customs   of   various   foreign   countries,   so   that proper respect can be paid. Chaplains need to be informed  concerning  local  religious  beliefs  and value systems in order to perform this collateral duty.  The  RP  may  be  tasked  by  the  chaplain  to research   the   religious   beliefs   of   a   particular country to determine what steps should be taken to  show  the  country  and  its  citizens  the  proper respect. HISTORY  OF  THE  RELIGIOUS PROGRAM  SPECIALIST  (RP) RATING The concept of chaplain’s assistant dates back to  1878  when  a  committee  of  chaplains  recom- mended  to  the  Navy  Department  that  a  chaplain’s assistant  be  assigned  to  each  ship  that  had  a chaplain  assigned.  This  assistant  would  have  been a schoolmaster who could play the organ and lead singing.  Although  the  recommendation  was  not adopted,  the  idea  was  given  support  by  successive generations  of  chaplains. THE   CHAPLAIN’S   SPECIALIST— SPECIALIST  (W) Early in 1942 the Navy Department took the first steps which led to the establishment of the Specialist (W) rating for chaplain’s assistant. The (W)  referred  to  welfare  and  it  was  decided  that this  rating  would  be  established  only  for  the  dura- tion   of   World   War   II.   The   first   officially designated  chaplain’s  assistant  in  the  history  of the  Navy  was  W.  Everett  Hendricks.  He  was authorized to enlist on 23 April 1942 with the rate of   Specialist   (W)   first   class.   Hendricks   was assigned  to  duty  in  the  chaplain’s  office  of  the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was  a  talented  musician  and  choir  leader  and  had much to do with the success of the famed Great Lakes’  Bluejacket  Choir. The first publicity that was given to the new rating  by  the  Bureau  of  Naval  Personnel  (now Naval   Military   Personnel   Command)   actually appeared   in   a   directive   dated   25   June   1942 addressed to the Navy Recruiting Service. Eleven specialist  ratings  were  identified  in  this  directive, including Welfare or Chaplain’s Assistant. Those interested   in   Specialist   (W)   were   directed   to obtain  information  regarding  specific  qualifica- tions  from  the  Chief  of  Chaplains. This directive was followed by a circular that outlined the required qualifications for Specialist (W).  The  circular  was  prepared  and  distributed by  the  chaplains  division.  A  college  education  was identified  as  being  desirable  but  not  absolutely necessary  for  applicants.  Every  Specialist  (W)  had to be able to play the piano and organ for religious services  and  other  gatherings.  Also,  the  Specialist (W)   was   expected   to   be   a   competent   choir director. Just as RPs today cannot exercise any of the ministerial  functions  of  a  member  of  the  clergy, a  Specialist  (W)  was  not  expected  to  serve  as  a religious  leader.  The  circular  stated  specifically that  the  specialist  should  be  willing  to  serve anywhere  and  under  any  conditions. Applicants  under  25  years  of  age  who  were accepted  were  given  a  third  class  rate;  those between 25 and 28 were given a second class rate; and  those  over  28  were  given  a  first  class  rate. Those  personnel  who  enlisted  directly  into  the rating  were  sent  to  a  training  station  for  naval indoctrination before being assigned duties with a  chaplain. The  Bureau  of  Naval  Personnel  ruled  that Specialists  (W)  could  not  serve  aboard  ship.  It  was decided that they would be used only within the limits  of  the  continental  United  States  and  at selected  overseas  bases.  RPs  today  are  afforded a greater variety of duty assignments, including serving aboard numerous types of naval vessels. The  possibility  of  having  Specialists  (W) assigned throughout the Naval Shore Establish- ment  was  greeted  with  enthusiasm  by  Navy chaplains.  Because  of  the  constant  transfer  of personnel,  chaplains  had  found  it  extremely difficult to maintain qualified musicians at their commands.  The  assignment  of  Specialists  (W) helped  to  solve  this  problem,  and  chaplains throughout  the  Navy  hastened  to  help  qualified applicants  become  Specialists  (W). SELECTION  AND  TRAINING  OF SPECIALIST  (W) Most of the applicants for Specialist (W) had backgrounds  as  music  teachers,  professional musicians, or as church ministers-of-music. Many were  also  graduates  of  the  leading  schools  of music  in  the  country.  Initially,  these  specialists received  their  training  directly  from  the  chaplains; however, this system proved to be inadequate. In the  fall  of  1942,  as  part  of  an  experiment, Specialists  (W)  started  attending  some  of  the classes  at  the  chaplains’  school  located  at Norfolk,  Virginia.    This   experiment   was   so successful that the chaplains’ division decided to 1-6