The upper yardman scheme allows for ratings identified as potential officers to be selected for commissioning training and operates in two ways.
The senior upper yardman scheme allows for very experienced ratings identified as potential specialist officers to be commissioned.
Candidates for the senior upper yardman scheme will be over 35 years of age and undertake a short training period at Dartmouth before being employed within the same specialisation as their rating career.
Specialist fleet training for junior warfare officers concentrates on shiphandling, seamanship and bridge watchkeeping.
Following the first complement job a junior officer may be further employed in bridge watchkeeping duties in ships or submarines or may sub-specialise.
The available sub-specialisations include mine clearance diving, hydrography and meteorology, fighter control, frigate navigation or submarine warfare with some of these earning a notification in the Navy List.
The principal warfare officer will fight the ship on behalf of the captain, deciding what targets to engage and in what order; directing the naval ratings in their operation of weapons and sensors.