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(Continued from page 19)
7. To talk to no one except in line of duty.
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9. To call the commander of the relief in any case not covered by instructions.
10. to salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all person on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS
"Yes, Sir" "No, Sir" "No Excuse, Sir"
"I'LL Find Out, Sir" "Aye, Aye, Sir"
These 5 traditional answers exemplify the frame of mind required of a Naval officer, positive, concise, and recognition of an acceptance of responsibility. If you don't know the answer to a question, the proper response in "I'll find out, Sir!" Your senior asking a question of you expects you to know the answer or to find it. Your answer acknowledges this point concisely & firmly; I obligates you to, in fact, find the answer and be prepared to provide it and report back.
"No excuse, sir" is the proper response when queried as to your responsibility for and error. Your senior may want to pursue the matter further. In such cases, subsequent answers should factually answer the question without establishing alibis, lame excuses, etc. For example, "I forgot, sir", "I was not sufficiently careful, sir", "I was distracted, sir", are answers which accept responsibility, whereas "they were closed before I got there", "My roommate is a slob", "the professor forgot to tell me" are unacceptable answers which tend to place fault elsewhere.
The "No excuses, sir" reply can be misused and should not be used with a senior who is clearly attempting to ascertain causes for deficient performances and accepts your culpability as a "given". SHUN EXCUSES LIKE THE PLAGUE!!
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