branch  or  division  chief  petty  officer.  The  branch  or division chief reports to the division officer. Normally, all matters concerning you are handled at the division level. Matters of extreme importance should go to your department head. From the department head, the chain goes    to    the    executive    officer,    and    finally    to    the commanding  officer.  This  chain  of  command  could change     some     from     command     to     command,     but basically it will remain the same. The chain of command serves many purposes in the accomplishment  of  the  Navy's  mission.  The  chain  of command   provides   direction   in   the   assignment   of duties. Communication is the key word in the chain of command. Communication must flow in both directions, up and down the chain of command. A good chain of command provides a way to solve work-related problems. Q2-1. What is the purpose of the chain of command? NAVAL AIR STATION (NAS) ORGANIZATION LEARNING     OBJECTIVE: Identify the organizational  structure  of  a  naval  air  station and  recognize  the  responsibilities  within  the organizational structure of these activities. There    are    several    activities    devoted    to    naval aviation. Certain stations provide facilities for equipping,     supplying,     repairing,     and     maintaining aircraft.  Others  provide  specialized  training  to  flight and ground personnel. You have already had duty at the Recruit Training Command.  In  this  section,  you  will  learn  about  the basic organization of a naval air station that you will see during your naval career. It should show you that there are many duties to be performed. You can strike for any one of the aviation ratings found on a naval air station. The organization of a naval air station is similar to that of a squadron or a carrier, but it is much more extensive. The  mission  of  a  naval  air  station  is  to  provide service  and  support  to  the  fleet.  A  naval  air  station carries out its mission through several functions. !    It   supports   operating   aircraft   and   squadrons assigned to the naval air station. !    It also supports any transient aircraft that land at the naval air station. !    It   provides   air   traffic   control   to   all   aircraft flying in its controlled air space. Naval air station and squadron personnel perform organizational-level    maintenance    on    their    assigned aircraft. The naval air station also has the responsibility for providing intermediate-level maintenance. This is a higher   level   of   maintenance   work   done   on   aircraft. Some naval air stations provide depot-level maintenance. This is the highest level of maintenance for naval aircraft. Providing training is another function of a naval air station.  Some  naval  air  stations  provide  one  or  more types of flight training. There are three types of flight training—preflight, basic, and advanced flight training. These   three   types   of   flight   training   apply   to   naval officer aviators and to enlisted aircrew personnel. Some naval air stations provide the Fleet Readiness/Replacement    Aviation    Maintenance    Pro- gram (FRAMP). FRAMP provides formal and on the job (OJT) maintenance training for the type of aircraft and the support equipment used on that aircraft. Not  all  naval  air  stations  do  everything  you  will read about here. Some can handle all phases of training. Others  may  handle  only  the  maintenance  phase.  The size   of   naval   air   stations   varies   according   to   their functions.    However,    all    naval    air    stations    provide service and support to the fleet. Figure 2-2 shows the organization of a typical naval air station. The commanding officer (CO) is responsible for the safety, well-being, and efficiency of the command. The commanding officer and executive officer have several special assistants. They are the legal officer, the service  information  officer,  the  chaplain,  the  aviation safety    officer,    the    management    engineer,    and    the general safety officer. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT The  administration  department  is  responsible  for providing administrative services for the station. These services   include   mail   distribution,   communications, and   maintenance   of   personnel   files.   The   divisions within    the    administration    department    include    the administrative, communications, personnel administra- tive  support  services  (PASS),  mess,  special  services, and family services divisions. COMPTROLLER DEPARTMENT The head of the comptroller department assists the commanding  officer  and  the  executive  officer.  He/she advises the station budget board, the department heads, 2-2