Forward turret crew Gunner's Mates aboard the USS Alabama pose by the breech of one of the ship's guns in 1903. History Her keel was laid down on 1 December 1896 at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, by the William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Two of these men wear ex-apprentice marks (figure "8" knot badges).

A Boy Seaman (plural Boy seamen) is a boy (male minor) who serves as seaman and/or is trained for such service. BOY is a Canadian Indie pop band The band consists of vocalist and general instrumentalist Stephen Kozmeniuk, drummer Maurie Kaufmann,

Royal Navy

In the British naval forces, where recruitment of enough hands to man the vast fleet needed by the British Empire, extensive regulations concern the selection and status of boys enlisted to keep filling the ranks. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power.

Various specific terms were introduced for different, age- and exam-related stages in a boy's potential career:

• Apprentice - Boy aged 16 to 18 trained in technical skills at the Dockyard Schools to become an Artificer (nicknamed "Plumber"). Apprenticeship is a system of Training a new generation of practitioners of a skill Artificer could refer to A person who makes Artifacts * Artificer Sergeant Major, an appointment held by a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Corps of

• Boy, as rated (after World War II known as a 'Junior'): Aged between 15½ and 18. On a boy's 18th birthday he automatically became rated as an Ordinary Seaman and was subject to the Naval Discipline Act as applicable to adult seamen. In the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century the term Ordinary Seaman was used to refer to a Seaman with between one and two years' experience at sea
• Boy 1st Class - A boy aged 16 to 18 under training, who had previously served for between 9 months and 18 months rated as Boy 2nd Class, shown sufficient proficiency in seamanship and accumulated at least one Good Conduct Badge (the requirements varied between training ships). His rate of pay was increased on being promoted.
• Boy 2nd Class - A boy aged 15 to 17 rated as such on entry to a training ship of the Royal Navy. Such entry was conditional on a boy's adequate physical height, weight and medical fitness and evidence of being of 'good character'. The boy's parents or guardians would sign a declaration that the boy would serve in the Navy for a minimum period (usually 12 years).
• Boy 3rd Class - A boy aged 14 to 18 who served either as a domestic (waiter, steward) aboard the port flagships or as a junior clerk or storekeeper in the ports. He would be eligible for entry to a training ship as a Boy 2nd Class from age 15 if he met the physical requirements. The majority of such boys were enlisted from homes in the ports and were not wholly resident on ships or in the dockyards.

• Cadet - Boy aged 13 to 15 enlisted to become officers and trained on a training ship reserved for such schooling; the last was HMS "Britannia" moored at Dartmouth. This article refers to the general definition of cadet A Cadet may also be a member of the Cadets, a historical Russian Political party.
• Midshipman - A boy aged 16 to 18 serving aboard a seagoing ship, having passed out of the cadet ship and undergoing further training before being promoted to the fully-commissioned officer rank of Sub-Lieutenant. For the fish called midshipman see Midshipman fish. The rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks still in existence Sub-Lieutenant is a military rank It is normally a junior officer rank

Source

• CorPun- Glossary