General Order 7 emphasizes the importance of what action?

General Order 7 underscores the importance of maintaining focused communication while on duty. It advises personnel to speak only when necessary and within the constraints of their responsibilities. This is crucial because it helps to minimize distractions, ensures that watchstanders remain vigilant, and maintains the integrity of communications. By limiting conversation to essential information directly related to the task, personnel can better assess their surroundings, respond to incidents effectively, and maintain a disciplined watch standard.

The other options suggest activities or behaviors that could detract from the primary objective of vigilance and readiness during watch duty. Engaging in conversations that are not duty-related can lead to lapses in attention, which can be detrimental to the safety and security of the area being monitored. In essence, the focus on communicating only when necessary aligns with the overarching mission of ensuring effective operations and maintaining readiness.