From midshipmen/kadett/aspirant/whatever to Admiral

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Something to keep in mind - purely as reminder - that navies don't spring up overnight.
This is a fragment of a post by the well regarded New Golconda. On the early days of the RAN.
NOTE:
Sub Lieut. = Sub Leftenant = lowest officer rank, not SUBMARINE Leftenent
commander = if not capitalised = customary title of second in command in RN

http://www.bobhenneman.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1215&start=45
Borys

The first midshipmen of the 1913 class graduated in 1916 and were immediately shipped to the UK, where they did their RN courses and commenced programs of service in Grand Fleet battleships, as well as smaller and specialist ship types as would their RN contemporaries. By the time they shipped home in 1919 they had completed their Sub lt specialists courses and were ready for service as LT's. These officers were the most senior RAN personnel up to the desired RN standard and the RN would be largely or completely dependent on loan officers for the grades above this until these officers reached flag rank in 1944/45.

Career path for the best 30-40% of officers might go like this.

1913 Midshipman college (14-15).
1916-7 Grand fleet sea time (17-18).
1918-19 Destroyer, Submarine sea time, courses, Sub Lt.(19-20)
1920-21 Lieutenant – specialist courses for some officers, general service for others. (22-23)
1926-27 Lieutenant Cmdr senior specialist, destroyer CO or first lieutenant. (28-29)
1934-35 Commander, Brass Hat. No more specialist roles. Destroyer or sloop CO (division leader) commander in a cruiser, staff courses, staff appointments, shore commands (36-37).
1938-39 Captain – cruiser command, senior staff courses, senior staff appointments, (40-42)
1943-44 Captain - major unit commands, commodore of squadrons etc (45-46).
1947-48 Rear Admiral (48-50)
1951-52 VA (53-54)

Midshipman up to Lt Cdr was a fairly orderly progression. Lt Cdr to Commander was a major filtering point with only the best and brightest making it through. Certain milestones were expected to be met. For example a Captain without a major unit command was unlikely to go to flag rank. A rear admiral was expected to command a battleship squadron before he went to Vice Admiral.

RAN officers were exchanged with RN officers (exchange rather than loan) through their careers to fill in the blanks.