require  all  new  Specialists  (W)  to  take  a  course of  indoctrination  at  the  chaplains’  school. The   8-week   course   of   indoctrination   for Specialist  (W)  training  at  the  chaplains’  school  in- cluded   instruction   in   naval   etiquette;   choir organization; rehearsal procedures; Navy Relief; music   for   Protestant,   Roman   Catholic,   and Jewish services; military weddings and funerals; and some practical applications in shorthand and typing.  Many  of  these  same  subjects,  or  similar ones, are being taught today in the RP A school, which is located at the Naval Technical Training Center,   Treasure   Island,   San   Francisco, California. Between  April  1942  and  August  1945,  the Bureau of Naval Personnel selected 509 applicants for the Specialist (W) rating out of 1,455 applica- tions.  Approximately  350  of  the  specialist  selectees attended   the   indoctrination   course   at   the chaplains’ school. This training helped Specialist (W) petty officers to advance quite rapidly. Alfred R. Markin was advanced to Chief Specialist (W) on 29 February 1944 and is recognized as the first individual  to  advance  to  this  rate.  A  total  of  30 specialists   (W)   were   advanced   to   chief   petty officer,  and  most  of  these  senior  petty  officers were assigned to large training centers and in the offices  of  district,  force,  or  fleet  chaplains. Women  also  distinguished  themselves  as Specialists  (W)  during  the  war.  Thirty-eight WAVES  were  selected  to  serve  in  the  rating. Virginia  T.  Moore  was  the  first  woman  to  be selected  as  a  Specialist  (W)  and  was  subsequently assigned duty in November 1943 in Washington, D.C.  The  first  WAVES  to  attend  the  chaplains’ school  in  June  1944  were  recognized  as  highly motivated,  dedicated,  and  conscientious  students. The  first  member  of  the  Coast  Guard  to receive  the  rating  of  Specialist  (W)  was  Emil Zemarel in November 1943. Thirty-five men and twelve women of the Coast Guard were assigned to  this  rating,  and  thirty  of  these  individuals attended the chaplains’ school. The Coast Guard assigned some of the men of this rating to ships. Specialists With the Marines In February 1942, before the Navy had taken action  in  regard  to  Specialists  (W),  the  Marine Corps established a rating known as Chaplain’s Assistant  (SSN534).  The  first  marine  to  receive the new classification was Gilbert Dean Arnold, who  was  made  a  master  technical  sergeant,  the equivalent  of  a  chief  petty  officer  in  the  Navy. In addition to 105 active duty marines, thirty-five members of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve became  Chaplain’s  Assistants.  Unlike  the  Navy and  Coast  Guard,  who  instituted  the  Specialist (W)  as  a  wartime  measure,  the  Marine  Corps announced that it intended to retain its rating of Chaplain’s  Assistant  after  the  war. Performance Appraisal of Specialist  (W) Chaplains’  correspondence  contains  many references attributed to the outstanding work of the Specialist (W). As a chaplain’s assistant, the specialist  took  care  of  many  details  relating  to worship  services.  This  included  preparing  worship folders  and  bulletins,  sending  out  publicity, rigging  chapel  spaces,  and  providing  instru- mental   or   vocal   music   for   services.   Also,   the Specialist  (W)  was  made  available  to  provide special  music  for  funerals,  weddings,  and  other occasions. Since Specialists (W) often served as managers of the chaplain’s office, they were called upon to answer  many  questions  from  sailors  and  their dependents.  An  efficient  assistant  was  able  to answer  many  routine  inquiries,  thus  relieving  the chaplain  for  other  important  duties  and  problems. Chaplains   who   knew   from   experience   the value  of  Specialists  (W)  often  had  occasion  to voice  their  opinions  concerning  the  lack  of  such assistants when transferred to ships or stations where this rating was not assigned. After the war was over, Specialists (W) began to  disappear  from  the  offices  and  worship  services of  the  chaplains.  In  spite  of  the  desire  of  the chaplains’  division  to  retain  this  rating,  the Department of the Navy decided that Specialist (W) was an emergency rating only. Upon the loss of  these  trained  assistants,  chaplains  found themselves having to return to prewar practices to  obtain  the  musical  talent  formerly  found  in their respective units. Such assistance often had to be obtained from outside sources. In addition, the Specialist (W) was no longer present to pro- vide the valued administrative assistance as in the past. The  Navy  Department  inaugurated  a  new rating structure on 1 April 1948. Among the new general service ratings that were established was the  rating  of  Personnelman.  Members  of  this rating  were  assigned  personnel  administration duties in various offices, including the chaplain’s office.  Personnel  of  this  rating  who  had  a  job classification   as   chaplain’s   assistant   could   be assigned duty with chaplains. 1-7