mission requirements. Readiness assessment isprobably the most difficult task facing the SERT becauseit requires the ability to provide an up-to-the-minutestatus of the combat system capabilities and limitations.It also requires the ability to recommend alternatecombinations of equipment to meet mission needs. TheSERT must know the results of all tests and, in addition,the minute-to-minute availability of the combat system,its subsystems, equipment, and all support functions,such as primary power, chilled water, dry air, andsound-powered telephones. Readiness assessment isdirected toward four major missions: antiair warfare,antisubmarine warfare (ASW), antisurface shipwarfare, and amphibious warfare.Although all problems with equipment areimportant, the existing tactical environment can modifytheir impact on a mission capability. For example, lossof moving target indicator capability can be moreimportant when the ship operates close to land massesthan when it operates in the open sea.Materiel readiness assessment should beapproached from the functional readiness aspect (howwell it works) rather than the equipment up or downstatus aspect (whether or not it works) for the followingreasons:Complex, multifunction electronic equipment isseldom completely down and less frequentlycompletely up. Normally, one or more functionsare in various states of degradation.The impact of a functional fault may be differentfor each mission’s capability.The combat system’s complex design includessome functional redundancy.The test results and operational fault directoriesrelate problems to their effect on systemfunctions rather than to the basic operation of theaffected equipment.Readiness assessment uses two basic types oftechniques, quantitative and qualitative. Quantitativetechniques involve the extensive use of mathematics andreports based on graphs and numbers. Past shipboardexperience has shown that without computer support,quantitative assessment is not easily managed. Itsnumerical reporting lacks meaning or requires extensiveexplanation. Qualitative assessment (an application ofengineering analysis) is based on system knowledge,experience, and judgment; and normally is reportedverbally.Qualitative assessments depend on the personalexperience level of the users; therefore written guidanceand report forms are needed. The impact of no-goconditions, revealed by PMS results, must bedetermined for each mission capability.After an assessment is made, each major function isassigned one of the following readiness criteria:1. Fully combat-ready2. Substantially combat-ready3. Marginally combat-ready4. Not combat-readyFully combat-ready status indicates that allequipments associated with that function are in thehighest state of readiness with respect to that function.Substantiallycombat-readyindicates that, althoughall equipments may not be fully operational, redundancypermits the mission to be continued, with a highprobability of success.Marginally combat-ready indicates a function thatcan be performed, but with a much reduced probabilityof success.Not combat-ready indicates complete loss offunction.These readiness criteria provide the basis for asummary report of readiness in each mission capability.The mission summary report (fig. 4-7) should be supportedby a combat system daily fault report (fig. 4-8) listing thesubfunction faults of the day, their individual impact,alternative recommendations, and expected time of repair.Materiel readiness does not end with successfulcompletion of tests and scheduled maintenance. Inaddition to testing, other actions such as visual inspectionfor cleanliness, corrective maintenance, quality control,and complete integrity are a necessary part of SERTresponsibilities. Also, having the commanding officerconduct materiel inspections, assigning SERT personnelto inspection teams, and conducting random equipmentinspections without prior notice can provide excellentresults. Such inspections should be for electronic andmechanical materiel readiness and preservation. TheSERT representatives should also provide results of suchinspections to appropriate authorities and provide followup inspections to ensure that corrective action is taken.4-15
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