v • d • e This article forms part of a series on Scientology

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The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches. While it was initially created around maritime customs and traditions while at sea, those customs and traditions persist today even in the land-based branches of the organization. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x1152, 199 KB) A blue e-meter, a ritual device used by the Church of Scientology. ... Scientologists promoting Dianetics at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices regarding the relationship between mind and body that were developed by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, an engram is defined as an unconscious, painful memory. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, Clear is defined as a state in which a person is free of unwanted influences of past memories, unwanted emotions, and mental and physical pain not existing in present time. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ... In Scientology, the concept of thetan is similar to the concept of spirit or soul found in other belief systems. ... In Church of Scientology doctrine, the subjects of supernatural or superhuman powers and abilities are ones that recur often. ... In Scientology, space opera is a coined usage of the pre-existing term related to science fiction and was used by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to describe extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in past lives. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy In Scientology doctrine, Xenu (also Xemu), pronounced //, was the dictator of the Galactic Confederacy who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of aliens to Earth in DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... In Church of Scientology doctrine, there have been a number of controversial medical claims made, usually centered around their auditing process, which uses a device called an E-meter to analyze and treat a persons so-called Reactive mind and Body Thetans. These claims range from the 1950 publication... In the Church of Scientology, It has long been considered essential that the word of founder L. Ron Hubbard is incontrovertible, and that his works, or Tech, must be preserved unaltered. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ... There are many holidays, commemorations and observances in the Church of Scientology, including but not limited to: January 25: Criminon Day This commemorates the 1970 founding of Criminon, a program which seeks to rehabilitate prisoners by disseminating free copies of Scientology-related materials such as The Way to Happiness. ... Scientology weddings, as conducted within the Church of Scientology, are described in their book The Background, Ministry, Ceremonies & Sermons of the Scientology Religion. ... Silent birth, sometimes known as quiet birth, is a birthing procedure advised by L. Ron Hubbard and advocated by Scientologists in which everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible and where ... chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to PUSH, PUSH and loud or laughing remarks... Study tech, or study technology, is a method of study, devised and spelled out by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Disconnection is a practice in Scientology, in which a Scientologist severs all ties between themselves and friends, colleagues, or family members who criticize Scientology practices. ... In Scientology, a rundown is a procedure set out as a series of steps to produce a particular end result, or phenomena. ... The Scientology Justice system is a means for a Scientology organization to take action against a member whose conduct or actions are viewed as highly desctructive or offensive by an executive within the organization. ... An E-Meter is a battery-powered electronic device manufactured by the Church of Scientologys Gold Base. ... In Scientology, the Assist is described as a process which is done to alleviate a present time discomfort. [1] Despite the use of assists to treat pain and injuries, the Scientology Handbook (1994 edition) states: An assist in no way intrudes upon the role of medicine. ... In the Scientology religion, MEST is an acronym for Matter, Energy, Space and Time, considered by Scientologists to be the four component parts of the physical universe. ... ARC is a fundamental concept in Scientology methodology, and is a term particular to Scientology coined by founder L. Ron Hubbard. ... In Scientology, the tone scale or emotional tone scale is a characterization of human behavior and bodily appearance. ... In Dianetics and Scientology, the reactive mind is a concept created by L. Ron Hubbard, referring to a hypothetical portion of the human mind which Hubbard blamed for most mental and physical ailments. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Mary Sue Hubbard (born Mary Sue Whipp) (17 June 1931–25 November 2002 [1]) was the third wife of science fiction writer and Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and often regarded as the first lady of Scientology. ... Heber Carl Jentzsch (born 1935 to Carl Jentzsch and his third wife Pauline), has served as president of the Church of Scientology International since 1982. ... David Miscavige (April 30, 1960 - ) is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology, and controls the copyrighted teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. ... Tom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962) is an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor and film producer. ... John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an Oscar-nominated American actor, singer, entertainer and aviator. ... The Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA), also known as the American Personality Analysis, is a personality test that is given for free by the Church of Scientology. ... The Volunteer Minister program is a worldwide effort founded by the Church of Scientology International. ... Recruitment and endorsements by Scientologist celebrities have always been very important to the Church of