MISSION  OF  THE  CHIEF OF  CHAPLAINS To direct, administer, and manage the Navy   Chaplain   Corps   and   implement religious  ministries  to  meet  the  needs  of personnel  in  the  naval  service  and  their dependents  in  their  pursuit  of  the  free exercise  of  religion. Figure 1-4.—Mission of the Chief of Chaplains. HISTORY  OF  THE  RELIGIOUS PROGRAM  SPECIALIST (RP)  RATING As  previously  stated,  the  Religious  Program Specialist  (RP)  rating  was  officially  established effective 15 January 1979. However, the concept of a chaplain’s assistant dates back to 1878 when a  committee  of  chaplains  recommended  to  the Navy  Department  that  a  chaplain’s  assistant  be assigned to each ship that had a chaplain aboard. This  assistant  would  have  been  a  schoolmaster who  could  play  organ  music  and  lead  singing. Although the recommendation was not adopted, the idea was given support by successive genera- tions  of  chaplains. SPECIALIST  (W) Early in 1942 the Navy Department took the first steps which led to the establishment of the Specialist (W) rating to assist Navy chaplains. The “(W)” referred to welfare and it was decided that this rate would be established only for the dura- tion   of   World   War   II.   The   first   officially designated  Specialist  (W)  in  the  history  of  the Navy  was  W. Everett   Hendricks   who   was authorized  to  enlist  on  23  April  1942  with  the rating of Specialist (W) first class. Hendricks was assigned duty in the Office of the Chaplain at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was recognized as a talented musician and choir director and contributed significantly to the suc- cess 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 1-5 specialist ratings were identified in this directive including  Specialist  (W).  Those  individuals  in- terested  in  the  Specialist  (W)  rating  were  directed to obtain information regarding specific qualifica- tions  from  the  Chief  of  Chaplains. Following the directive which established the 11 specialist ratings, a circular was prepared and distributed  by  the  Chaplains  Division  which outlined the required qualifications for Specialist (W). A college education was identified as being desirable   for   applicants   but   not   absolutely necessary. Every Specialist (W) had to be able to play the piano and organ for religious services and other gatherings. Also, the Specialist (W) was ex- pected  to  be  a  competent  choir  director.  Just  as RPs today cannot exercise any of the ministerial functions of the clergy, a Specialist (W) was not expected  to  serve  as  a  religious  leader.  The  cir- cular did state that applicants should be willing to serve anywhere and under any conditions. Ac- cepted applicants under 25 years of age were given a third class rating; those between 25 and 28 were given a second class rating; and those over 28 were given  a  first  class  rating.  Those  personnel  who enlisted directly into the rating were sent to a train- ing station for naval indoctrination before being assigned  duties  with  a  chaplain. The Bureau of Naval Personnel ruled against Specialists (W) serving aboard ship. It was decided that they would be used only within the limits of the  continental  United  States  and  at  selected overseas   bases.   Religious   Program   Specialists today  are  afforded  a  much  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  per- sonnel,  chaplains  had  found  it  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 Specialists 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