Two other SERT responsibilities are (1) follow-
up action of verification or retesting, and (2) com-
plete shipboard and maintenance data collection
subsystems reporting. Effective corrective mainte-
nance management first requires the consideration of
combat systems readiness, then efficient use of man-
power. These factors closely relate to the ships
employment and the tactical environment.
There will be times when more corrective main-
tenance requirements exist than can be simulta-
neously handled by the available manpower. In
addition, sometimes parallel faults exist that require
the same personnel or the same system setup for fault
isolation. When these conditions occur, the setting of
repair priorities is based on managements require-
ments for readiness and available manpower to make
the repairs.
As the SERT collects and evaluates PMS results,
it should continually base its recommendations for
correcting faults on the tactical situation, complexity
of fault isolation, and available manpower. Some
faults may be designated for correction; others may
be deferred. However, deferred faults, if left to ac-
cumulate, tend to degrade overall systems readiness.
Therefore, as soon as the situation permits, deferred
faults should be repaired.
Faults detected within combat systems must be
isolated to a subunit that can be replaced or repaired
or to an alignment that can be made before actual
corrective action can be taken. Therefore, technicians
must have a thorough knowledge of the systems and
access to complete systems and equipment documen-
tation.
Most subsystems and equipment maintenance
publications provide fault-isolation support in one or
two formats. The first format consists of symptoms
presented in preselected, logical steps and in refer-
ence tables, a logic chart, or logic diagram format.
The second format consists of flow diagrams and
relay ladders. The CSTOM provides amplifying in-
formation on fault isolation.
After a repair priority has been set and the faults
isolated, the managers of corrective maintenance
must ensure that corrective action is taken, verifica-
tion is made by retest, and required reports are com-
pleted. Since some faults tend to be repetitive, the
SERT should keep records of fault symptoms, identi-
fication, and corrective measures.
SERT Monitoring
The SERT responsibility for operational training
is vital since overall readiness assurance is a function
of operational readiness (personnel proficiency) and
materiel readiness. The goal of operational readiness
is to achieve maximum combat systems capability
for each mission under constantly changing condi-
tions of materiel readiness. The measurement of per-
sonnel readiness is based on the three following
techniques:
1. PMS tests: In each case, the hardware must
be operating properly. Otherwise, the capabilities of
the personnel cannot be determined accurately.
2. Simulators or computer programs: The video
signal simulators with computer programs provide a
means to assess the skill of the console operator.
However, the computer programs are limited in as-
sessing the capabilities of combat systems operators.
3. Monitoring of ship or fleet exercises: one
way to evaluate the capability of all combat systems
personnel is to actually monitor ship or fleet exer-
cises. These exercises include:
Electronic warfare exercises.
Gunnery exercises (antiair [AA], surface,
and shore).
Missile exercises (AA and surface.)
CIC exercises (aircraft, tracking and con-
trol).
Antiship cruise missile exercises.
ASW exercises.
When the SERT finds personnel deficiencies, it
must provide operational training and guidance.
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