Another explanation for midshipman
A midshipman is a subordinate officer
Subordinate officer
A subordinate officer, in many navy in the English-speaking world, is an officer who has not finished their initial training. Such officers are not commissioned, but are treated for most intents and purposes as commissioned officers....
, an officer cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet is a military rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. The term Officer Trainee is used interchangeably in some countries....
, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions....
of several English-speaking countries.
During the days of sailing vessels, from the 17th through the 19th centuries, a midshipman was an apprentice officer. The word derives from the location of ship, amidships, where they were berthed. The midshipman used to serve seven years on the lower deck and was roughly equivalent to a present day petty officer in rank and position.
During the 19th century training of Naval officers in both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy changed toward formal schooling in a naval college as opposed to apprenticeship aboard ships. Today, a Midshipman is the term for an officer cadet in the U.S. Navy. In the modern Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy non-graduates join as Midshipman, while those with a university degree join as a 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 officer or subordinate officer, ranking below a Lieutenant....
.
