1WO means...

[JScones]

Originally Posted by Tessa

One thing I never understood is why he's not eligible for getting his own ship/command. I can understand that the medic or a radioman wouldn't be due to their specialized training and wouldn't be familiar with the workings of the ship.

Because he joined the engineering officer stream, not the line officer stream. Different training, different skills, different duty statement. He's trained as an engineer, not as a leader. The mere fact he signed up in the engineering stream might even imply that he wants nothing to do with commanding a boat, in much the same way that a guy signing up in the line officer stream might want nothing to do with tinkering with boat engines.

He's not just an officer who happens to have an engineering qualification, he's a career engineer.

Originally Posted by Tessa

An engineer would know the ship inside and out, and be next to the captain in situations were he was issuing orders (like when moving while submerged).

Knowing the mechanics of the ship does not automatically make him an effective leader. Completely different focus.