for instruction as seamen gunners.
(2) Men not over thirty years of age, with good records, hold-
ing the rating of chief water tender, water tender, oiler, or fire-
man first class, having an average mark in both mechanical ability
and knowledge of marine machinery taken from enlistment record,
of not less than 75 per cent, who are recommended by their com-
manding officers, are eligible, on reenlistment, for detail for
instruction in the trade of machinist.
(3) The proficiency of men who take the prescribed course of
instruction for seamen gunners or petty officers shall be deter-
mined by the report to the Bureau of Navigation of the officer
under whose supervision the course is taken.
Certificates of 786. Men who have successfully completed a prescribed course
graduation. o f instruction for seamen gunners or petty officers may be given,
by the Bureau of Navigation, a certificate to that effect, which
shall entitle them to receive two dollars per month in addition to
the pay of the rating in which they are serving ; such certificates
to continue in force only during the enlistments in which the
men were respectively graduated, unless renewed by reenlistment
within four months from date of honorable discharge. This pro-
vision shall take effect from and after July 1, 1905; but any
enlisted man then in the service who holds such a certificate shall
not be deprived of the benefits of the same during the term of
enlistment under which he is then serving. (Art. 1134, par. 1.)
787. Men holding certificates as seamen gunners are entitled
to the pay prescribed for said rating and to reenlist as such.
Restrictions as 788. No person shall be reduced below the rating in which he
lgs> was received on board, except as provided for in article 774, or by
order of the Navy Department, or by sentence of a court-martial.
(A. G. N., 30 and 31.)
Changes inrat- 789. Whenever a change of rating takes place, the captain shall
give the pay officer an order in writing, stating the change of
rating and the date it takes effect, and furnish the same informa-
tion to the Bureau of Navigation.
Naturalization. 790.- Any alien of the age of twenty-one years and upward who
has enlisted or may enlist in the United States Navy or Marine
Corps, and has served or may hereafter serve five consecutive
years in the United States Navy, or one enlistment in the United
States Marine Corps, and has been or may hereafter be honorably
discharged, shall be admitted to become a citizen of the United
States upon his petition, without any previous declaration of his
intention to become such; and the court admitting such alien
shall, in addition to proof of good moral character, be satisfied by
competent proof of such person's service in and honorable dis-
CHAP. XVII.] TRANSFERS. 183
charge from the United States Navy or Marine Corps. (Act of
July 26, 1894.)
SECTION 6. TRANSFERS.
791. (1) The transfer of an enlisted man from one ship or From one ghlp
station to another, other than as provided for in articles 425, [ station to an-
792, and 1697, paragraph 2, shall only be made as follows:
(a) In home ports, by order of the Bureau of Navigation.
(6) In foreign waters, by order of the coimnander-in-chief or a
squadron commander on detached service, when the interests of
the service require it.
(2) Transfers for temporary service between the ships of a
fleet or squadron may be made at any time by the commander-in-
chief or the senior officer present.
(3) All transfers, whether permanent or for temporary service,
shall be reported to the Bureau of Navigation.
(4) Men enlisted iu the insular force shall not be detailed for
duty on vessels other than those on the station where the men
enlisted, and upon such vessel leaving the station men belonging
to the insular force shall be transferred to a vessel remaining on
the station, unless they make request in writing to remain on
the vessel to which attached and to be discharged wherever the
vessel may be at expiration of enlistment. Such request must be
witnessed as called for in paragraph 2, article 800, and attached
to the man's enlistment record.
(5) All men about to be transferred shall be sent for physical
examination to the medical officer who shall enter on the enlist-
ment record (health record) the medical history and condition
of health. Those found to be suffering from infectious, con-
tagious, or active venereal disease which, in the opinion of the
medical officer, would constitute a menace to the health of other
I>ersons, shall not be transferred, except in an emergency, when
the medical officer shall submit a full report thereon with such
recommendations as he may deem advisable. This report shall
accompany the men on transfer to another ship or station. (Art.
9(51. par. 3.)
792. (1) Sick persons may be sent to a hospital at any time Removal of
upon the recommendation of the senior medical officer or of a slck * hospital.
hoard of medical survey, approved by a commandant or senior
officer present. (Art. 961.)
