Great Lakes, Illinois. He was recognized as a talented musician and choir director and contributed significantly to the success of the famed Great Lakes’ Bluejacket Choir. Chief Specialist "W" Alfred R. Markin Between April 1942 and August 1945, the Bureau of Naval Personnel selected 509 individuals for the Specialist (W) rating out of 1,455 applicants. Alfred R. Markin was advanced to Chief Specialist (W) in February 1944 and is recognized as being the first individual to be advanced to chief petty officer in this rating. A total of 30 Specialists (W) were advanced to chief petty officer, and most of these senior petty officers were assigned to large training centers and in the offices of district, force, and fleet chaplains. Chaplains Assistant (SSN534) Also in 1942, the Marine Corps established a rating known as Chaplain's Assistant (SSN534). The first Marine to receive the new classification was Gilbert Dean Arnold, who was made a Gunnery Sergeant, the equivalent of a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. Thirty-five members of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve became Chaplain's Assistants in addition to the 105 active duty Marines. Unlike the Navy and Coast Guard who instituted the Specialist (W) as a wartime measure, the Marine Corps announced that it intended to retain its rating of Chaplain's Assistant after the war. Personnelmen and Yeoman Chaplain's Professional Assistant (YN-2525) In April 1948, the Navy established the Personnelman rating. Included in the job classification for this rating was Chaplain's Assistant. From 1945 to 1979, the Yeoman rating furnished personnel in the Chaplain's Clerk specialty (YN 2525) to aide and support Navy chaplains in their efforts to provide quality ministry. Before a Yeoman could be assigned to a chaplain, however, the command chaplain had to go through the lengthy and time-consuming process of justifying the need for a YN 2525 billet. As a result, the establishment of a permanent rating to support the Navy's chaplains remained a primary goal of the Chief of Chaplains. 15 January 1979 The 101-year quest for a permanent chaplain's assistant rating was finally realized on 15 January 1979 when the Secretary of the Navy approved the establishment of the Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating. Stringent selection requirements were set, and personnel requesting lateral conversions from other ratings to the RP rating had to be interviewed and recommended by a Navy chaplain. Requirements to cross-rate to RP in 1979 Chaplain's Endorsement Commanding Officer's Recommendation