OPNAVINST 5720.2N - Embarking Civilians in United States Naval Vessels

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000

OPNAVINST 5720.2N
CHINFO
7 May 2019
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5720.2N
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: EMBARKING CIVILIANS IN UNITED STATES NAVAL VESSELS
Ref:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)

SECNAVINST 5720.44C
OPNAVINST 6000.1D
NAVPERS 15555D
SECNAVINST 5030.8C
NETCINST 1560.3
OPNAVINST 5760.5D
OPNAVINST 5761.1
SECNAVINST 5510.30B
OPNAVINST 5700.7J
SECNAVINST 5510.36A
JAGINST 5800.7F
OPNAVINST 5726.8B

1. Purpose. To delineate coordination procedures and approval authorities to embark civilian
workers and guests in United States Naval Vessels including United States Ships (USS), United
States Naval Ships (USNS), combatant craft, and support craft, collectively referred to in this
instruction as U.S. Naval Vessels, during an underway period. Major changes to this instruction
are outlined in subparagraphs 1a through 1d.
a. realigns the definition of naval vessels to align with reference (d);
b. removes the definition of U.S. Navy technician and the requirement for civilian
contractors to be designated as such prior to embarkation;
c. aligns with policy contained in Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 5410.19 which
does not allow civilian guests to operate any U.S. naval vessel or other items of military
equipment;
d. aligns with reference (c) policy that burials at sea will not be conducted while civilian
guests are embarked; this is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5720.2M.

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7 May 2019
3. Background. Reference (a) provides policy for embarkation and passage of civilian guests in
U.S. Naval Vessels. The occasional embarkation of guests in U.S. Naval Vessels facilitates a
greater understanding of the roles and mission of the Navy and contributes to crew morale by
allowing crew members to demonstrate first-hand what can only be experienced in an at-sea
environment.
4. Policy
a. Routine requests to embark civilians from any source may be recommended by
commanding officers and approved by the fleet commanders, the numbered fleet commanders, or
type commanders, as set forth in this instruction, so long as such embarked civilians do not
interfere with shipboard operations and safety, or require unacceptable adjustments to operating
schedules.
b. Civilians will be embarked without regard to gender. Every reasonable effort will be
made to provide separate accommodations, limited only by the need to maintain combat
readiness, safety, and crew habitability. Consistent with reference (b), female civilians who are
pregnant will be considered for embarkation up to the 20th week of pregnancy and, if authorized
to embark, must be advised of the hazards to themselves and their unborn child from the
shipboard environment.
c. The unified combatant commanders have the authority to embark civilians, other than
news media representatives, onboard assigned or attached U.S. Naval Vessels for non-local
public affairs purposes. Such requests will be coordinated with the appropriate Navy component
commander.
d. Civilian guests, including Federal, state, or local government employees, are prohibited
from operating any U.S. Naval Vessel, military aircraft, crew-served weapon system, or other
items of military equipment when such operation could cause, or reasonably be perceived as
causing, a safety risk.
(a) This policy is in effect regardless of how closely military personnel supervise the
civilian guests.
(b) Civilian guests may observe, sit in, ride on, and similarly access military
equipment within the bounds of law and applicable regulations.
e. Burials at sea must not be conducted while civilian guests are embarked, per reference
(c).
f. Nothing in this instruction limits the authority of the senior officer present or senior
officer present afloat, acting pursuant to U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990, to embark civilians in
U.S. Naval Vessels when the circumstances so warrant. Likewise, this instruction does not limit