(2) All cases of tuberculosis occurring on board seagoing ships Tuberculosis
which are recommended for transfer to the naval hospital at I J as cases -
Aninms, Colorado, must be sent first to the nearest naval hospital
for further disposition as directed by the^Navy Department.
(3) When any petty officer or enlisted person is sent from a Accounts of
ship to a United States naval hospital, at home or abroad, his """' *
accounts and other papers shall be sent to the receiving ship or
naval station nearest the hospital. Such transfer shall be con-
sidered as creating a vacancy, except when, in a home port, a
request to the contrary has been noted on the weekly rejwrt of
vacancies.
(4) When such transfer is made to it hospital not a naval hos-
pital, his accounts and other papers shall be retained on board,
and such transfer shall not be considered as creating a vacancy,
until the ship to which he has been attached sails from the
184 ENLISTMENTS, RATINGS, TRANSFERS, ETC. [CHAP. XVII.
vicinity of the hospital. When a man is thus left he shall be
furnished with his accounts and a copy of his enlistment record,
and the original of his enlistment record shall be sent to the
Bureau of -Navigation.
Orders upon (5) jf a man j s j n a hospital, not a naval hospital, when his
noTh^naral 11 slli P is about to depart, and there is no prospect of the immediate
hospital. arrival of another United States vessel in the port, he shall be
ordered upon his recovery to report, preferably by telegraph, to
the Bureau of Navigation for instructions. He shall be given
sufficient money, from the amount due him, to defray his nec-
essary expenses, and he shall be instructed to keep a written
account thereof upon which to base a claim for reimbursement.
He shall request the surgeon in charge to furnish him with a cer-
tificate of the dates of admission to and discharge from the
hospital.
(6) When he has not sufficient money due him, the United
States consul, if there be one, and, if none, then the surgeon in
charge of the hospital, shall be requested to take charge of him,
and upon his recovery to ask instructions, preferably by telegraph,
of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, as to what dispo-
sition shall be made of him, in which case the Bureau of Navi-
gation will provide the necessary funds.
Pay while in (7) The pay of an enlisted man, when at a hospital in the
hospital. United States, ceases when his term of enlistment expires, and he
shall be given his discharge upon the expiration of his enlistment.
He may be retained for treatment. When at a hospital on a for-
eign station his pay continues until he is regularly discharged
from the service, even after his term of enlistment has expired.
(Art. 1129, par. 2.)
if sent to (8) Persons transferred to the naval hospital at Philadelphia
Philadelphia! slia11 be directed to report to the governor of the Naval Home.
Accounts of 793. When prisoners are sent to a penitentiary under sentence
court-martial, their accounts shall be forwarded to the receiving
ship nearest the place of confinement, accompanied with a letter
of advice.
Men trans- 794. (1) The rating and pay of enlisted persons who may be
* be transferred for discharge upon expiration of enlistment or on ac-
count of having a short time to serve, shall not be changed by such
transfer.
(2) The transfer of a petty officer holding an acting appoint-
ment from one cruising ship to another, to a receiving ship, or to a
hospital for treatment, shall not involve reduction in rating.
(3) Petty officers detailed for instruction ashore shall be trans-
ferred in the ratings in which they are serving.
Transfer pa- 795. (1) In every ca'se of transfer of a man from one ship or
station to another the following papers shall be transmitted :
(a) Enlistment record, with all entries to date of transfer,
signed by the captain and the medical officer. (Art. 771, par. 4.)
(6) Clothing list.
(c) Transfer accounts.
(d) Gunnery record, if the man has one, with all entries re-
quired to date of transfer.
(2) When sent to a naval hospital, a conduct report shall ac-
company the hospital ticket, and one shall be returned with the
man when discharged therefrom.
CHAP. XVII.]
DISCHARGES.
185
Prior
Refund of
ontftt-
By purchase.
796. When men are transferred to a command without their Men trns-
accounts and other transfer papers, the commanding officer shall, th"r account's.
if necessary to obtain them, report the fact without delay to the
Bureau of Navigation, giving the names and ratings of the men
and such other information as can be procured.
