the warrant officers were specialists appointed to the ship by navy board warrant. the wardroom warrant officers were allowed all the privileges of a commissioned officer, eating and sleeping with the lieutenants. the standing warrant officers stayed with the ship throughout its commission and remained aboard when the ship was placed in ordinary. they were heavily involved with the fitting out of the ship and general maintenance. cockpit officers had a higher status than the petty officers and could generally expect to reach the wardroom in time, with its members aspiring to be lieutenants, masters, pursers or surgeons. petty officers performed particular roles that required additional skills or expertise, and they were usually rated by the captain or first lieutenant on joining the ship. unlike the warrant officers, the petty officers had no security in his rank; the captain could demote a petty officer for negligence. a petty officer could also lose his rating on moving to a new ship.