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7 May 2019
the authority of the commanding officer of a U.S. Naval Vessel under U.S. Navy Regulations,
1990, to approve or deny the embarkation of any civilian, or direct the removal of any civilian so
embarked, for mission accomplishment, safety, or other reasons within the sole discretion of the
commanding officer.
5. Scope and Applicability
a. For the purpose of this instruction, the term “U.S. Naval Vessels” includes all combatant
ships, auxiliary ships, combatant craft, and support craft listed in enclosures (1) through (4) of
reference (d).
b. This instruction applies to all civilians who may occasionally embark or take passage in
U.S. Naval Vessels, including:
(1) Civilian Workers
(a) U.S. Government civilian employees, including morale welfare and recreation
afloat recreation and fitness specialists (fun and fit bosses), and deployed resiliency counselors.
(b) Non-government employees engaged in construction, testing, maintenance or
operation of a ship or its embarked aircraft or for scientific research and surveys.
(c) Civilian educational and Navy College Program personnel described in reference
(e).
(2) Civilian Guests
(a) State police or highway patrol officers participating in the At-Sea Traffic Safety,
At-Sea Crime Awareness and Prevention, or similar programs.
(b) Relatives and civilian guests of naval personnel participating in tiger cruises or
other friends and family visits.
(c) Civilian guests participating in Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, Leaders to
Sea program, and other community outreach or orientation programs.
(d) News or media representatives covering military operations.
(e) Members of Congress, congressional staff members, and congressional committee
staff members who have been invited to embark for the purposes of orientation or to witness
certain operations or demonstrations.

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7 May 2019
c. This instruction does not apply to:
(1) Civilian youth groups described in reference (f), which are authorized to embark
under the directives listed in subparagraphs 5c(1)(a) through 5c(1)(d).
(a) Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets on training cruises and visits
in support of objectives of the Reserve Officer Training Corps Vitalization Action of 1964,
Public Law 99-647 (see reference (g)).
(b) Naval Sea Cadet Corps personnel on training cruises and visits in connection with
Naval Sea Cadet Corps activities approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) (see
reference (f)).
(c) National Scouting Program participants (see reference (f)).
(d) Navy Science Awards Program participants (administered by the Chief of Naval
Research).
(2) The embarkation of special agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is
authorized by standing directives issued by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command;
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; or Commander, Military Sealift Command (COMMSC).
(3) Foreign nationals, including foreign military personnel not in an exchange, liaison, or
loan status (see references (g) and (h)).
(4) Foreign military personnel in an exchange, liaison, or loan status (see reference (i)).
6. Responsibilities and Action
a. The fleet commanders (Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, U.S.
Pacific Fleet; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command) may
approve the embarkation of all civilian workers and guests described in subparagraphs 5b(1) and
5b(2) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels under their administrative control (ADCON) or command.
b. The numbered fleet commanders (excluding Commander, U.S. TENTH Fleet) may
approve the embarkation of civilian workers described in subparagraph 5b(1)(c) and all civilian
guests described in subparagraph 5b(2) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels under their command.
c. The surface, air, and submarine type commanders; Commander, Naval Special Warfare
Command; and Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, may approve the

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7 May 2019
embarkation of civilian workers described in subparagraph 5b(1)(c) and all civilian guests
described in subparagraph 5b(2) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels under their respective ADCON.
d. Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command; and Commander, Navy Expeditionary
Combat Command, may approve the embarkation of civilian workers described in subparagraph
5b(1)(c) and all civilian guests described in subparagraph 5b(2) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels under
their respective ADCON.
e. COMMSC may approve the embarkation of civilian workers described in subparagraphs
5b(1)(a) and 5b(1)(b) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels under COMMSC ADCON, including USNS
vessels, with the concurrence of the commanding officer or master of the vessel.
f. The Oceanographer of the Navy (OPNAV N2N6E) may approve the embarkation of
civilian workers described in subparagraphs 5b(1)(a) and 5b(1)(b) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels
under COMMSC ADCON, including USNS vessels, but only for technical purposes directly
related to research functions sponsored by the Naval Oceanographic Office, and subject to the
concurrence of the commanding officer master of the vessel. The Oceanographer of the Navy
may further delegate this authority to the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography
Command.
g. The systems commanders (Commander, Naval Air Systems Command; Commander,
Naval Sea Systems Command; Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command; Commander,
Naval Facilities Engineering Command; and Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems
Command) may approve the embarkation of civilian workers described in subparagraphs
5b(1)(a) and 5b(1)(b) aboard U.S. Naval Vessels, subject to the concurrence of the commanding
officer or master of the vessel.
7. Embarking Civilian Workers
a. When the services of civilian workers are required aboard U.S. Naval Vessels, the
commanding officer or master will submit an embarkation request through the administrative or
operational chain of command, as appropriate. The embarkation request will detail the services
required and the availability of berthing and heads for civilians of either gender.
b. The approving authority is responsible for determining the need for the embarkation and
will inform the civilian’s employing agency or activity of the services required and facilities
available. If facilities are not available for both genders or there are other limiting factors that
would adversely affect embarking civilians, then the approving authority will inform the
employing agency or activity of the denial.
8. Embarking Civilian Guests. Embarking civilian guests in U.S. Naval Vessels furthers public
awareness of the U.S. Navy and its mission. Occasionally embarking family and friends
contributes to morale and instills a sense of pride in the Navy and its commands.

