§ 14. Sir J. Maitlandasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will now state the results of his reconsideration of the upper yardmen scheme.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingRevised arrangements for the selection and training of upper yardmen have now been made, to accord with the new training scheme for all General List officers, as recently announced. These revised arrangements will start in September, 1961.
Selected ratings under 21, with the necessary minimum educational qualifications, will take a two years' academic course at Dartmouth leading to "A" level passes in mathematics and physics in the G.C.E. examination. Ratings without the initial educational qualifications but otherwise recommended, will be given special facilities to reach them for one year at a training establishment.
After the first term at Dartmouth, ratings will appear before the Final Admiralty Interview Board and on passing will be promoted to cadet. At the end of the two-year course, successful upper yardmen cadets will be promoted to midshipmen and will join the Fleet at sea. Thereafter their training will merge with the direct entry midshipmen.
These arrangements will need to be reviewed if experience shows that sufficient candidates of the right educational quality are not forthcoming.