to ethics and values. You, corporals and sergeants, are the basic trainer of today's Soldiers.
Coxswain: Serves as the Vessel Master on a medium vessel and is responsible to the Commander to ensure the safe operation, maintenance and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo.
Leading Seaman: Supervises seaman in seamanship duties and is accountable the Boatswain on a large vessel.
Coxswain: Serves as the Vessel Master on a medium vessel and is responsible to the Commander to ensure the safe operation, maintenance and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo.
Leading Seaman: Supervises seaman in seamanship duties and is accountable the Boatswain on a large vessel.
88K3O - Skill Level Three
Boatswain: Serves as the assistant to the First Mate and is accountable to the First Mate to ensure the safe operation, deck maintenance, and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo on a large vessel.
Section Sergeant: Staff Sergeants, Sergeants and Corporals are normally squad, section and team leaders and are a critical link in the NCO channel. These NCOs live and work with their soldiers every day and are responsible for their health, welfare and safety. These squad, section and team leaders ensure that their soldiers meet standards in personal appearance and teach them to maintain and account for their individual and unit equipment and property. The NCO enforces standards and develops and trains soldiers daily in MOS skills and unit missions. The NCO teaches individual and collective training, develops unit cohesion, fosters the values of loyalty and commitment and builds spirit and confidence. The NCO evaluates performance oriented training and through coaching and counseling grooms young soldiers for future positions of increased responsibility. Squad, section and team leaders teach everything from the making of sound and timely decisions to physical training to ethics and values. You, corporals and sergeants, are the basic trainer of today's soldiers.
WaterCraft NCO: Serves as the assistant to the First Mate and is accountable to the First Mate to ensure the safe operation, deck maintenance, and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo on a large vessel.
Operations Sergeant: The Operations Sergeant assists in organizing, and coordinating the company/battalion/brigade and supporting unit's operations. He is the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the operations in the absence of the Executive/Operations Officer. The Operations Sergeant advises the Company/Battalion/Brigade Commander on the current and future employment of the unit. He maintains the current operational status of the unit. He organizes, deploys and supervises the field Tactical Operations Center (TOC).
Assistant Platoon Sergeant: The Assistant Platoon Sergeant is the primary assistant to the Platoon Sergeant, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers. The Assistant Platoon Sergeant takes the place of the Platoon Sergeant in his absence. Assistant Platoon Sergeants teach collective and individual tasks to soldiers in their squads, crews or equivalent small units.
Section Sergeant: Staff Sergeants, Sergeants and Corporals are normally squad, section and team leaders and are a critical link in the NCO channel. These NCOs live and work with their soldiers every day and are responsible for their health, welfare and safety. These squad, section and team leaders ensure that their soldiers meet standards in personal appearance and teach them to maintain and account for their individual and unit equipment and property. The NCO enforces standards and develops and trains soldiers daily in MOS skills and unit missions. The NCO teaches individual and collective training, develops unit cohesion, fosters the values of loyalty and commitment and builds spirit and confidence. The NCO evaluates performance oriented training and through coaching and counseling grooms young soldiers for future positions of increased responsibility. Squad, section and team leaders teach everything from the making of sound and timely decisions to physical training to ethics and values. You, corporals and sergeants, are the basic trainer of today's soldiers.
WaterCraft NCO: Serves as the assistant to the First Mate and is accountable to the First Mate to ensure the safe operation, deck maintenance, and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo on a large vessel.
Operations Sergeant: The Operations Sergeant assists in organizing, and coordinating the company/battalion/brigade and supporting unit's operations. He is the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the operations in the absence of the Executive/Operations Officer. The Operations Sergeant advises the Company/Battalion/Brigade Commander on the current and future employment of the unit. He maintains the current operational status of the unit. He organizes, deploys and supervises the field Tactical Operations Center (TOC).
Assistant Platoon Sergeant: The Assistant Platoon Sergeant is the primary assistant to the Platoon Sergeant, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers. The Assistant Platoon Sergeant takes the place of the Platoon Sergeant in his absence. Assistant Platoon Sergeants teach collective and individual tasks to soldiers in their squads, crews or equivalent small units.