SECTION 7. DISCHARGES.
797. (1) Enlisted persons in the naval service of the United When entitled
States are entitled to their discharges only upon the expiration of to dlschar e -
their terms of enlistment.
(2) No enlisted person serving in the Navy of the United States
shall be discharged therefrom prior to the completion of his term
of enlistment, except by special order of the Secretary of the
Navy, or for one of the following causes: Uudesirability, inapti-
tude, physical or mental disability, unfltness, by sentence of court-
martial, or by purchase. In every case the recommendation for
such discharge must be made by the immediate commanding officer
under whom the man may be serving. Applications for discharges
which reach the Department in any way except through said com-
manding officers shall be, without exception, disregarded.
(3) Any person discharged during the first six months of a first
enlistment for any cause other than disability incurred in the line
of duty shall have checked against his accounts prior to discharge
the cost of such portion of the outfit allowed on first enlistment
as he may have drawn.
(4) In time of peace any man, serving in his first enlistment,
who is not undergoing punishment or under charges, and is not in
debt to the Government, may after one year from the date of his
enlistment apply for the privilege of purchasing his discharge. A
man wishing this privilege shall make application through official
channels, giving his reasons in full, and shall state that he waives
all claims for trausjwrtation at government expense to his home
or the place of his enlistment, if discharged as requested. In gen-
eral, no reasons will be considered as sufficient to warrant dis-
charge unless it can be shown conclusively that they did not exist
prior to enlistment.
(~>) Upon the receipt of an application made as prescribed above,
and fulfilling the conditions given, the discharge requested may be
granted; the price of discharge to be the price of outfit furnished
on enlistment, plus two mouths' pay of the rating the applicant is
holding at the time of discharge if in the second year of his enlist-
ment, or one month's pay if in the third year. After the third
year the price of discharge shall be the price of outfit furnished on
enlistment.
(6) When an enlisted man makes application for discharge by
purchase on account of dependency of near relative, and shows in
connection therewith that a state of destitution exists, that he has
to the extent of his opportunities and ability made contributions to
the support of such relative, but that these contributions have
proved insufficient to relieve the destitution, such part of the pur-
chase price of discharge (other than the price of the outfit fur-
nished on enlistment) may be remitted as may seem proper and
necessary by reason of the inability of the enlisted man to pay the
full amount.
(7) The commanding officer shall make careful inquiry Into
the merits of each application for discharge by purchase and, in
Part of pur-
ise price re-
ng "o'mc"!
186 ENLISTMENTS, RATINGS, TRANSFERS, ETC. [CHAP. XVII.
forwarding it, shall include with his approval or disapproval any
information he may have obtained relative to the granting or
withholding of the privilege, together with the state of the man's
account.
Requests, (8) All requests for discharge by purchase shall be forwarded
^ h *' e d for ' to the Bureau of Navigation, which is authorized to act upon
them.
Date of expi- 798. The date of expiration of enlistment for persons serving
ration of enlist- (i ur ing minority shall be the day next preceding their twenty-
first birthday; that for a four years' enlistment, on the day of
the month next preceding the fourth anniversary of the date on
which enlisted.
Discharges 799. Any person serving in the Navy may, when within the
lnlt " ^ n ited States, be discharged for either of the following reasons,
but not otherwise, except by authority of the Navy Department
(Art. 792, par. 7) :
(a) Upon the expiration of his term of service, whether en-
listed within or without the United States.
(fr) By sentence of a general court-martial.
Discharges 800. (1) No person shall be discharged outside of the United
rimed* States 1 *" States except by order of the Navy Department, or in accordance
with the sentence of a general court-martial, with the exceptions
given in the following paragraphs :
Expiration of (2) Upon the expiration of the term of enlistment of a man en-
tvriuVn'rc* uest lis * e( ^ within the United States, whose retention on board is not
essential to the government interests, he may be discharged upon
his own written request, which must state that the applicant
waives all claim for transportation at government expense to the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and all consular
aid. The original request must be signed by the applicant in the
presence of a commissioned officer of the Navy who shall also
sign thereon as a witness to the man's signature. A duplicate of
such request shall be entered on the enlistment record as soon as
granted, signed and witnessed as provided for the original.
