Orders to the Sentry

1. Take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. Repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse or the quarter-deck than my own.

5. Quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. Receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Day, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the watch only.

7. Talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. Call the Corporal of the guard or Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.

^10. Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

11. Be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, challenge all persons on or near my post, and allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Orders to the Sentry Explained

All cadets will sound off in a loud, clear voice when asked for a particular order as shown in the following example:

"Sir (or Ma'am), this cadet's fifth Order to the Sentry is: Quit my post only when properly relieved."

1. Take charge of this post and all government property in view.

The number of the post, type of sentry, and limits of your post are part of your special
orders. Within the limits of your post, you have authority over all persons, and it is your
duty to challenge and, if necessary, detain all persons acting in a suspicious manner. You
should apprehend all persons involved in disorder or discovered committing a crime. All
persons detained or apprehended are turned over to the petty officer of the watch. You
should fire your weapon only as a last resort. Smoking in a prohibited area, for example, is
hardly a shooting offence. There are times, however, when firing at another person may be
justified, but only after all means of defense of crime prevention have failed. In general, such
times are as follows:

• a. To protect your own or other's life
   
• b. To prevent the escape of a person known to have a serious crime such as armed robbery, rape, or murder
   
• c. To prevent sabotage, espionage, arson, and other crimes against the government.

 If you must fire your weapon, attempt to wound instead of killing the person on whom you fire.

2. Walk my post in military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing
every thing that takes place within sight or hearing.

Keep turning your head as you walk you post, observing everything ahead and to the
sides. If you hear a strange noise, investigate it. You cannot expect to stand all your watches
in fair weather.  When the weather is bad, you will be issued appropriate clothing. Do not
stand near a tree to keep out of the rain or stay behind a building to get out of a cold wind;
during times of bad weather and darkness, you must stay particularly alert.

3. Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

If a person is acting from thoughtlessness, you need only remind the offender of the
regulation being broken. If you see a person starting to light a cigarette in a no smoking
zone, for example, or a visitor blundering into a restricted area, you need only tell the person
the regulation in effect. If the person is willfully violating the regulation, however, like trying to
jump a fence or steal Navy property, you must stop the person and place the offender under
apprehension; then call for the petty officer of the watch. If the person tries to escape, give
the order to halt. If the person does not obey, fire into the air; if the person does not stop,
fire at the fleeing party's legs, subject to the limitations given under general order 1. If the
offender escapes, report the matter as quickly as you can to the petty officer of the watch.
In every instance, try to remember what the offender looked like so you may
identify the person. Do not leave your post to chase the person unless immediate action is
essential.
 

4. Repeat all call from posts more distant from the guard house or the quarter deck
then my own.

Suppose your post number is 3. To call the petty officer of the watch for any purpose
other than relief, fire, or disorder, you call "petty officer of the watch, post number 3."
Sentry number 2 will repeat your call, giving your number, and so will sentry number 1.
Thus, the petty officer will know immediately which post to go to. Similarly, if the sentry
number 4 calls out, repeat the call, giving his or her number.

5. Quit my post only when properly relieved.

If you are not relieved on time, do not abandon your post, but call the petty officer of the
watch for instructions. If you require relief because of sickness or other reason, call, " petty
officer of the watch, post number____, relief."
 

6. Receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relives me, all orders from the
commanding officer, command duty officer, officer of the day, officer of the deck,
and all officers and petty officers of the watch only.

During your tour of duty, you are subject to the orders of the commanding officer,
executive officer, officer of the day, and the officers and petty officers of the watch only.
Other officers and petty officers have no authority to take or inspect your weapon, to tell
you how to stand your watch, or to order you to leave your post. Such other officers,
however, still have the authority to investigate your conduct and to report it. Thus, an enemy
agent cannot dress up in an officer's uniform and order you from your post. You obey
orders only from officers whom you know are authorized to give commands related to your
sentry duty. However, a passing naval officer who believes you are standing a poor watch
may ask your name and post and report any observations to your superior.
 

