Which of the following watchstanding assignments gives a petty officer equal status with a commissioned or chief warrant officer assigned to the same watch?

The watchstanding assignment that gives a petty officer equal status with a commissioned or chief warrant officer is the Officer of the Deck (OOD). This role is critical in a naval setting, as the OOD is responsible for the safety, security, and routine operations of the vessel while on watch.

In this capacity, the OOD acts on behalf of the commanding officer and holds significant authority, enabling them to make decisions that affect the whole ship. As such, the position of OOD requires close coordination with various departments and personnel, including those of higher rank, but it does grant the petty officer an equal standing in terms of operational authority during the watch. This equality is particularly relevant because the OOD has a responsibility that necessitates direct interaction with, and potentially commanding, higher-ranking officers and enlisted personnel to fulfill the watch's requirements effectively.

Other positions, such as Master-At-Arms (MAA) and Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW), while important, do not provide the same level of authority and responsibility that the OOD role entails, which is why they do not achieve the same status equivalence. The OOD's role is recognized as a significant leadership position, necessitating its unique standing among watchstanding assignments.