My Navy Time 1960-1996
Index
In addition to guard divisions, personnel are divided into divisions for personnel care. This division into "personnel" division is usually separate from the division into "guard divisions". At the head of a "personnel" division is a division chief, to whom the division's personnel can turn to promote their interests. The head of the branch of service, to whom the staff for his work is assigned, acts as divisional manager. A division chief also handles the reports of the personnel belonging to his division to the commander. The major divisions may be divided into groups headed by a group chief. However, a group leader does not fulfill an independent task. The first officer (placed directly under the commander of the unit) divides the corporals and men into a number of "bakken" of no more than 25 men/women each if possible. Each "bak" is composed as much as possible of personnel whose combat guard posts are located in close proximity to each other. At the head of each "bak" is a "baksmeester" (a corporal or quartermaster, the lowest non-commissioned officer), to whom is attached a deputy "baksmeester". The "baksmeester" has an educational task with regard to the men/women of his "bak". As such, he supervises cleanliness, both in terms of appearance and clothing (your duffel equipment).