the  qualification  period.  Once  qualified,  the  ship  is expected to maintain its proficiency level throughout the qualification period. Frequent firing exercises are encouraged  to  maintain  proficiency. Type   commanders   (TYCOMs)   require   that   the basic NGFS team training course be completed when (1)  30  percent  of  the  NGFS  team  (less  gun-mount personnel)  have  been  reassigned  to  other  duties  or permanently  transferred,  or  (2)  more  than  90  days have passed since the last NGFS exercise was fired. NGFS  qualification  maybe  terminated  for  any  of the  following  reasons: When  a  ship  is  graded  “unsatisfactory”  for any  NGFS  exercise  conducted  for  score.  (This  does not  include  exercises  conducted  as  rehearsals  or  for proficiency  training.) When  a  ship  fires  unsatisfactorily  during  a major  exercise. When  a  ship  commits  a  serious  safety  viola- tion at any time. QUALIFICATION    PREREQUISITES Ships  are  required  to  routinely  maintain  a  high state of material and gunnery readiness. As a result, the  ships  must  comply  with  following  prerequisites before  conducting  live  firing  exercises  for  NGFS qualification: All   required   gunnery   and   gunfire   control planned maintenance system (PMS) must be current. All  records  of  alignment  checks  must  be  pro- perly  recorded  in  the  smooth  fire-control  log. Formal  team  training,  either  at  an  NGFS trainer  site  or  on  board  by  an  FTSC,  must  be  com- pleted within 90 days before firing qualification exer- cises. All  ships  with  the  design  capability  of  acqui- ring the radar beacon must successfully complete the radar  beacon  acquisition  (RBA)  exercise  within  30 days  of  firing  qualification  exercises. In  addition,  other  prerequisites  may  be  required by  the  TYCOM.  If  so,  refer  to  the  appropriate  TY- COM  instructions. QUALIFICATION    RULES NGFS  qualification  is  based  on  the  satisfactory completion  of  various  elements  and/or  exercises. Both a numerical score and a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory  are  awarded.  A  score  of  62.0  (60.0 SURFPAC)  or  higher  is  required  for  a  satisfactory grade  for  each  exercise  or  event. The final qualification score is the average of the last score attained in each of the required exercises or events. The final score must be at least 62.0. SURF- PAC allows a score of less than 60,0 on no more than one  event,  excluding  the  counter  battery  event,  to qualify. Only  one  exercise  may  be  fired  by  unqualified ships  during  each  range  visit.  This  ensures  efficient range use and maintains high qualification standards. All  subsequent  exercises  are  fired  for  score. Exercises  in  progress  maybe  aborted  because  of foul  range,  ammunition  malfunction,  or  equipment failure.  Exercises  may  also  be  aborted  to  save  time when,  because  of  penalties  or  other  point  loss,  the score will be unsatisfactory. During a range visit, a ship achieving a satisfac- tory  grade  on  an  exercise  fired  for  score  may  not refire that exercise to improve its score until all other required   exercises   have   been   satisfactorily   com- pleted. EXERCISE   DOCUMENTATION TYCOMs  and  fleet  commanders  have  specific data  recording  and  reporting  requirements  for  their exercises.  Appropriate  exercise  manuals  and  appli- cable instructions identify the reporting requirements 5-5