Scientology. ... The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR; also sometimes known as the Citizens Committee on Human Rights) is an advocacy group established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Thomas Szasz. ... The Association for Better Living and Education (A.B.L.E.) is a secular branch of the Church of Scientology. ... Founded in 1983, the Concerned Businessmens Association of America (CBAA) is an element of the Scientology movement directed at promoting moral education and enhanced well-being through the use of Hubbards The Way to Happiness booklet in their Set A Good Example (SAGE) program, which holds childrens... World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) is an organization that educates and assists businesses in the use of Scientology management techniques. ... Narconon is not associated with Narcotics Anonymous, which is sometimes abbreviated Narcanon. Scientologys Narconon is an in-patient rehabilitation program for drug abusers in several dozen treatment centers worldwide, chiefly in the United States and western Europe. ... Downtown Medical is a controversial Scientology clinic on 139 Fulton Street in New York City, founded in 2003 with the purpose of treating people for toxins inhaled from the smoke of the 9/11 attacks. ... Criminon is a secular non proft 501 C3 working with government departments and inmates to reduce recidivism and restore self respect to the inmate. ... The Way to Happiness Foundation International is a Scientology-related non-profit corporation founded in 1984. ... This is a list of Scientology organizations operated by the Church of Scientology (CoS), including Church offices, missions, Celebrity Centres and publicized Scientology and Dianetics groups. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps[1] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies. ... Celebrity Centres are Church of Scientology centers that are open to the public but serve mostly artists and celebrities and other professionals, leaders and promising new-comers in the fields of the arts, sports, management and government, and for those are the people who are sculpting the present into the... The Church of Scientology (CST) maintains a large base on the outskirts of Trementina, New Mexico. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) is a department of the Church of Scientology responsible for directing legal affairs, publicizing the Churchs social betterment works, and oversee[ing its] social reform programs. Observers outside the Church have characterized the department as an intelligence agency, comparing it variously to the... The Gold Base is a 500 acre parcel and the headquarters of Golden Era Productions, the media division of the Church of Scientology, located at 19625 Highway 79, Gilman Hot Springs, California 92583, near Hemet. ... The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) was formed in October 1984 by a group of selected Scientologists, who assembled at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, Sussex, England. ... The Religious Technology Center (RTC) is a non-profit corporation established in 1982 by the Church of Scientology to control and oversee the uses of all of the trademarks, symbols and texts of Scientology and Dianetics, including the copyrighted works of the religions founder, L. Ron Hubbard. ... This article examines controversial issues involving Scientology and its affiliated organizations. ... In Scientology, a formally condemned and shunned heretic or wrongdoer is labelled a Suppressive Person, often abbreviated SP. L. Ron Hubbard coined the term to refer to enemies of the Church of Scientology, whose suppressive acts are said to impede the progress of Scientology. ... Fair Game is a status assigned to those whom the Church of Scientology has officially declared to be Suppressive Persons or Suppressive Persons are those whose actions are deemed to suppress or damage Scientology or a Scientologist. ... Operation Snow-White was the name given internally by the Church of Scientology to a program which included the largest incident of private domestic espionage in the history of the United States. ... Operation PC Freakout was the name given by the Church of Scientology to a covert plan undertaken by the Church in 1976, with the goal of harassing Paulette Cooper, author of a book critical of Scientology titled The Scandal of Scientology. The plan came to light when the FBI seized... Scientology versus the Internet is a colloquial term for a long-running online dispute between the Church of Scientology and a number of the Churchs online critics. ... Scientology is publicly, and often vehemently, opposed to psychiatry and psychology and offers itself as an alternative to psychiatry, which Scientologists believe to be a barbaric and corrupt profession. ... The Church of Scientology has been involved in a number of court disputes throughout the world. ... Patter drills are a drilling method used in courses in the Church of Scientology which were added to many Church courses in mid-1995, by David Miscavige. ... The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1994 containing criticisms of the Church of Scientology and, controversially, substantial portions of the Operating Thetan course materials. ... Operation Clambake Operation Clambake (xenu. ... Trapped in the Closet is episode 912 (#137) of the Comedy Central series South Park, originally aired on November 16, 2005. ... Scientology pays members commissions on new recruits they bring in, so Scientology members routinely try to sell Scientology to others. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy Lisa McPherson (born Lisa Skonetski, February 10, 1959–December 5, 1995) was a Scientologist who died of a pulmonary embolism while under the care of the Flag Service Organization (FSO), a branch of the Church of Scientology. ... Lawrence A. Wollersheim is an ex-Scientologist. ... Howard Keith Henson (b. ... Elli Perkins (1949–March 13, 2003) was a mother of two, professional glass artist, and Scientologist who lived in Western New York. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Scientologist is a believer in Scientology. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ...

