Orders To The Sentry 

To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

• This means you will take charge of what you are told to protect.

To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

• Be aware of everything going on around you.

To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

• Tell one of your superiors if something bad happened.

To repeat all calls from any post more distant from the guardhouse or quarterdeck than my own.

• Just for some context, posts are all in a line all around the ship. The Officer of the Deck won't walk up to each individual post and say what to do. However, adjacent post sentries can spread the word around.

To quit my post only when properly relieved.

• The sentry guard is an important security position that must be held by somebody at all times. The same person is not going to stand the guard 24/7. So other service members assigned to sentry duty must relieve those currently in those positions. Basically what this order is saying is to wait for someone to take your spot before you leave.

To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and all Officers and Petty Officers of the watch only.

• Whenever someone relieves you, the other sentry post guards might not know. Also the Officer of the Deck is not going to go up to everybody being relieved. So it is your duty to tell your relieving sentry what you were told to do.

To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

• This one is fairly self-explanatory. The line of duty means "whatever is a part of your regular job". So only talk to people that you know through your job. Don't talk to potential enemies, spies, or civilians.

To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

• This one is also self-explanatory. In the Navy and the Marine Corps, they carry a lot of their service members on ships, which are condensed spaces with a very high working population inside. So if there is a fire, flood, power outage, or enemy threat, it is everybody's business. Unlike regular land camps where there is a fire, ships and sailors don't have a place to go when underway. They can't just run away. They have to rise up and face the issue head-on. Therefore, it is imperative to give the alarm in case of emergency.

To call the OOD in any case not covered by instructions.

• If there is something odd that happens that isn't explained, use the call box to call the Officer of the Deck. Then relay the instructions given by the OOD to other posts as stated in Orders 4 and 6.

To salute all officers, and all colors, and standards not cased.

• If you are approached by a superior officer, the morning/evening flag detail, or by troops carrying mounted flag colors (the national standard), then you must stand at attention and render a proper hand salute until either you are addressed or they have passed by.

To be especially watchful at night and during times of challenging to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

• Be vigilant, especially during dangerous conditions, because that is when the enemy would have their best opportunity to attack. Do not give access to people without proof of access. If they do not want to show proof of access, you must challenge them.