Subsequently the DC rating was split off from HT and became a separate entity. The school's eight-week training takes place from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday in Bldg. Each week covers a different phase and includes classroom instruction followed by lab application of what has been taught in the class. Maximum class size is 27 students, and four classes are in session at any one time. The school currently has a staff of 24.
Training begins with basic damage control information and shipboard familiarization in week one.
Flooding control is the biggest part of this week. Sailors learn to prevent and minimize damage, to control emergency situations that could arise on shipboard duty. Using classroom mock-ups instructors reconfigure the systems and see if students can identify and correct improper alignments and operation of the systems. Instructors show them what they could see when stationed aboard a ship. Techniques and application of shipboard firefighting are taught in week five.