Selection  and  Training of Specialists (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. Most of these specialists received  their  indoctrination  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  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   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, sacred   music   for   divine   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  indi- viduals 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 recognized  as  being  the  first  individual  to  be advanced  to  chief  petty  officer  in  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  subsequently assigned duty in November 1943 in the Nation’s Capital.  The  first  “WAVES”  to  attend  the Chaplains  School  in  June  1944  were  recognized as   highly   motivated,   dedicated,   and   conscien- tious students. Specialists With the Marines In  February  1942  before  the  Navy  Depart- ment  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  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. NOTE:  Until  the  RP  rating  reaches  full strength  in  approximately  1986,  Marine  Corps Specialists will continue to be employed to assist in  managing  the  Command  Religious  Program at selected locations where RPs are not assigned. Specialists With the Coast Guard The  first  member  of  the  Coast  Guard  to receive  the  rate  of  Specialist  (W)  was  Emil Zemanuel  in  November  1943.  Thirty-five  men and  twelve  women  of  the  Coast  Guard  were assigned this rating, and 30 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)”   to   assist   in   conducting   the   Com- mand  Religious  Program.  Figure  1-5  describes the  duties  of  the  YN-2525  Chaplain’s  Profes- sional Assistant designation. 1-8