Fleet Board
Encyclopedia
Fleet Board is a term in the Royal Navy
for the examination cadet
officers take which qualifies them to become commissioned officers.
After passing the examination, officers who entered as sub-lieutenant
s have their commissions backdated to the date when they entered the Royal Navy. Midshipmen
are also considered commissioned officers at this point, but are not immediately promoted to sub-lieutenant. Between 1955 and 1993, midshipmen were promoted to the rank acting
sub-lieutenant
after passing the fleet board, but today this rank is only used in the Royal Navy Reserve. After 1955, Midshipmen were no longer allowed to serve in the fleet as officers, so in practice they only serve a few weeks as commissioned midshipmen while completing their post-examination training.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
for the examination cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
officers take which qualifies them to become commissioned officers.
After passing the examination, officers who entered as sub-lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
s have their commissions backdated to the date when they entered the Royal Navy. Midshipmen
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
are also considered commissioned officers at this point, but are not immediately promoted to sub-lieutenant. Between 1955 and 1993, midshipmen were promoted to the rank acting
Acting (rank)
An Acting rank, is a military designation allowing an commissioned- or non-commissioned officer to assume a rank—usually higher and usually temporary—with the pay and allowances appropriate to that grade. As such, an officer may be ordered back to the previous grade...
sub-lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
after passing the fleet board, but today this rank is only used in the Royal Navy Reserve. After 1955, Midshipmen were no longer allowed to serve in the fleet as officers, so in practice they only serve a few weeks as commissioned midshipmen while completing their post-examination training.