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Sailor’s Creed

I am a United States Sailor. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with honor, courage, and commitment. I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.

Chain of Command

Sir/Ma’am, the _____ person in this officer’s chain of command is:

  • Division Officer: ______________
  • Class Chief Petty Officer: ______________
  • Class Officer: ______________
  • OCS/NSI Deputy Director: ______________
  • OCS/NSI Director: ______________
  • Command Master Chief, Officer Training Command Newport: ______________
  • Executive Officer, Officer Training Command Newport: ______________
  • Commanding Officer, Officer Training Command Newport: ______________
  • Commander, Naval Service Training Command: ______________
  • Commander, Naval Education and Training Command: ______________
  • Chief of Naval Operations: ______________
  • Secretary of the Navy: ______________
  • Secretary of Defense: ______________
  • Vice-President of the United States: ______________
  • President of the United States: ______________

Code of Conduct

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

General Orders of a Sentry

Sir/Ma’am, the ______ general order of a sentry is to:

  • 01. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
  • 02. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
  • 03. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
  • 04. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.
  • 05. To quit my post only when properly relieved.
  • 06. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.
  • 07. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
  • 08. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
  • 09. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.
  • 10. To salute all officers and colors and standards not cased.
  • 11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Oath of Office

“I, (state your name), having been appointed an Ensign in the United States Navy, do hereby accept such appointment and do solemnly swear, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

Phonetic Alphabet

Letter Telephony Pronunciation
A Alpha AL fah
B Bravo BRAH voh
C Charlie CHAR lee
D Delta DELL tah
E Echo ECK oh
F Foxtrot FOKS trot
G Golf GOLF
H Hotel hoh TELL
I India IN dee ah
J Juliet JEW lee et
K Kilo KEE loh
L Lima LEE mah
M Mike MIKE
N November no VEM ber
O Oscar OSS cah
P Papa pah PAH
Q Quebec kay BECK
R Romeo ROW me oh
S Sierra see AIR rah
T Tango TANG oh
U Uniform YOU nee form
V Victor VIK tah
W Whiskey WISS key
X X-Ray ECKS ray
Y Yankee YANG key
Z Zulu ZOO loo

Officer-Like Qualities

  • Honesty
  • Integrity
  • Work Ethic
  • Initiative
  • Military Bearing
  • Character
  • Dependability
  • Teamwork
  • Toughness
  • Accountability
  • Leadership

Leadership Traits

  • Judgment: The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.
  • Justice: Giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question; the ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
  • Decisiveness: Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.
  • Initiative: Taking action in the absence of orders.
  • Dependability: The certainty of proper performance of duty.
  • Tact: The ability to deal with others without creating offense.
  • Integrity: Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty.
  • Endurance: The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.
  • Bearing: Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.
  • Unselfishness: Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.
  • Courage: The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a person to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.
  • Knowledge: Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Sailors.
  • Loyalty: The quality of faithfulness to country, the Navy, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates, and peers.
  • Enthusiasm: The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

Chief of Naval Operations Core Attributes

  • Integrity
  • Accountability
  • Initiative
  • Toughness

Levels of War

  • Strategic: National or multi-national guidance that addresses desired end states and develops and uses national resources to achieve them.
  • Operational: Links strategy and tactics by establishing theatre objectives needed to achieve the military end states and strategic objectives.
  • Tactical: The ordered arrangement of maneuver of combat elements in relation to each other and the enemy to achieve combat objectives.

Service Songs

Anchors Aweigh

Stand Navy out to sea,
Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course,
So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT,
Anchors Aweigh.
Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Blue of the mighty deep:
Gold of God's great sun.
Let these our colors be
Till all of time be done, done, done, done.
On seven seas we learn
Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true,
With honor, over honor, over all.

The Marines' Hymn

From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli,
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag’s unfurl’d to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

Additional Notes

The content provided here is intended to aid in the study and memorization of key elements necessary for officer candidates. Review these sections regularly to ensure familiarity with the required material.

 
 
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