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a. Requirements for Embarking Civilian Guests
(1) The embarkation must be conducted within the framework of regularly scheduled
operations.
(2) The nomination of guests and assignment of embarkation seats cannot be sold or
bartered in any way; embarkation invitations will not be used as a reward or to promote an
organization or individual.
(3) The embarked civilian will not be allowed to access classified information unless a
separate approval is requested and approved. If civilian guests require access to classified
information, then the sponsoring activity will ascertain the security clearance level required and
will comply with procedures contained in references (h) and (j) to obtain the necessary disclosure
authority.
(4) Guests must be in good health, due to the inherent physical demands of moving about
a naval vessel. Guests must be capable of moderately strenuous, daylong activity. Approval of
individuals for embarkation is not recommended for those with medical ailments that may
preclude them from aircraft flight, walking or climbing ladders aboard a ship, who are pregnant,
under the age of 12, or over the age of 75. The commanding officer has final denial authority.
(5) Death or personal injury to any civilian aboard a U.S. naval vessel, except Federal
civilian employees in the performance of their duties, is an admiralty incident. Follow the
procedures outlined in reference (k) if a civilian guest is injured while embarked. The steps
outlined relate to investigation and reporting requirements. The affected command is to contact
Office of Judge Advocate (OJAG Admiralty and Maritime Law Division (Code 11))
immediately to either report or ascertain whether an incident is reportable by naval message,
phone, e-mail, or FAX. This report is in addition to others that may be required (i.e., OPREP 3).
b. Embarkation of Civilians for Orientation and Public Community Outreach. Orientation
and public community outreach embarkation programs afford community, industry, and
education leaders the rare opportunity to view their Navy in action through direct interactions
with Sailors and demonstrations of the Navy’s unique capabilities. Civilian guests embarking for
orientation and public community outreach must complete OPNAV 5720/11 Distinguished
Visitor (DV)/Friends of the Navy (FON) Embark Request and OPNAV 5720/12 Distinguished
Visitor Medical Registration prior to being approved to embark. Civilian guests embarking for
orientation and public community outreach purposes generally embark as part of one of the
programs detailed in subparagraphs 8b(1) through 8b(4).
(1) Leaders to Sea. The Leaders to Sea Program is designed to bring individuals who are
active and influential in their community, business, or government. Participants include
presidents or chief executive officers of corporations and businesses, presidents or deans of
colleges and universities, influential civic and community leaders, government officials,

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educators, news media owners or publishers, and leaders of significant, broad-based
organizations who have not had prior exposure to naval operations. These at-sea embarkation
programs provide a unique opportunity to foster citizen awareness and understanding of the role,
mission, and need for the Navy in general, while highlighting the training required to keep Navy
forces ready for any contingency. Those invited to a Leaders to Sea embarkation must submit a
complete OPNAV 5720/11 to participate. Reference (l) directs how many Leaders to Sea
embarks must be conducted each year and how the seats are allocated.
(2) Congressional Orientation Visits. Members of Congress, their staffs, or
representatives of a congressional committee embark naval vessels to better understand the Navy
to help them discharge their duties. The Office of Legislative Affairs coordinates these visits.
(3) Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. Participants of the Joint Civilian Orientation
Conference are guests of the Secretary of Defense and are influential leaders in their professions,
organizations, and communities with little or no direct exposure to the Department of Defense.
(4) Media Visits. Members of the media embark naval vessels primarily to become
familiar with a unit’s missions observing operations and training or conducting interviews as part
of their reporting. Media generally will be embarked separately from any participants described
in subparagraphs 8b(1) through 8b(3), so they are able to obtain information and report their
stories. The command’s public affairs officer will provide escorts and supervise all embarked
media. The public affairs offices of either U.S. Fleet Forces Command or U.S. Pacific Fleet (or
the Navy Office of Information (CHINFO) if national media are involved) must approve
embarks of management–level media representatives as part of the Leaders to Sea Program prior
to extending an invitation.
c. Embarkation of Family and Friends of Naval Personnel. Relatives and civilian guests of
crew members of naval vessels may embark naval vessels sailing on cruises of short durations.
For the purposes of this subparagraph, naval personnel include civil service mariners employed
by MSC and civilian mariners serving aboard MSC-controlled and contract-operated ships
bearing USNS designation. Subparagraphs 8c(1) through 8c(5) apply.
(1) The commanding officer of a naval vessel may authorize an embarkation during
daylight hours without reference to a higher authority when the vessel remains within the
confines of the harbor or port, such as when shifting berths.
(2) Relatives and civilian guests may embark on port-to-port, round-trip overnight within
the continental United States (CONUS), between CONUS and overseas ports, or between
proximate overseas ports when the duration of the embarkation does not exceed the transit time
between the authorized ports. Intermediate foreign port visits generally will not be authorized.
(3) Relatives and civilian guests of either gender are permissible on ships with
accommodations identified for the exclusive use of individuals of each gender.