88K4O - Skill Level Four
Platoon Sergeant: The platoon sergeant is the primary assistant and advisor to the platoon leader, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers. The platoon sergeant helps the commander to train the platoon leader and in that regard has an enormous effect on how that young officer perceives NCOs for the rest of his career. The platoon sergeant takes charge of the platoon in the absence of the platoon leader. As the lowest level senior NCO involved in the company METL, platoon sergeants teach collective and individual tasks to soldiers in their squads, crews or equivalent small units. A platoon sergeant or sergeant first class generally has extensive military experience and can make accurate decisions in the best interest of the mission and the soldier. Utilizing tough, realistic and intellectually and physically challenging performance-oriented training to excite and motivate soldiers, the platoon sergeant ensures Army standards are met and maintained. Additionally, the platoon sergeant must conduct cross training to promote critical wartime skills within the unit, evaluate the effectiveness of the platoon and provide training feedback to the commander and first sergeant during After-Action Reviews (AAR) on all unit collective training.
Detachment Sergeant: This position is similar to the first sergeant except it is usually in units with less than 75 personnel and is usually held by a Sergeant First Class. The detachment sergeant is responsible for providing sound advice to the commander on a wide range of topics including the health, esprit de corps, discipline, mentoring, well being, career progression, recognition, and professional development of all assigned enlisted members. Furthermore, working with his or her fellow Senior NCOs and supervisors, the detachment sergeant ensures discipline is equitably maintained, and the goals of health, esprit de corps, discipline, mentoring, and welfare of the enlisted force are met. Detachment sergeants hold formations, instruct platoon sergeants and assist the commander in daily unit operations. Though detachment sergeants supervise routine administrative duties their principle duty is training soldiers. The CSM, detachment sergeant and other key NCOs, must understand the organization's collective mission essential tasks during METL-based training. Through NCO development programs, performance counseling and other guidance, detachment sergeants are mentors in developing subordinate NCOs. The detachment sergeant is on call 24 hours a day and should expect long and irregular duty hours. Generally, they are contacted by many base agencies (e.g., security forces, Red Cross, hospital, command post, etc.) and must respond (with the supervisor when feasible) at any hour. Based on the cumulative and important responsibilities of the detachment sergeant, and the impact of this position on units and personnel, this position is only for the most dedicated professional senior NCOs.
Operations Sergeant: The Operations Sergeant assists in organizing, and coordinating the company/battalion/brigade and supporting unit's operations. He is the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the operations in the absence of the Executive/Operations Officer. The Operations Sergeant advises the Company/Battalion/Brigade Commander on the current and future employment of the unit. He maintains the current operational status of the unit. He organizes, deploys and supervises the field Tactical Operations Center (TOC).
Harbor Master: Manages the safe and efficient movement of watercraft within their area of operations. Accountable to the Operations Officer and supervises port operations on an installation or deployed location.
First Mate: Accountable to the Vessel Master and supervises safe operation, deck maintenance and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo on a large vessel.
Detachment Sergeant: This position is similar to the first sergeant except it is usually in units with less than 75 personnel and is usually held by a Sergeant First Class. The detachment sergeant is responsible for providing sound advice to the commander on a wide range of topics including the health, esprit de corps, discipline, mentoring, well being, career progression, recognition, and professional development of all assigned enlisted members. Furthermore, working with his or her fellow Senior NCOs and supervisors, the detachment sergeant ensures discipline is equitably maintained, and the goals of health, esprit de corps, discipline, mentoring, and welfare of the enlisted force are met. Detachment sergeants hold formations, instruct platoon sergeants and assist the commander in daily unit operations. Though detachment sergeants supervise routine administrative duties their principle duty is training soldiers. The CSM, detachment sergeant and other key NCOs, must understand the organization's collective mission essential tasks during METL-based training. Through NCO development programs, performance counseling and other guidance, detachment sergeants are mentors in developing subordinate NCOs. The detachment sergeant is on call 24 hours a day and should expect long and irregular duty hours. Generally, they are contacted by many base agencies (e.g., security forces, Red Cross, hospital, command post, etc.) and must respond (with the supervisor when feasible) at any hour. Based on the cumulative and important responsibilities of the detachment sergeant, and the impact of this position on units and personnel, this position is only for the most dedicated professional senior NCOs.
Operations Sergeant: The Operations Sergeant assists in organizing, and coordinating the company/battalion/brigade and supporting unit's operations. He is the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the operations in the absence of the Executive/Operations Officer. The Operations Sergeant advises the Company/Battalion/Brigade Commander on the current and future employment of the unit. He maintains the current operational status of the unit. He organizes, deploys and supervises the field Tactical Operations Center (TOC).
