Midshipman
The rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks in the Royal Navy. It is the lowest rank of officer (apart from officer cadet), but is technically a rate in that it is not conferred by commission or warrant but by entry in a ship's books, and can be removed summarily. In previous times midshipmen were considered to be of warrant rank.A Royal Navy midshipman ranks immediately below a Second Lieutenant in the Army or Pilot Officer RAF. His rank insignia is a white patch with a buttonhole and gold button on the collar.
In the United States Navy a midshipman is for all intents and purposes of an officer cadet. The insignia varies by school year. A Freshman wears no insignia, a Sophomore wears a single fouled anchor on the left collar, a Junior two fouled anchors, and a Senior wears eagles perched on fouled anchors, or a rank. Midshipmen ranks are those of the U.S. Navy, but the insignia are gold bars, for the ranks of cadet Ensign to cadet Captain, in the Brigade of Midshipment at the U.S. Naval Academy, with a the highest cadet grade being cadet Commander for Navy ROTC and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. A midshipman, like his or her counterparts at the other United States military academies, receives the pay of a warrant officer from grades W-1 to W-4.
The Midshipmen is also the name for sports teams fielded by the U.S. Naval Academy.
The word midshipman derives from the part of ship, amidships, which was their station.