Enlisted out- (3) Men who have enlisted outside the United States, upon the
States 1 " 6 lnlted expiration of their terms of enlistment, or upon the recommenda-
tion of a board of survey.
Convicted of (4) Men who are convicted by a consular court of a felonious
su\ar y court " on * ense ( as distinguished from cases of overstaying leave, dis-
orderly conduct, drunkenness, and other comparatively minor
offenses in which consular authorities have concurrent jurisdic-
tion) cease from the date of such conviction to be in the naval
service of the United States.
Entry on en- (5) All other written requests of enlisted men regarding dis-
listnient record. e i iarge w hile absent from the United States, or from the coasts
of the United States where they may have enlisted, in which
claims to transportation at government expense may be waived,
must, if granted, be entered on the enlistment record in the same
manner.
Yeomen. 801. Yeomen shall not be discharged until the stores under
their charge shall have been examined and satisfactorily ac-
counted for.
Transporta- 802. (1) Men enlisted within the continental limits of the
char?"; enlisted United States and discharged by reason of expiration of enlist-
within 'united ment at a place therein not the place of their enlistment shall be
States. furnished at the time of discharge, in lieu of transportation and
CHAP. XVII.] DISCHARGES. 187
subsistence, travel allowance of 4 cents i>er mile from the place of
discharge to the place of enlistment.
(2) Men enlisted outside of the continental limits of the United Enlisted out-
States and discharged by reason of expiration of enlistment
within said limits shall be furnished at the time of discharge, in i- n ited states,
lieu of transportation and subsistence, travel allowance of 4 cents
per mile from the place of discharge to the i>ort in the United
Slates nearest the place of discharge from which a regular line of
steamships carrying passengers departs for the place of enlistment
or for the port nearest thereto.
(3) Men enlisted within the continental limits of the United Enlisted with-
States and discharged outside said limits by reason of expiration eh a 'nted ll wHhout
of enlistment under the provisions of article 800, paragraph 2, united States,
shall be furnished at the time of such discharge travel allowance
at the rate of 4 cents per mile to the place of enlistment from the
port in the United States nearest the place of enlistment at which
arrives a regular line of steamships carrying passengers from the
place of discharge or from the port nearest thereto.
(4) The distances mentioned in the preceding paragraphs of Distances.
this article shall be computed by the official table of distances in
use at the time of the man's discharge.
(") The place to which travel allowance is furnished and the Entries.
amount shall be entered under the appropriate heading on the
man's discharge and on his enlistment record.
(6) Men discharged by medical survey, if residents of the incase, of med-
United States or of the insular possessions of the United States, Icml surT *y*
shall at the time of their discharge be furnished transportation to
their homes, with subsistence and transfers en route, or cash in
lieu thereof.
803. (1) Any person in the Navy who, upon the expiration of p ? rs ns ri lV"
enlistment, is recommended by his captain for fidelity, obedience,
and ability during his term of service, and who is a desirable per-
son to retain, shall receive an honorable discharge.
(2) When deciding upon the claim of an enlisted man to an,
honorable discharge, the captain must give due weight to the
recommendations of all other captains under whom the man
may have served during his current enlistment, as shown by. his
enlistment record.
(3) Men discharged before the expiration of enlistment upon
recommendation of a medical survey for injuries received or dis-
abilities incurred in line of duty shall be given honorable dis-
charges, provided their records warrant the same, but their dis-
charges shall show their physical disabilities.
804. The following persons are entitled to an ordinary dis Persons enti-
cli-ii-'i' onlv <led 1" "" orjl '
nary disc-nance,
(a) All who are not recommended by the captain for fidelity,
obedience, and ability during their term of service.
(6) All who are discharged before the expiration of their term
of enlistment at their own request, or for their own convenience,
except where the discharge is specially authorized with the same
benefits as for complete enlistment.
805. (1) A dishonorable discharge can be given only by sen- iMshonoraMr
teuce of a general court-martial. dis'hSe
(2) A bad-conduct discharge can be given only by sentence of a
general or summary court-martial. Discharge by sentence of a
summary court-martial can not be given effect in a foreign i>ort,
188
ENLISTMENTS, RATINGS, TRANSFERS, ETC. [CHAP. XVII.