History

The Sea Org logo.

On 1 September 1966, L. Ron Hubbard officially resigned from all directorships and management of Scientology churches. He then formed the "Sea Project," which he claimed would assist him with researching tests regarding past life recollections. Called the "Sea Project", because it operated on ships and was intended as a temporary project, it was made up of a small group of Scientologists. In early 1967, upon seeing that Scientology churches were going into a decline, L. Ron Hubbard resumed management of the church in a non-directorship capacity. With the help of the Scientologists that had helped him on the project, he declared that the project was now to be a permanent organization called the "Sea Organization" or "Sea Org". He declared himself "Commodore" and organized the Scientologists with titles and uniforms similar to US Navy design, the Sea Org subsequently became the upper management group within the Church of Scientology. It operated for eight years in the Mediterranean Sea and over this time controlled a number of ships (hence the term "Commodore"). In 1975, they sold the ships they were working from and moved to "land bases" that now operate around the world. In 1987 they purchased a ship called "La Boheme", which they later renamed to "Freewinds". The highest levels of Scientology are taught on this ship. The Sea Org acts as goodwill representatives and administrators of Scientology with the stated purpose to "get ethics in on the planet" (Scientology Ethics rather than ethics in the conventional sense.)^[1] Another primary function is "To safeguard the advanced levels of Scientology". According to the church, the Sea Org is a fraternal religious order rather than an incorporated entity.^[2] Sea Org logo This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Freewinds is a cruise ship operated by the Church of Scientology. ... According to the Church of Scientology, Ethics may be defined as the actions an individual takes on himself to ensure his continued survival across the dynamics. ... Ethics (from the Ancient Greek Ä“thikos, the adjective of Ä“thos custom, habit), a major branch of philosophy, including genetics is the study of values and customs of a person or group. ...

The Sea Org today

In more recent times, the Sea Org is primarily based on land; however, the highest levels of Scientology are still delivered at sea on board the Sea Org's vessel, the Freewinds, and the Sea Org still maintains its naval uniforms and character.^[3] Only Sea Org members are staff members in Scientology's Advanced Organisations.^[1] Freewinds is a cruise ship operated by the Church of Scientology. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ...

Billion-year contract

Members of the Sea Org sign an employment contract with the organization for one billion years. Sea Org members, in accordance with Scientology beliefs, are expected to return to the Sea Org when they are reborn. The motto of the Sea Org is, "Revenimus" or "We Come Back" in Latin.^[3] Official statements from the Church of Scientology contend the contract is merely symbolic of the dedication members are expected to hold to the organization, and that members are free to leave if they wish. It has, however, been alleged by former Sea Org personnel that members are restricted from leaving.^[3] Members who do leave are issued a "Freeloader's bill", retroactively billing them for any auditing or training they have received.^[4] These Scientologists may not receive any services at any Scientology organizations until they pay off this bill and perform an amends project. A contract is a legally binding exchange of promises or agreement between parties that the law will enforce. ... Doctrine Practices Concepts People Public groups Organization Controversy This article examines the beliefs and practices of Scientology as taught by the Church of Scientology. ...

Salary and benefits to members

Most Sea Org members are paid about US$24 per week (though some sources list US$75).^[5][6] However, for those working in Scientology organizations (as opposed to organizations staffed only with Sea Org members), they receive pay based on the amount the local staff gets as they must provide for meals, housing, uniforms, etc. In some cases, Sea Org members are not given their weekly pay.^{[citation needed]}

Members receive basic medical and dental care as resources permit.

Unmarried members of the same sex share common sleeping quarters. Married couples have their own quarters.

Rehabilitation Project Force

Main article: Rehabilitation Project Force

The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps^[7] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to CoS expectations, failed Security checks or have violated certain policies. The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a system of work camps[1] set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... In the Church of Scientology, the Security Check (or Sec Check) is a concept instituted by founder L. Ron Hubbard in 1959. ...

Many ex-Sea Org members have reported grueling and torturous treatment, including Gerry Armstrong, who, during his time in the Sea Org, spent over two years banished to the RPF as a punishment. Says Armstrong: Gerry Armstrong is a former high-ranking member of the Church of Scientology who left the organization in the mid 1980s after determining that few of L. Ron Hubbards claims about Hubbards own past life were consistent with reliable documentation. ...

"It was essentially a prison to which crew who were considered nonproducers, security risks, or just wanted to leave the Sea Org, were assigned. Hubbard's RPF policies established the conditions. RPF members were segregated and not allowed to communicate to anyone else. They had their own spaces and were not allowed in normal crew areas of the ship. They ate after normal crew had eaten, and only whatever was left over from the crew meal. Their berthing was the worst on board, in a roach-infested, filthy and unventilated cargo hold. They wore black boilersuits, even in the hottest weather. They were required to run everywhere. Discipline was harsh and bizarre, with running laps of the ship assigned for the slightest infraction like failing to address a senior with "Sir." Work was hard and the schedule rigid with seven hours sleep time from lights out to lights on, short meal breaks, no liberties and no free time... When one young woman ordered into the RPF took the assignment too lightly, Hubbard created the RPF's RPF and assigned her to it, an even more degrading experience, cut off even from the RPF, kept under guard, forced to clean the ship's bilges, and allowed even less sleep." ^[8]

Many similar complaints with Sea Org life have been lodged over the years to the present day, archived online on alt.religion.scientology and on skeptical websites. [2] The newsgroup alt. ...

