Rank Requirements
Naval Establishment - Crown Forces North America
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| David May Jr. sitting before the Lieutenant's Board held at Fort Malden in 2007. |
12 June 2004
Admiral Commanding
Honourary appointment. Candidate shall be selected from list of command-qualified Post Captains.
Post Captain
Candidates shall possess a CCG/MoT 60-Ton Limited Waters Command Qualification with Sail Endorsement, or an equivalent USCG-certified or United Kingdom MoT qualification or parallel certification (e.g. British Yachtmaster minimum with additional certification) and an acceptable record of command of multi-masted traditional-rig vessels, or professional certification as a practitioner of a naval/marine art or skill that historically was recognized by the granting of Post rank or its equivalent, e.g. Dockyard Captain. A further qualification shall be an acceptable degree of historical knowledge about the Navy of 1792-1815.  |
| Acting Lt. P. Schifferdecker sits for his Exam before the Board at the School of the Sailor 2005. |
Commander
Candidates shall possess a demonstrable record of offshore and/or coastal command of a licenced or privately-owned traditional-rig vessel and/or modern yacht or vessel with sufficiently traditional aspects to the rig and operation, and a demonstrable record of command of a flotilla (more than two) of traditional small craft in the execution of naval evolutions under sail and oar. Candidates shall demonstrate the ability to teach traditional-rig seamanship in gaff-, lug-, and gunter-rigged vessels, and instruct in all aspects of boatwork. Historical knowledge of the Navy of 1792-1815 shall be an additional requirement.
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| Acting Lt. Wm. Wand arrives for his Lieutenant’s Exam before the Board. |
Candidates shall have passed, or will be confirmed by passing at a convenient School Of The Sailor, a
Board which shall examine him/her on elements of seamanship; navigation; shiphandling; boatwork, to include demonstrable experience* of command of both a single open boat and a formation of boats, on detached service; naval organization; discipline; small arms and weaponry; personal example and the leadership of re-enactment naval personnel; and naval historical knowledge of the Navy of 1792-1815. Such candidates shall make application to sit their Board upon successful completion of two (2) seasons' activity as a naval re-enactor of whatever rank within the programmes of Crown Forces North America. Candidates may be nominated by Post Captains to sit their Board if deemed by performance to have merited it.
*through submission of written certificates or written and/or spoken testimony of others who have taken part in the exercise.
Warrant Officers
Warrant Officers shall be offered the King's Warrant in their chosen field of expertise upon demonstration of a suitable level of recognized and official competence in that field; e.g. Master Gunners must have satisfied all requirements for gunnery training as provided for by the Canadian Parks Service, The US Parks Service, and/or similar agencies in the United Kingdom or elsewhere; Boatswains shall be certified by individuals at the Post Captain rank and/or traditional-rig vessel operators outside of the CFNA programme of their competence in marine arts: rigging, ropework, sail handling, gear and tackle, boatwork; work aloft (as appropriate) and the demonstrated capacity to (a) stand a watch in command of the vessel under the supervision of the Officer of the Watch or the vessel's Master/Captain; (b) coxswain and command a ship's boat under oar and sail; and (c) demonstrate if required to examiners an acceptable level of ropework, knot-tying, rigging and sail knowledge, helmsmanship and ship husbandry. Such examination may take place at the School of the Sailor as and if required by the warranting officer(s).
Petty Officers
Petty Officers shall be appointed as the Post Captain, Commander, or Lieutenant of the ship's company or vessel to whom the seaman shall belong, on satisfactory demonstration of (a) the basic seaman's arts and ability to "hand, reef, and steer"; (b) leadership skills and suitability, and (c) historical knowledge of the Navy of 1792-1815.
Seaman
Individual members of naval re-enactment groups who form part of the Crown Forces North America shall for confidential bookkeeping purposes be entered as Landsmen until in the judgment of the Petty and Warrant officers who have sailed with the individual in question, he or she can be reported to have mastered a basic level of seamanship and awareness of the seaman's art, through successful attendance at one or more Schools of the Sailor, experience afloat, and/or having satisfied his/her superior officers as indicated above of suitability to be entered as a Seaman. The term Seaman is ONLY to be applied to an individual who has proven himself/herself to be an asset afloat, not a liability, and shall be a coveted designation much sought after.
Addendum
Aside from Sea Officers or the "people", portrayals of other roles in the Georgian Navy such as Chaplain, Surgeon, etc., shall be entertained and welcomed in Naval Establishment activities provided an acceptable level of historical accuracy in clothing, equipment, behavior and appearance is forthcoming, as provided for by the general regulations of Crown Forces North America. In all other respects ,simply deciding to wear the uniform of a given rank and/or function in the Royal Navy or Provincial Marine of 1792-1815 shall not lead to an official event role within the Naval Establishment in that rank or function, even if the individual---and he or she is free to do---chooses to attend a Crown Forces event in naval dress as a member of CFNA. Actual roles and responsibilities in the deployment of boats and ships serving at events as part of the Naval Establishment, CFNA, shall only be assigned to those who have satisfied the above rank requirements and can "walk the talk".
I have the Honour to be,
Sir
Your with great Regard
Victor Suthren
Squadron Commodore pro tem
Naval Establishment
Crown Forces North America