Deserters'
papers.
Form
charge.
of
Discharge of
specially as-
signed men.
Notation on
discharge.
nor shall it be given effect in a port of the United States or of
any of its outlying territories or possessions without the approval
of the Navy Department, except under the conditions enumerated
in article 1697, paragraph 2.
(3) When a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge is given, an
ordinary discharge form shall be used, and the words " dishonor-
able discharge by sentence of a general court-martial," or " dis-
charged for bad conduct by sentence of a general (or summary)
court-martial " shall be written across the face and signed by the
captain.
806. When a man has been declared a deserter his papers, ex-
cept pay accounts, shall be forwarded at once to the Bureau of
Navigation ; his accounts shall be similarly forwarded to the pay
officer in charge of deserters' roll, Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. The descriptive list of the deserter must be sent immedi-
ately to all receiving ships. (Art. 771, par. 6.)
dls- 807. (1) Whenever any enlisted man, not holding a continuous
service certificate, is discharged from the naval service, either the
form of honorable or that of ordinary discharge shall be used.
(2) When an ordinary discharge is given, the captain shall
endorse across its face, over his signature, whether or not the man
is recommended for reenlistment.
(3) If the person discharged holds a continuous service certifi-
cate, neither form of discharge will be necessary, but the appro-
priate column of the certificate shall be filled out, and the
character of the discharge, such as " honorable," " ordinary,"
" bad conduct," or " dishonorable " shall be designated therein ;
if either of the last two, a brief statement of the cause shall be
made in an endorsement.
(4) W r hen any person holding a continuous service certificate is
discharged who, in the opinion of his captain, is unworthy to be
retained in the service, the words " Not recommended for reen-
listment " shall be endorsed upon his certificate, with the reasons
therefor.
(5) When an enlisted man is discharged while serving as
coxswain to a commander-in-chief, coxswain of a boat propelled by
machinery, seaman in charge of hold, ordinary seaman assigned as
jack-of-the-dust or lamplighter, or holding any detail carrying
with it increased pay, the fact is to be noted on his discharge.
808. (1) Every discharge shall contain the enlistment record,
conduct record, descriptive list, state of account, and, if furnished,
the amount of travel allowance or transportation, together with
the places from and to which such allowance or transportation is
given. (Art. 802.)
(2) If transportation is waived, that fact shall be briefly noted
on the discharge.
(3) When an enlisted man who has a "Gunnery record" is
discharged, the entries required by article 771, paragraph 5 (f),
shall be made on his discharge or continuous service certificate; in
the latter case, on the line below the entries of his enlistment and
conduct records.
(4) After the discharge has been signed by the several officers
whose signatures are required thereon, it shall be stamped with
the official seal of the ship by the executive officer.
CHAP. XVII.] DISCHARGES. 189
809. Should there be no honorable discharge forms at hand No honorable
upon the expiration of the term of enlistment of any person who is j]t s< haiid e forms
entitled to receive one, an ordinary discharge form may be used;
the words " entitled to honorable discharge," however, must be
written across the face and signed by the captain. The holder
thereof may, by communicating with the Bureau of Navigation,
Navy Department, exchange such a paper for an honorable
discharge.
810. (1) The continuous service certificate must always state, Continuous
in the proper column, whether the discharge is " honorable," Sfr * lff rerun-
"ordinary," "for bad conduct," or "dishonorable." If " honor- character" of 'dis-
able," it confers all the benefits of an honorable discharge, but if charge,
"ordinary," the benefits of continuous service only. (For bounty
and extra pay, see article 1072.)
(2) In the old form of "honorable discharge and continuous Entries.
service certificates " the character of discharge shall be written in
the column headed "Date of discharge," immediately above the
date.
(3) The place of enlistment and reenlistment shall be noted on
the man's continuous service certificate in the column headed,
" Vessels on board of which service is performed," on the same
line on which the enlistment or reenlistment is noted. Place of
discharge shall be noted in the column prepared for that purpose.
The residence claimed at time of enlistment or reenlistment
must be noted on the line where the man's name appears on the