YEOMAN CHAPLAIN’S PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT

music in the country. Most of these specialists received their indoctrination directly from the chaplains. However, this system proved to be in- adequate. In the fall of 1942 as part of an experi- ment, Specialists (W) started attending some of the classes at the Chaplains School located in Norfolk, Virginia (now located in Newport, Rhode Island). This experiment was so successful that the Chaplains Division decided to require all new Specialists (W) to attend a course of indoc- trination 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 services (Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish), military weddings and funerals, and some practical application in shorthand and typing. Many of these same or similar subjects are being taught in the RP “A” and “C” schools today located at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Between April 1942 and August 1945, the Bureau of Naval Personnel selected 509 in- dividuals for the Specialist (W) rating out of 1,455 applicants. Approximately 350 of the Specialist (W) selectees attended the indoctrination course at the Chaplains School. This training helped Specialist (W) petty officers advance quite rapidly. Alfred R. Markin was advanced to Chief Specialist (W) in February 1944 and is recog- nized as being the first individual to receive this rating. 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, 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 subse- quently assigned duty in November 1943 in the Nation’s Capital. The first “WAVES” to attend the Chaplains School in June 1944 were recog- nized as highly motivated, dedicated, and conscientious students. Specialists With the Marines In February 1942, before the Navy Depart- ment had taken action in regard to Specialists (W), 1-6 the Marine Corps established a career field 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 instituted the Specialist (W) rating as a war- time measure, the Marine Corps announced originally that it intended to retain its career field of chaplain’s assistant after the war; however, it did not retain these assistants. The Commandant of the Marine Corps did approve the use of Marines (MOS 0151) in 1976 to perform duties with Navy chaplains. NOTE: Until the RP rating reaches full strength in approximately 1986, Marine Corps chaplain assistants will continue to be employed to assist in managing the Command Religious Program at selected locations are not assigned or at full strength. Specialists With the Coast Guard The first member of the Coast receive the rate of Specialist (W) where RPs Guard to was Emil Zemanuel in November 1943. Thirty-five men and twelve women of the Coast Guard were assigned this rating; and thirty of these individuals attended the Navy Chaplains School. The Coast Guard assigned some of the men of this rating to ships. YEOMAN CHAPLAIN’S PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT Until 1979 personnel of the Yeoman rating were often designated as the “Chaplain’s Clerk (YN-2525)” whose duty was to assist in con- ducting the Command Religious Program. Figure 1-5 describes the duties of the YN-2525 chaplain’s professional assistant designation. Before a Yeoman would normally be as- signed to the office of the chaplain, the command chaplain would have to justify the need for a YN-2525 billet. This proved to be a time- consuming process and placed the CRP in direct competition with other command departments for the services of personnel. Unqualified personnel (those lacking the YN-2525 designation) were often assigned to the office of the chaplain as temporary solutions to manning problems.