Staterooms

Stateroom capacity varies from 2 to 4, but the configurations are similar.

Each person assigned to a stateroom has a desk and chair. The built-in cabinets are for clothing, personal items, and reading/writing materials. In addition, each desk has a safe for securing valuables and sometimes classified material.

Each person also has a bed, either a top or bottom bunk. The bunks are comfortable, with reading lights and privacy curtains.

Often, the staterooms contain a sink.

There are some rules for use of a stateroom:

• Always keep things picked up and neat. Failure to follow this rule creates a health and safety hazard, as well as an annoyance for your stateroom partner(s).
• If someone is asleep, try not to awaken them as you come and go. With watchstanding responsibilities, you may often have somewhat different working hours than your stateroom partner.
• Never bring any food into your stateroom. All food must remain in the messing (eating) areas. Failure to follow this rule can easily result in undesired mammals (rats) or arthropods (cockroaches, ants) into your stateroom. You will have more food available to you at meal-times than you can possibly eat. In addition, the mess decks and wardroom usually have some snacks available. Never bring any food into your stateroom.
• Make your own bed, every day, in the morning.
• If clothes need washing, wash them yourself or send them to the ship's laundry. Don't let them hang in your closet.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001