Stewards are employed in the provision of first class service in hospitality and catering duties and are responsible for the efficient running of the officers' mess (Wardroom). The following is what is expected of today’s Navy steward:

• An ever-developing knowledge of food and food service styles and techniques;
• A knowledge of wines and a competence in preparing and serving them;
• Competence in the preparation and service of a range of drinks;
• The ability to prepare tables quickly and correctly for effective presentation;
• The proficient use and subsequent knowledge in mess accounting procedures and a firm understanding of the current mess accounting package;
• The ability to provide first class cabin service;
• Competence in the provision of valeting services;
• Proficient knowledge and skills in the provision of adequate security measures within stewards areas of concern;
• Competence in the provision of valeting services to senior officers and visiting dignitaries;
• A sound knowledge of basic galley operation and food preparation; and
• Honesty, loyalty, a good sense of humour, tactfulness and an enthusiastic approach to one’s work.

Roles of a Steward

Employment areas for Able Seaman and Seaman Stewards fall into two categories - professional and general duties. Whilst in shore establishments most of the work that an Able seaman or Seaman Steward will perform falls under the professional duties banner. When at sea, the junior steward will assist the rest of a ships company to fulfill a host of ancillary roles.

Professional and general duties for these ranks can be broken down further as follows:

Professional Duties

Pantry

• Preparation of salads, hors d’oeuvres, sandwiches, cheeseboards, morning and afternoon teas and other pantry related foodstuffs;
• Care of Mess crockery and cutlery; and
• Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness.

Dining Room

• Setting of tables for meals in accordance with daily menu;
• Full range of table & beverage service to Officers of the RAN and their guests;
• The preparation for, and the service at a range of official lunches, dinners etc; and
• Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness.

Bar

• Service of a range of beverages, cocktails, coffees etc;
• Point of sale duties;
• Bar security procedures;
• Restocking of bars; and
• Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness.

Cabins (Limited service)

• Daily cabin service for officers of the RAN; and
• Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness.

Valet

• As for cabin service but also includes care and maintenance of senior officer’s uniforms;
• Food and beverage service;
• Domestic duties;
• Driving duties;
• Functions - Service and personal; and
• Office Work - Administration duties.

Hall Porters Office/Reception

• Day to day administration procedures;
• Menu compilation;
• Accommodation management;
• General administration;
• Telephone answering; and
• Typing and filing.

Canteen (Subject to Appropriate Cash Control Procedures)

• Counter service to the ships crew of a range of canteen products;
• Point of sale duties and canteen security procedures ;
• Restocking of canteens; and;
• Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness.

General Duties

Ships Medical Emergency Team (SMET)

• Steward staff at sea may form part of SMET teams and be involved in the provision of first aid and medical treatment to casualties in exercise and real time situations.

Stores Parties

• Whilst stores parties are normally whole ship evolutions, the Stewards branch often provide assistance especially when storing beer and canteen stores.

Flight Deck Team

• Certain Steward billets on some ships are designated as Flight Deck Team. Steward personnel posted to these billets will be appropriately trained and will provide assistance to the Aviation department during flight operations.

Seamanship Evolutions

• Seamanship evolutions are a whole ship responsibility and as such Stewards will be called upon to provide assistance in line handling, RAS, jackstays, man over boards and a host of other evolutions.

Whole ship duties

• Normally encompasses any event that the whole ship is involved in. This can include cleaning stations, Operation Awkward and NBCD.

Ceremonial Duties

• Stewards are often called upon to provide assistance in this area as part of a standing guard, shore patrols and other ceremonial duties.

Navy Reserve Stewards are employed to provide professional hospitality services for the Navy. They are responsible for the efficient running of the officers' mess (Wardroom), where many official functions are hosted. Stewards are posted to every Major Fleet Unit, Mine Hunter Coastal, Hydrographic Ship and the majority of shore establishments. Responsibilities of a Naval Steward fall into two main areas: firstly, those duties connected with the hospitality role and secondly, additional duties to be undertaken onboard ships.

Duties connected with the hospitality role (both ashore and at sea):

• Mess management (managing services, facilities, social programs, and mess coordination on behalf of the mess President);
• Working within the Wardroom on tasks such as:
• Reception of members (and on occasion guests) to the mess;
• Preparation of tables in the dining and antee room for a variety of meals including alfresco;
• Waiting on tables, including fine dining, wine and beverage service;
• Bar and wine service including the mixing of cocktails and standard mixed alcohol beverages;
• All facets of Function planning for visiting VIPs, weddings, engagements, christenings, monthly theme buffets etc;
• Organisation of mess and official functions, including those for visiting Military and/or Community VIPs;
• Valet, personal services and retinue; and
• Contract management within the commercial support program.

Duties connected with the hospitality role (these duties only conducted at sea):

• Efficient running and management of Ship's canteens;
• Ordering, receipt and stowage of canteen stocks;
• Stock control;
• Operating the point of sale;
• Financial Accounting and administration of canteen and mess accounts, and service funds;
• Cooking in support of the Wardroom and other departments as required; and
• Ship's Duty Free Officer.

Additional general duties undertaken when onboard ships (the nature of these duties, and the mix undertaken will vary depending upon the class of ship):

• Act as a member of the Ship's medical emergency, damage control and firefighting teams;
• Act as a member of the flight deck team in support of the Ship's helicopter;
• Undertake Biological and Chemical defence training and ongoing renewal of these skills; and
• Seagoing duties may also include membership of boarding parties or upper deck sentry teams.