In the case of an apprentice who has completed his indentures for a term of not less than two years in any class of vessel, no further proof of service and qualifications will be required.

A provisionally enrolled seaman will be eligible for confirmation as seaman on the satisfactory completion of twenty-eight days' Naval training.

24. Qualification for Special Ratings.—Seamen who have completed their second period of training may volunteer for selection to qualify in gunnery, torpedo, minesweeping, signals (for service in vessels carrying the Auxiliary Vessels Signal-book), or such other services as may be approved by the Naval Board, the number of men selected depending on Naval requirements. Prior to selection a candidate must undertake to enrol for a further period of service on completion of his current engagement. Men so selected will be required to undergo a qualifying course not exceeding six weeks in length in lieu of their next period of twenty-eight days’ training. The standard to be attained will be generally the same as for similar ratings in the seagoing forces, insofar as such standard can be reached with the resources available. On completion of the course men will be examined, and, if qualified, will be eligible to be selected for non-substantive ratings, to wear the usual Royal Navy distinction badges, and to receive non-substantive pay when under training or called out for service.

25. Advancement to Leading Seamen.—To qualify for advancement to leading seaman a seaman must—
    (a.) Have passed the educational test, part I, as for the seagoing forces;
    (b.) Be in his second or a subsequent period of enrolment;
    (c.) Have passed examinations in seamanship, signals, gun-drills, firing, and field training as prescribed for the Imperial Royal Naval Reserve, or be fully qualified in the particular service to which he is allocated;
    (d.) Be capable of taking charge of and have a good control of men;
    (e.) Be specially recommended for advancement;
    (f.) Have served with general very good conduct in the Reserve.

26. Advancement to Petty Officer.—To qualify for advancement to petty officer a leading seaman must—
    (a.) Have served for one year, and completed one period of training as a leading seaman;
    (b.) Be fully qualified in the particular service to which he is allocated;
    (c.) Be specially recommended for advancement by the commanding officer of the ship in which his training as leading seaman was performed;
    (d.) Have served with general very good conduct in the Reserve.

27. Advancement to Chief Petty Officer.—Selected petty officers will be eligible for advancement to chief petty officers under the regulations applicable to corresponding ratings in the seagoing forces. These advancements will be made direct to the confirmed rating without acting time.

28. Provisional Stokers.—A candidate will be enrolled as provisional stoker provided that he can produce satisfactory evidence of employment at sea in the stokehold or engine-room as fireman or trimmer, and makes a declaration that it is his intention to follow the calling of fireman or trimmer at sea for a period of at least five years from the date of enrolment. A provisionally enrolled stoker will be eligible for confirmation as stoker on the satisfactory completion of twenty-eight days’ Naval training.

29. Advancement.—Qualifications for advancement will be the same as for seamen, paragraphs 25 to 27, except that the qualifications in clause (c) of paragraph 25 will not be required, but in lieu thereof stokers will be required to pass examinations in stokehold and engine-room duties as prescribed for the Imperial Royal Naval Reserve, or be fully qualified in the particular service to which they are allocated.

Class C.

30. Seamen, Signalmen, and Telegraphists (except those drawn from the telegraph staff of the Post and Telegraph Department) will be entered as ordinary seamen for general service. Candidates for the signal and wireless branches will be rated ordinary signalmen and ordinary telegraphists respectively at the end of fourteen days of their first period of training, provided they show promise of making efficient signalmen or telegraphists.

31. Other Ratings will be entered in the lowest man’s rating of their branch existing in the seagoing forces, except that artificers and artisans will not be entered below acting 4th class, thus—

A candidate for entry as a Will be entered as
Stoker … … … … … Stoker 2nd class.
Artificer (engine-room, electrical, ord-
nance, shipwright) Engine-room (&c.) artificer,
4th class (acting).