WAYS TO REMEMBER THE ORDERS TO THE SENTRY:

1.                    “WHEN IN CHARGE, TAKE CHARGE”.  When you are assigned a job or responsibility, the first thing you do is take control of everything you have been given.  So remember, the number one thing is to “Take Charge”

1. “TAKE CHARGE OF THIS POST AND ALL GOVERNMENT PROPERTY IN VIEW, SIR!”

2.                    You need two legs to walk, don’t you?  That should help you remember the key words of number

1. “WALK MY POST IN A MILITARY MANNER, KEEPING ALWAYS ON THE ALERT, AND OBSERVING EVERYTHING THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN SIGHT OR HEARING, SIR!”

3.                    This is a tough one.  Try to think of a school essay assignment.  The teacher wants a 3-page report!  Report is the key word to remember. Also another good way to remember this order is that you have TO REPORT an order before you can REPEAT IT. Therefore, report comes before repeat.

a.       “REPORT ALL VIOLATIONS OF ORDERS I AM INSTRUCTED TO ENFORCE, SIR!”

4.                    Two times two is four, right?  So, if you are repeating 2 twice, you get four.  Repeat is the key word in this one:

1. “REPEAT ALL CALLS FROM POSTS MORE DISTANT FROM THE GUARDHOUSE OR THE QUARTER-DECK THAN MY OWN, SIR!”

5.                    A lot of people work from 9 to 5.  They start work at 0900 and they quit at 5:00 PM.  The key word for the 5^th Order is “Quit”:

1. “QUIT MY POST ONLY WHEN PROPERLY RELIEVED, SIR!”

6.                    This is the longest Order to the Sentry.  Some people remember this one with the phrase “The significant six”, because it talks about 6 people, or groups of people you need to pass orders on to.  See if you can spot these 6 separate people or groups as you read this:

1. ‘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, SIR!”

7.                    This has an easy memory aid:  “The Silent Seventh”.  When you are silent, you don’t talk:

1. TALK TO NO ONE EXCEPT IN THE LINE OF DUTY.”

8.                    Another easy memory phrase:  “The Disorderly Eighth”  Disorder is the key word:

1. “GIVE THE ALARM IN CASE OF FIRE OR DISORDER.”

9.                    When you’re in trouble you call 911, right?  Remember “9” and “Call”.

1. “CALL THE CORPORAL OF THE GUARD OR OFFICER OF THE DECK IN ANY CASE NOT COVERED BY INSTRUCTIONS., SIR!”

10.                 A “perfect 10” is the best you can do; something we all want when we snap a salute.  You want the salute to be a perfect 10.  “Salute” is the key word here:

1. “SALUTE ALL OFFICERS AND ALL COLORS AND STANDARDS NOT CASED.”

11.                 This is the final Order to the Sentry.  Think of it as the end of the day, when night comes.  Night is the key word:

1. “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, SIR!”