Harbor Master: Manages the safe and efficient movement of watercraft within their area of operations. Accountable to the Operations Officer and supervises port operations on an installation or deployed location.
First Mate: Accountable to the Vessel Master and supervises safe operation, deck maintenance and welfare of the craft, crew, passengers and cargo on a large vessel.
School Information
School: 551 School Location: FT EUSTIS, VA
Course Title: WATERCRAFT OPERATOR
Course: 062-88K10 Phase: Course Length: 5 Weeks 3.0 Days
Verifiable Prerequisites
There are no Verifiable Prerequisites.
Prerequisite Courses
There are no Prerequisite Courses.
Text Prerequisites
Active Army or Reserve Component enlisted personnel.
SECURITY: None
Course Scope:
Identification of ship's structure, communications, emergency and lifesaving procedures, marlinespike seamanship, vessel operations, vessel administrative duties, vessel maintenance, fire fighting watch standing, vessel convoy and warrior tasks that include weapons qualification, correcting malfunction, and engaging targets with assigned weapons and basic warfighting skills.
Special Information:
a. EVIRONMENTAL: AR 200-1 delineates TRADOC responsibilities to integrate environmental requirements across DTLOMPF to ensure all training procedures, training manuals, and training doctrine include sound environmental practices and considerations. the Army's environmental vision is to be a national leader in environmental and natural resource stewardship for present and future generations as an integral part of all army missions. This program of instruction meets this standard.
b. SAFETY: Accidents are an unacceptable impediment to army missions, readiness, morale, and resources. Decision makers at every level will employ risk management approaches to effectively preclude unacceptable risk to the safety of personnel and property affiliated with this course.
c. MEDICAL SUPPORT TO TRAINING: Installation commanders and school commandants will assess and certify the adequacy of medical support to training at least annually. This responsibility is not delegable. Installation commanders and school commandants conducting high risk training shall rehearse their medical support (casualty response, evacuation, and
treatment) plan at least annually, focused on responding to a training catastrophe. This program of instruction complies with the intent of the army's medical support to training policy.
d. CONTEMPORARY OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: The learning objectives in army training must comply with current joint, army, and branch doctrine regarding the Contemporary Operational Environment (COE) and opposing force (OPFOR) scenarios. this Program Of Instruction (POI) addresses this principle and incorporates current doctrine and lessons learned at the appropriate level, divesting of obsolescence, and implementing full spectrum operations in the COE in classrooms and training exercises.
Course Title: WATERCRAFT OPERATOR
Course: 062-88K10 Phase: Course Length: 5 Weeks 3.0 Days
Verifiable Prerequisites
There are no Verifiable Prerequisites.
Prerequisite Courses
There are no Prerequisite Courses.
Text Prerequisites
Active Army or Reserve Component enlisted personnel.
SECURITY: None
Course Scope:
Identification of ship's structure, communications, emergency and lifesaving procedures, marlinespike seamanship, vessel operations, vessel administrative duties, vessel maintenance, fire fighting watch standing, vessel convoy and warrior tasks that include weapons qualification, correcting malfunction, and engaging targets with assigned weapons and basic warfighting skills.
Special Information:
a. EVIRONMENTAL: AR 200-1 delineates TRADOC responsibilities to integrate environmental requirements across DTLOMPF to ensure all training procedures, training manuals, and training doctrine include sound environmental practices and considerations. the Army's environmental vision is to be a national leader in environmental and natural resource stewardship for present and future generations as an integral part of all army missions. This program of instruction meets this standard.
b. SAFETY: Accidents are an unacceptable impediment to army missions, readiness, morale, and resources. Decision makers at every level will employ risk management approaches to effectively preclude unacceptable risk to the safety of personnel and property affiliated with this course.
c. MEDICAL SUPPORT TO TRAINING: Installation commanders and school commandants will assess and certify the adequacy of medical support to training at least annually. This responsibility is not delegable. Installation commanders and school commandants conducting high risk training shall rehearse their medical support (casualty response, evacuation, and
treatment) plan at least annually, focused on responding to a training catastrophe. This program of instruction complies with the intent of the army's medical support to training policy.
d. CONTEMPORARY OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: The learning objectives in army training must comply with current joint, army, and branch doctrine regarding the Contemporary Operational Environment (COE) and opposing force (OPFOR) scenarios. this Program Of Instruction (POI) addresses this principle and incorporates current doctrine and lessons learned at the appropriate level, divesting of obsolescence, and implementing full spectrum operations in the COE in classrooms and training exercises.
