CQ responsibilities

Charge of Quarters: Runner’s Duties Charge of Quarters gives one (or many) people acting authority of the commanding officer to keep the justice and upkeep of a designated area for a certain period of time. Essentially, these people are put in charge. These people that are put in charge are known as the CQ and the CQ Runner(s). The CQ is usually a Non Commissioned Officer who has a Private(s) as a Runner. The CQ and CQ Runner(s) have many duties assigned to them that are usually contained in the CQ Book. The CQ book contains everything that the Commanding Officer requires to be done and upheld during his absence from the area. CQ and their Runner(s) usually have a set schedule about a week to two weeks ahead of time usually put out by a First Sergeant to let them know what time they are to be on duty. CQ and his Runner(s) will relieve the previous CQ and his Runner(s). Upon arrival, the previous CQ and his Runner(s) will back-brief the oncoming CQ and his Runner(s) of anything required from the CQ Book to brief. These briefs are usually about anything in the CQ Book, new soldiers on extra duty and what their requirements are for the day, any problems that occurred on the previous shift with any individual (i.e. DUI’s, fights, incarcerations, etc.), expected or past Chain of Command visits, or new “At Risk Soldiers”. All general orders apply when performing CQ. The three general orders are—one: I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved; two: I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner; and three: I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions, to the commander of the relief. After the brief is conducted, the previous CQ and his Runner(s) have been properly relieved, which means that they are considered off-duty and may have as much personal time as set by the CQ Book or their Chain of