In the middle of a deployment or emergency, this initial process can be handled by a Commander's Mast. A Commander's Mast is an official meeting during a deployment conducted by the Commander (Acting Commander, or the Sheriff) where certain formal matters can be heard. This process is based on the traditional Navy "Captain's Mast" but is more or less our own process. Matters which may be heard by a Mast include:

• Issuing promotions or awards
• "Battlefield" enlistment or temporary ("brevet") promotions which need to be approved later.
• Handle disciplinary matters which may be resolved within the chain-of-command (no court martial necessary); Often referred to as "Article 15" proceedings, and described later in this course, these are limited to minor matters and only limited punishments.
• Review (or initiate the review of) a field decision to relieve a specialist such as a medical, safety, or range officer of their post and replace them (always requires a hearing).
• Initiate a formal investigation
• Determine temporary actions which need to be taken until the matter is resolved, e.g. if the volunteer must be suspended from duty, removed from the site/facility, or (in very serious matters, such as assault) temporarily confined. In the latter case, confinement will almost always be for hand-off to Sheriff's Office or other civil authority as they will be beyond our jurisdiction
• A vote by existing officers to recommend a new officer to the Sheriff for commission

The Commander may call witnesses to speak to a matter before the Mast. If the matter is too serious to be handled in the chain-of-command (it requires a court martial or must be handled by the Sheriff's Office), the evidence gathered shall be documented and made part of the record, it may be used to decide whether or not to proceed on an offense, but may not be used to render a final judgement. In the Auxiliary, a hearing at a Commander's Mast may be used to satisfy the requirements of pretrial investigation under RsMO 40.114. The accused and complainant shall also be allowed to call witnesses at a Mast, subject to the requirements of the Service. If the witnesses cannot be called during the Mast (e.g. unavailable or on duty), their statements shall be taken as soon as is practical after the Mast is concluded.

A Mast may not dismiss a volunteer from service. The volunteer may be temporarily suspended pending later review.