Ship’s insignia plaque Last  flying  commissioning  pennant,  jack  and ensign All   loaned   or   donated   paintings,   historical photographs  and  documents  of  historical  interest All  sponsor  gifts Other paintings belonging to the ship Ship’s  bell Any  other  items  of  historical  or  sentimental interest PRINTED INVITATIONS AND PROGRAMS.— Printed invitations should be mailed four to eight weeks before  to  the  actual  ceremony  date.  Specifications  are included in the SECNAVINST 5603.2 series, Printed Matter  for  Official  Ceremonies.  The  preprinted  invita- tions contain the appropriate insignia and standard invitation language. Additional wording to complete these standard invitations may be entered by hand. Programs  are  also  covered  in  this  instruction,  and the arrangements to have programs designed and printed should be made well in advance of the actual ceremony. Programs  can  be  printed  aboard  tenders  or  at shore-based  printing  facilities. PUBLICITY.—  The  responsibility  for  publicizing  a decommissioning   ceremony   is   delegated   to   the decommissioning ship’s CO, who should coordinate the arrangements  with  the  station  commander.  Of  course, the PAO/senior JO and the public affairs office staff will be  responsible  for  writing  the  decommissioning  press release,  making  arrangements  for  photographic coverage,  assembling  the  press  kits,  media  platforms, escorting  media,  and  so  forth.  Careful  coordination  with the naval base or station PAO where the ceremony will take place is crucial, as well as type commander. CEREMONIAL MATERIALS.— Items, such as chairs, the speaker’s platform, lectern, public address or sound system (mult-box for media) and similar objects, are needed for the decommissioning ceremony. Your local PWC will have a selection of ceremonial packages from which to choose. A fee will be imposed for the use of the materials and may be reduced if representatives of the ship pick up and return the materials. Packages may range from 100 chairs with four folding tables to one  that  offers  a  portable  lectern  with  microphone, amplifiers   with   large   speakers,   canned   music, 100 chairs, tables and a ceremonial platform. Reserve these materials well in advance, preferably 30 days or more. PRINCIPAL SPEAKER.— The principal speaker is generally   nominated   by   the   responsible   naval base/station  commander.   PA Regs  state  that  naval base/station  commanders  must  forward  nominations  for prospective  speakers  to  CHINFO  for  consideration. Nominations must be submitted at least 90 days before  the  ceremony,  preferably  sooner,  and  should include  a  biography  or  background  sketch  of  the nominee, a brief resume of his qualifications and the reason for the nomination. Do not inform a nominee that he is being “selected” as a principal speaker because the final selection is the prerogative of SECNAV. A   speaker   should   be   nominated   only   after consideration  of  his  speaking  ability,  importance  as  a public speaker, and most important, the support he can be  expected  to  give  to  current  Navy  public  affairs objectives.  Nominations  should  include  speakers  from various  occupational  fields. For further information, consult  PA Regs, Chapter 4, the SECNAVINST 5030.1 series and the SECNAV- INST  5212.5  series  regarding  decommissioning.  A sample  decommissioning  plan  is  included  in  Appendix VI of this manual. Civilian  Embarkation Embarking civilians in Navy ships—be it a sailor’s family on a one-day dependents’ cruise or a community leader on a training exercise—is an excellent way to instill pride in sailors and further public awareness of the Navy and its mission. Detailed information on civilian embarkation can be found in the OPNAVINST 5720.2 series, Embarkation in U.S. Naval Ships, and in  PA Regs, Chapter  4.  Each type of embark/guest cruise has a specific goal and requires different planning by the senior JO and the PAO to accomplish that goal. Some common rules include the following: 1.  Guests  must  provide  their  own  transportation  to and from the ship, and they must reimburse the Navy for living  and  incidental  expenses  while  embarked  so  the programs can be conducted at no cost to the government. 2.  Guests  must  be  informed  of  security  restrictions. Unclassified  photography  should  be  allowed  on  board, because photographs renew feelings of identification with the ship. Guests must be advised of areas where photography  is  prohibited  and  security  regulations  will be courteously but firmly enforced. 1-44