Midshipman

From Freepedia

For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish

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In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a subordinate officer, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank. The word derives from the part of ship, amidships, where they were usually stationed.

Royal Navy

In the Royal Navy, the rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks, and is the second lowest rank of officer, above that of Officer Cadet. Although not commissioned, midshipmen are treated for most intents as commissioned officers, and rank immediately below Second Lieutenants in the British Army and Pilot Officers in the Royal Air Force. A midshipman's rank insignia, which has changed little since Napoleonic times, is a white patch with a buttonhole and gold button on each side of the coat collar.

Midshipmen were formerly appointed by warrant or simply entered onto a ship's books, but today hold their ranks by Admiralty Board orders. In Napoleonic times boys could only be rated midshipmen after two years at sea, after which they were eligible to sit the examination for Lieutenant after a further four years, being at least 19 years of age. Today the rank is only held by officers under the age of 20, their elders being appointed Sub-Lieutenants from that age.

In Royal Navy slang, midshipmen are sometimes referred to as snotties, and a somewhat dubious urban legend states that the three buttons formerly on the jacket cuffs of the midshipman were placed there to prevent him wiping his nose on his sleeve [1].

Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British officer ranks
	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1	OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Royal Navy:	OCdt	Mid	SLt	Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Admiral of the Fleet
Royal Marines:	OCdt		2Lt - Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army:	OCdt	OD	2Lt - Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	Field Marshal
Royal Air Force:	OCdt	OD	PO - FO	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	ACdre	AVM	AM	ACM	MRAF

United States Navy

In the United States Navy a Midshipman is for all intents and purposes an officer cadet although the rank is still an appointed officer rank in the Navy. The term "cadet" is incorrect and inappropriate as in the Navy and Marine Corps, a "cadet" refers to a high school student in NJROTC. The collar and sleeve insignia varies by school year, but officers' uniforms are worn. A Freshman wears no collar insignia, a Sophomore wears a single fouled anchor on the right collar point, a Junior fouled anchors on each collar point, and a Senior wears eagles perched on fouled anchors, or an officer rank. Shoulder boards and the lapels of the service dress blue uniforms have a gold anchor, except for Midshipman officers, whose shoulder boards have a small gold star and horizontal stripes indicating their rank. Midshipmen officer ranks are those of the U.S. Navy, but the collar insignia are gold bars, for the ranks of Midshipman Ensign (one bar or stripe) to Midshipman Captain (six bars or stripes) in the Brigade of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval ROTC, with the highest Midshipman grade being Midshipman Commander for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. A Naval Academy Midshipman receives about $750 a month for expenses, but it is usually greatly reduced by books, barber, and uniform bills. NROTC Midshipmen receive a $250 to $400 monthly stipend if they are on scholarship or advanced standing after their sophomore year. All NROTC Midshipmen receive uniforms, typically service dress blues, summer khakis, summer whites and dress whites. Some units may issue camouflauge utility uniforms to the majority of students, but all Marine Option students receive them.

The Midshipmen is also the name for sports teams fielded by the U.S. Naval Academy.

The word midshipman derives from the part of ship between the bow (front) and stern (back), "amidships," which was their station.

Image:USN Midshipman Insignia.png

Note: NROTC refers to Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps

See also

• Comparative military ranks