7. Talk to no one except in the line of duty.

When you challenge or talk with a person, take the position of port arms. Answer
questions briefly, but courteously. Normally, if you maintain silence and military bearing,
visitors will not try to engage you in long conversations. If, however, visitors or other naval
personnel show a desire to pass the time of the day with you, you must say politely to them
"excuse me, I am on duty and cannot talk with you further. Please move on." If they refuse
to move on, or show signs of becoming disorderly, you should call for the petty officer of
the watch. Remember, if your superiors see you chatting while on duty, they will hold you
responsible, not your visitor.

8. Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

In case of fire, you immediately call, "Fire post number____" and sound whatever alarm
is available. When you are sure your alarm has been heard by other sentries or by the petty
officer of the watch, see what you can do about putting out the fire if you can do so safely
and without leaving your post; otherwise, remain where you can direct apparatus to the fire.
Remember that the fire may be a trick to lure you away from your post. You must remain
vigilant, even amid the confusion and excitement that accompanies a fire. What we have said
about fire applies also for disorder. In the event of a disorder, call the petty officer of the
watch immediately; then try to quiet the trouble. If you approach the disorder first, you might
be overcome and then could not give the alarm. Sometimes you can stop a disorder before
it becomes too serious by calling to the persons involved, " I have reported you to the petty
officer of the watch, who will be along immediately. Come to order now; further trouble will
make matters worse for you." The persons concerned may realize you are right and follow
your orders. If they do, maintain watch over them but do not approach too closely. Keep
your weapon at port arms.
 

9. Call the corporal of the guard or officer of the deck in any case not covered by
instructions.

When you do not know what to do, call the officer of the deck.
 

10. Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

As used here, colors and standards both refer to the national ensign. The ensign is called
the national colors (or just colors) when it is flying from a staff or pike carried by an individual
or displayed in a fixed location, as from a flagpole. When mounted on a vehicle, the ensign is
called the national standard. (Colors and standards are cased when they are furled and
placed in a protected covering.)  For sentries, the rules for saluting are the same as for
non-watch standers with the following modifications;

·         a. If you are walking your post or patrolling while armed with a rifle, you halt and salute by presenting arms; when at sling arms you render the hand salute.
 

·         b. If you are in a sentry box, you stand at attention in the doorway when an officer approaches; if you are armed with a rifle, you present arms. If otherwise armed, you render the hand salute. If you are on duty in front of a building or passageway entrance where there is heavy traffic of officers, you may render the rifle salute at order arms. If you are in a conversation with an officer, you do not interrupt the conversation to salute another officer. If the officer with you salutes a senior, however, then you also salute.
 

·         c. During the time of challenging, you do not salute an officer until the officer has advanced and has been duly recognized. You do not salute if doing so will interfere with the proper execution of your specific duties.

11. Be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging,
challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper
authority.

When you see a person approaching your post, take the position of port arms and call"
Halt! Who is here?" The challenge must be made at a distance sufficient to prevent your being
rushed by the person being challenged. If the person answers" Friend" or " Petty officer of
the watch" or gives another reply indicating a friendly nature, call, "Advance (friend, and so
on) to be recognized." If you challenge a party of persons, after receiving a reply indicating
the part is friendly, you call, "Advance one person to be recognized."  When you have
identified the one, you have the person bring up the rest of the party and identify each
individual. You must positively identify all persons challenged before permitting them to pass.
If you cannot identify them to your satisfaction, detain them and call the petty officer of the
watch. Never permit more than one person to advance at a time. If two persons approach
at one time, have them halt; then advance the senior and pass that person (if properly
identified) before advancing the other person. If the people are in a vehicle, you halt them
and inspect the driver's or the passenger's credentials, as appropriate. (Normally, inspecting
the driver of a military vehicle is sufficient; but for a commercial truck or taxi, you should
check the passengers too.)  If you believe there is something suspicious about the vehicle or
its occupants, direct one of the occupants to get out and approach you for recognition. If
you are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the people are authorized to pass,
detain the person pr party and call the petty officer of the watch. When challenging,
advancing, and passing persons and patrols, always stand where you can get a good look at
them in such a way that you are protected from a surprise attack.