Dating, marriage, and family

Because there is little free time, dating prospective marital partners is not possible. This is further complicated by the difficulty in synchronizing days off so time can be spent together. Marriages come about mainly by acquaintance in the course of one's employment duties.^{[citation needed]} Marriage and family are discouraged in the Sea Org, as distractions from serving the Church.^[9][10]

Adolescent children may join the Sea Org with the consent of their parents. However, young children are not allowed to live at Sea Org residential units. Beginning around 1982, Sea Org members were actively discouraged from having children. Those that do are dismissed so that they can have the time needed to raise their children. When the child becomes independent, that person is permitted to continue enrollment. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

There are a number of statements from women formerly in the Sea Org who state that they were advised to get an abortion when they became pregnant so that they would not be sent to lower organizations.^[11] This is striking as Scientology is a pro-life religion and actively speaks out against abortion both in its publications and commercials.^[6][12]

Policy on the elderly

Elderly Sea Org members who have physical frailties are put on a reduced work schedule. However, if they reach a certain age where they are not comfortable working any more or wish to spend the rest of their life living peacefully someplace else, they are given a Qualifications Board, and can leave the Sea Org.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary. Publications Organization, Los Angeles 1975 ISBN 0-88404-037-2
2. ^ What is the Sea Organization?. Basic Facts About the Scientology Religion. Retrieved on 2006-06-23.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Jon Atack, A Piece of Blue Sky 1990. Link to online version
4. ^ Robert Farley. "The unperson", St. Petersburg Times, 2006-06-24, pp. 1A, 14A. Retrieved on 2006-08-15. 
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ ^{a b} Times Writer (July 2004). "About Scientology". St. Petersburg Times. 
7. ^ Reitman, Janet Inside Scientology Rolling Stone, Issue 995. March 9, 2006. Page 57.
8. ^ Gerald Armstrong affidavit, March 1986, pp.53ff, as cited in Atack, Jon (1990). A Piece of Blue Sky. New York, NY: Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 0-8184-0499-X. 
9. ^ Lattin, Don. "Leaving the Fold: Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith", San Francisco Chronicle, February 12, 2001
10. ^ Kozlowski, Carl. "Debunking a movement", Pasadena Weekly, 2005-08-01. Retrieved on 2006-05-25. 
11. ^ Stephen A. Kent (July 1999). "Scientology — Is this a Religion?". Marburg Journal of Religion 4 (1). Retrieved on 2006-05-25. 
12. ^ "Youth For Human Rights Ads". 

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External links

• Church of Scientology statement on the Sea Org
• ScientologyToday.org: What is the Sea Organization?
• Scientology.org: The Sea Organization Begin
• CESNUR: The Sea Organization by J. Gordon Melton
• Operation Clambake Presents: The Sea Organization
• Jesse Prince Affidavit
• Abortions in the Sea Org
• Interview with director of Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles, CA

v • d • e Scientology
Dianetics	Engram · Dianetics: MSMH · Clear
Doctrine	Thetan · Supernatural abilities · Space opera · Xenu Human evolution · Past lives · Medical claims · Altered texts
Practices	Holidays · Weddings · Silent birth · Study Tech · Auditing · Dead File Disconnection · Rundowns · Comm Evs · E-meter · Assists · Scientology Finance
Concepts	MEST · ARC · Tone scale · Reactive mind
People	L. Ron Hubbard · Mary Sue Hubbard · Heber Jentzsch David Miscavige · Tom Cruise
Public groups and recruitment	Personality Tests · Volunteer Ministers · Celebrities · Human Rights · ABLE CBAA · WISE · Narconon · Downtown Medical · Criminon · The Way to Happiness
Organization	The Church · Sea Org · RPF · Celebrity Centre · Trementina Base · Church of Spiritual Technology · Office of Special Affairs · Gold Base · Int'l Association of Scientologists · Religious Technology Center
Controversy	Suppressive Person · Fair Game · Operations Snow White & Freakout · The Internet · Psychiatry/Democracy Legal cases · Patter drill · The Fishman Affidavit · Operation Clambake · Scientology as a business · Lisa McPherson · Lawrence Wollersheim · Keith Henson · Elli Perkins · Noah Lottick · Philip Gale · Free Zone
In popular culture	South Park · The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power · Ali's Smile/Naked Scientology · A Token of My Extreme · A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
Bibliography · Filmography