Damage Controlman

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Master Chief Damage Controlman D. Westlye, Command Master Chief for Commander Naval Region Northeast, Detachment New York, USN (Ground zero, May 28, 2002)

Damage Controlman (DCs) are the Navy's and Coast Guard’s maintenance and emergency repair specialist. Damage Controlmen assigned to cutters are responsible for maintaining watertight integrity, emergency equipment associated with firefighting and Shipboard flooding; plumbing repairs; welding fabrication and repairs; chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare detection and decontamination.

DCs assigned ashore are responsible for the maintenance and repairs to facility structures and Coast Guard owned housing units. Shore side responsibilities include repairs and installations to roofs, siding, sheetrock, windows, doors, flooring, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, appliances, as well as many types of welding repairs. The shore side DC also performs small construction and renovations projects.

DC's (USN and TAR) do the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare defense. They also instruct personnel in the methods of damage control and CBR defense, and repair damage control equipment and systems. After completion of "A" school, USN Damage Controlmen are assigned to ships of all types in the United States or overseas, TAR Damage Controlmen are assigned to NRF ships in CONUS. In a typical 20-year period in the Navy, they spend about 65 percent of their time on sea duty and about 35 percent on shore duty. Upon completing sea tours, USN Damage Controlmen will be assigned to shore duty in Fleet Concentration areas. TAR Damage Controlmen will be assigned to reserve centers across the nation including the heartland. While assigned to a reserve center TAR Damage Controlmen will train and administer Selected Reserve Personnel.