General Quarters - Ending A General Quarters Situation

Ending A General Quarters Situation

A ship's crew remains under General Quarters indefinitely until the command "Stand Down From General Quarters" or "All Clear" is sounded, which may be as little as several minutes. The ship's captain, after receiving information from department heads, has the authority to call a stand-down from GQ. In the event that the actual captain has become incapacitated to the point of being unable to command, the second-in-command becomes the captain, and that authority switches hands also. When the intercom is intact, it is used to announce stand-down, but other systems, including word-of-mouth, may be used also. It is important to note that caution must be applied to ensure that the order to stand down is authentic, and not stemming from miscommunication or enemy subterfuge.

Under normal circumstances, there is no set time-period that General Quarters will remain in effect; it is dependent upon the reason that it was called in the first place, and whether or not that reason still threatens the ship and its crew. The entire ship may be called to stand down from general quarters all at one time, or certain sections/units/duties may be told to remain at GQ, such as engine systems, steam plants, boilers, weapons, medical, aviation, command center or watch stations.

Due to having a large percentage of the crew (sometimes 100%) at readiness and the suspension of life-support systems as mentioned above, it is in the interest of the ship and the crew to balance the need for GQ against the judgement for calling it off. While a ship and its crew are at GQ, its readiness is enhanced, but the longer they remain at GQ while no immediate action takes place from the threat, stress sets in and increases as time goes by. Fewer crewmembers are available to relieve posts because the majority of the crew is already on duty. Eating, sleeping, showering and toilet-use have been cut back severely, which cannot continue forever. When making the decision to release all or part of the crew from GQ, the mission, safety, security and sanctity of the ship is utmost, and takes precedence over human comforts.

Once "Stand Down From General Quarters" or "All Clear" is sounded, it is usually accompanied by an announcement of which duty section(s) will remain on station for normal tasks and duties.

• Example: "Secure from General Quarters, Secure from General Quarters! All hands are to stand down from General Quarters, return to normal duties and/or receive their next orders from their Department Heads. The time on deck is fifteen twenty-three; on deck, Section Four. All Department Heads will muster with the Captain on the aft quarterdeck at fifteen forty-five."

If damage is probable, suspected, unknown or has occurred, damage-control parties are dispatched to either assess it or repair it. Life-support systems that were suspended or cut back are restored, aircraft, weapons, munitions, and other equipment are all restocked and prepared for future use. Casualties are attended to and their duties redistributed among able-bodied crewmembers. Coordination with other friendly ships in the immediate vicinity, friendly aircraft in the immediate vicinity, with higher command, and with shore-based units must be done again, to alert them to the ship's status. When operationally prudent, the ship's location at the end of GQ should be transmitted to higher headquarters, other friendly ships and aircraft. Usually, if one ship in close proximity to other friendly ships stands down from to GQ, all of the others may do so also, Coordination is made with other friendly vessels in the area to ensure rescue/recovery of any men overboard, to include friendlies, enemies, civilians, non-combatants, etc.

After-Action Reports, Battle-Damage Assessments (determining what damage, if any, has been inflicted upon the enemy), Damage-Control Reports (damage to one's own vessel) and many others are generated as soon as possible to inform the captain of the ship's performance during CQ and its worthiness/preparedness for normal operations and future action.

In some situations, instead of sounding "Stand Down From General Quarters" or "All Clear", a more stringent call may be sounded, based on a worsening of the situation. Examples are, "Abandon Ship", or "Man the Lifeboats".