experiment,   Specialists   (W)   started   attending some   of   the   classes   at   the   Chaplains’   School located   in   Norfolk,   Virginia.   This   experiment was  so  successful  that  the  Chaplains  Division decided to 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 included  instruction  in:  naval  etiquette;  naval correspondence; clerical  procedures;  choir organization;  rehearsal  procedures;  Navy  Relief; music  for  Protestant,  Roman  Catholic,  and Jewish services; military weddings and funerals; and,   some   practical   application   in   shorthand and  typing.  Many  of  these  same  or  similar  sub- jects  are  being  taught  in  the  RP  “A”  school  to- day  located  at  Keesler  Air  Force  Base,  Biloxi, Mississippi. Between  April  1942  and  August  1945,  the Bureau   of   Naval   Personnel   selected   509 applicants  for  the  Specialist  (W)  rating  out  of 1,455   applications.   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 being the first individual to receive this rating. A total of 30 Specialists (W) were ad- vanced  to  chief  petty  officer  and  most  of  these senior petty officers were assigned to large train- ing  centers  and  in  the  offices  of  District,  Force, and 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, DC.   The   first “WAVES”   to   attend   the Chaplains’ School in June 1944 were recognized as   highly   motivated,   dedicated,   and   conscien- tious students. The  first  member  of  the  Coast  Guard  to receive  the  rate  of  Specialist  (W)  was  Emil Zemanel  in  November  1943.  Thirty-five  men and 12 women of the Coast Guard were assigned this rating and 30 of these individuals attended the  Chaplain’s  School.  The  Coast  Guard  as- signed  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. Thirty-five   members   of   the   Marine   Corps Women’s  Reserve  became  Chaplain’s  Assistants in  addition  to  the  105  active  duty  Marines. Unlike  the  Navy  and  Coast  Guard  who  insti- tuted  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 Specialists (W) Chaplains’   correspondence   contains   many references   attributed   specifically   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  instrumental  or  vocal music  for  services.  Also,  the  Specialist  (W)  was made  available  to  provide  special  music  for funerals,  weddings,  and  for  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 assist- ant  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 rate 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 1-10