Scientology Critical Information Directory

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Sea Org (Sea Organization)

«The Sea Org, the commanding and controlling element in the cult, partly working off ships, partly land-based at Flag in Clearwater, FLA, the Cedars Complex in Los Angeles, and other places. The core is now at the INT Base and the HGB» — The ARS Acronym/Terminology FAQ v3.5 by Martin Hunt.
«Code of a Sea Org Member: I promise through my actions to increase the power of the Sea Org and decrease the power of any enemy.» — Hubbard, "The Code of a Sea Org Member", 1978.

Ex-Scientology Kids (2008): "The Sea Org / Cadet Org"
The Sea Org, short for "The Sea Organization", is Scientology's parish (for lack of a better word). Not all Scientologists are in the Sea Org, but the most dedicated ones usually are. The current leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, is also in command of the Sea Org.

The Sea Org's organizational structure is an odd mixture of military and corporate management styles, with staff members living in army-like conditions, receiving boot-camp type punishments for misdeeds, and holding militaristic titles within the organization.

When a Scientologist joins the Sea Org, he signs a contract agreeing to serve for 1 billion years (no typo - 1,000,000,000 years). Because Scientologists believe in re-incarnation, the Sea Org member is expected to return and serve again in his or her next life. [...]

Radar (March 17, 2008): "Cult Friction" by John Cook
[...] In Clearwater, Sea Org recruits sign a contract promising one billion years of service to the organization; in the event of death, inductees are allowed 20 years to "grow the body" after they are reincarnated, at which point they are expected to report for duty. They are also required to fill out an exhaustive questionnaire bearing this quote from Hubbard: "You can't be shot for what you have done, you can only be shot for what you haven't told us." The Church asks whether applicants have ever been affiliated with the CIA or Mossad or have ever held a security clearance, and requires them to fill out a detailed sexual history, including "any perversions" and "who, what was done, and how often—be as complete as you can." [...]

Operation Clambake present: The Sea Organization

The Sea Organization is the actual nexus that controls the scientology empire. Sea Organization personnel are authorized to take over and control scientology organizations and to demote personnel, move bank accounts and run the corporation as if the SO personnel were employees or representatives of that corporation but they are not.

Jon Atack: "Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard: The Total Freedom Trap"

Sea Org members have restricted access to their children, usually only being allowed to see them for an hour or two each week. Children are kept in the "Cadet Org," with the specified intention of making them into Sea Org members. Indeed, Sea Org children can start working for the organization by the age of twelve, sometimes securing high positions before their fifteenth birthdays. Children as young as eight have acted as auditors, taking the confessions of adults.

The Scandal of Scientology - Chapter 7: The Sea Org

When one of the Sea Org ships was docked in Corfu, the London Times reported that a number of people on shore had seen a female Scientologist and her two children attempt to run off the boat -- screaming -- and they then saw her dragged back in by uniformed Scientologists on the ship before she could reach the roadway.{28} The harbor master in Corfu, a friend of Scientology, said he saw "no reason for an investigation."

Bare-Faced Messiah - Chapter 16: Launching the Sea Org

Such incidents inevitably led to the offenders being assigned a 'lower condition', the penalties for which were by then routinely formalized. The least serious was 'emergency' followed by 'liability', in which hapless state the miscreant forfeited pay, was confined to 'org premises' and had to wear the infamous dirty grey rag on one arm. In a condition of 'treason', all uniforms and insignia were removed and the rag was replaced by a black mark on the left check. In 'doubt', the offender was fined, barred from the org and could not be communicated with. Lastly came the dreaded 'enemy' - 'May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.'

Wikipedia: Sea Org

The Sea Org was founded by Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard in 1968, purportedly as an organization for implementing Scientology technology around the world through a fleet of ships. [1] In practice, throughout the 1970s the Sea Org provided a means for Scientology management to avoid legal entanglements by being able to remain at sea outside of the jurisdiction of countries seeking to serve legal action. [2]

In 1967, Hubbard further distanced himself from the controversy attached to Scientology by resigning as executive director of the church and appointing himself "Commodore" of a small fleet of Scientologist-crewed ships that spent the next eight years cruising the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Hubbard formed the para-military group known as the "Sea Organization," or "Sea Org." With titles and uniforms of Hubbard's design, the Sea Org subsequently became the controlling group within Hubbard's Scientology empire.

Affidavit of Jesse Prince (20 August 1999)

8. I first became involved with Scientology in September, 1976, in San Francisco.  In  late 1976, I joined the elite Scientology paramilitary organization known as the Sea Organization, also known as the "Sea Org" or the acronym "SO".  Sea Organization personnel are authorized to take over and control Scientology organizations and to demote or promote personnel including chief executives, move bank accounts, and run the corporation as if  SO personnel were employees or representatives of that  corporation.  The power of the SO is  not only over the purported religious Scientology organizations but also prevails over the secular organizations such as WISE or Bridge Publications. The Sea Org's pervasive authority is possible because the only personnel allowed into executive positions in these organizations are those who are in full agreement that the Sea Organization is the commanding organization.

Affidavit of Jesse Prince (27 July 1998)

I first became involved with Scientology in September 1976, in San Francisco. In late 1976 I joined the elite Scientology paramilitary organization known as the Sea Organization, also known as the "Sea Org" or the acronym "SO." The Sea Organization is the actual nexus that controls the Scientology empire. Sea Organization personnel are authorized to take over and control Scientology organizations and to demote personnel, move bank accounts and run the corporation as if the SO personnel were employees or representatives of that corporation but they are not. This is true if the organization was part of the "Church of Scientology" or one of the secular areas such as Bridge Publications. This is possible because the only personnel allowed into executive positions in these organization are those who are in full agreement that the Sea Organization is the commanding organization. This weeding out process guarantees there will be no executives who will resist or protect their corporate integrity. This is how the Sea Organization can operate with impunity, and continue to claim that it is merely a "fraternal organization." The Sea Organization is a "fraternal organization" the way the Cosa Nostra is.

Declaration of Jonathan Caven-Atack (9 April 1995)

40. Hubbard asserted that the Sea Org is "fabian", and redefined that word to mean "using stratagem and delay to wear out an opponent" [JCA-84]. Hubbard wanted the Sea Org to be seen as "a determined but elusive and sometimes frightening group". He also asserted that the Sea Org has " tough discipline", and that "Only those members who are not used heavily aboard [ship] or on mission seem to go slack." [JCA-85].

Understanding Scientology — Chapter 9: The Sea Org — "For the Next Billion Years..."

Students and crew were lined up on deck in the early hours every morning. They waited to hear whether they were on the day's list of miscreants. Those who knew they were would remove their shoes, jackets and wristwatches in anticipation. The drop was between fifteen and forty feet, depending upon which deck was used. Sometimes people were blindfolded first, and either their feet or hands loosely tied. Non-swimmers were tied to a rope. Being hurled such a distance, blindfolded and restrained, into cold sea water, must have been terrifying. Worst of all was the fear that you would hit the side of the ship as you fell, your flesh ripped open by the barnacles. Overboarding was a very traumatic experience. (2)

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