What is the purpose of General Order No. 11?

What is the purpose of General Order No. 11?

• A. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
• B. To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
• C. To secure the quarterdeck.
• D. To challenge all persons on or near my post at night.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is that this general order is about maintaining security by actively screening who comes near the post, especially when visibility is low. At night, the guard must be particularly alert and question anyone approaching to verify they have proper authority before allowing passage. This practice helps prevent unauthorized access and deters potential threats, since the sentry’s primary duty is to control entry and protect people and property on and around the post. Other duties like saluting officers or securing the quarterdeck come from different orders, so focusing on challenging at night best captures the purpose of this particular order.

The key idea here is that this general order is about maintaining security by actively screening who comes near the post, especially when visibility is low. At night, the guard must be particularly alert and question anyone approaching to verify they have proper authority before allowing passage. This practice helps prevent unauthorized access and deters potential threats, since the sentry’s primary duty is to control entry and protect people and property on and around the post. Other duties like saluting officers or securing the quarterdeck come from different orders, so focusing on challenging at night best captures the purpose of this particular order.