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(4) Spouses and family members of crew members may be embarked during cruises
between ports within CONUS, between CONUS and Hawaii, or between outside the continental
United States (OCONUS) ports and CONUS when such cruises are scheduled incident to a
homeport change or scheduled overhaul period. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces and
Commander, Pacific Fleet may further delegate this authority.
(5) Spouses of embarked crew members will not embark overnight on their spouse’s
vessel without a justifiable reason for doing so. In the event a spouse is embarked overnight, he
or she will be provided separate accommodations from his or her spouse. Embarked crew
members include ship’s company, embarked air wings, and flag staffs.
d. Civilian Youth Groups. Requests to embark youth groups not under Navy sponsorship as
described in reference (f) will be forwarded to the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command
Marketing and Advertising (NAVCRUIT N9) and the Public Affairs Office.
9. Embarkation and Debarkation of Passengers OCONUS. Navy military personnel, civilian
employees, and employees of the Department of Defense or Navy contractors embarked on naval
vessels who will enter or exit an area under foreign government control to embark or debark,
must obtain area or country clearance following the Department of Defense Foreign Clearance
Guide. Relatives and civilian guests who will embark or debark in a foreign country are
responsible for obtaining their own passports and visas.
10. Records Management
a. Records created as a result of this instruction, regardless of format or media, must be
maintained and dispositioned per the records disposition schedules located on the Department of
the Navy/Assistant for Administration (DON/AA), Directives and Records Management
Division (DRMD) portal page at
https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/DUSNM/DONAA/DRM/Records-and-InformationManagement/Approved%20Record%20Schedules/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
b. For questions concerning the management of records related to this instruction or the
records disposition schedules, please contact the local records manager or the DON/AA DRMD
program office.
11. Review and Effective Date. Per OPNAVINST 5215.17A, CHINFO will review this
instruction annually around the anniversary of its issuance date to ensure applicability, currency,
and consistency with Federal, Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, and Navy policy
and statutory authority using OPNAV 5215/40 Review of Instruction. This instruction will be in
effect for 10 years, unless revised or cancelled in the interim, and will be reissued by the 10-year

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7 May 2019
anniversary date if it is still required, unless it meets one of the exceptions in OPNAVINST
5215.17A, paragraph 9. Otherwise, if the instruction is no longer required, it will be processed
for cancellation as soon as the need for cancellation is known following the guidance in OPNAV
Manual 5215.1 of May 2016.
12. Forms and Information Management Control
a. Forms
(1) OPNAV 5720/11 Distinguished Visitor (DV)/Friends of the Navy (FON) Embark
Request is available for download from Forms OnLine
https://forms.documentservices.dla.mil/order/.
(2) OPNAV 5720/12 Distinguished Visitor Medical Registration will be provided by email upon completion of OPNAV 5720/11.
b. Information Management Control. The data collection contained within this instruction
has been assigned OMB RCS 0703-0060 (OMB Pending).

STEFFANIE B. EASTER
Director, Navy Staff
Releasability and distribution:
This instruction is cleared for public release and is available electronically only via Department
of the Navy Issuances Web site, https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/

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