(1) when the man has qualified for consideration in accordance with Regulations 291 to 293 the Captain shall, consider the award of a badge whether the sailor applies for the same or not. If the Captain decides that the sailor has maintained the requisite standard of conduct and is in all respects deserving of a badge he shall award the badge with effect from the due date and -“Re-commendation for Advancement and Conduct Record his decision in pencil on the man’s service certificate, form I.N. 285Sheet” shown ion Appendix VIII and form I.N. 14 (Good Conduct Badge Return) shown in Appendix IX. On receipt of Form I.N. 14, duly verified by the Captain Naval Barracks, the date of award as confirmed on Form I.N. 14 shall be recorded on the man’s Service certificate in ink.
(2) If after considering the award of a badge, the Captain decides that the sailor has clearly failed to reach the necessary standard (his decision shall operate as a break in the continuity of “Very Good” conduct) the Captain’s decision not towards the badge shall be recorded on the man’s Form I.N. 285 in the appropriate column, together with a new date of recommencement of “Very Good” conduct, that is to say, the day after the man qualified for consideration. This shall be entered in red ink and signed by the Captain.
(3) In appropriate cases, however, instead of deciding not to award the badge the Captain may direct the sailor to appear before him again after a period of not less than three or more than six months. This decision should be noted on the form I.N. 285, and during this period the sailor shall not be promoted in ranks.
(4) Should the Captain decide at the end of the period of deferment that the sailor’s conduct during the two years preceding that date may now be considered to have reached the qualifying standard, the badge shall be awarded from the date of such final decision and the entry on the man’s service certificate as well as on Form I.N. 14 underlined to indicate that the deferment was intentional.
(5) If, however, at the end of the period of deferment, the Captain decides that the sailor’s conduct is still below the requisite standard the continuity of his “Very Good” conduct shall be regarded as broken on the day he qualified for consideration of the award in the first instance.
The fresh date of recommencement of “Very Good” conduct, that is to say, the day after the man qualified for consideration in the first instance, shall be entered in red ink in the appropriate column of the man’s Recommendation for Advancement and Conduct Record Sheet and signed by the Captain.
(6) A sailor who has received one or more minor punishments not involving a break in the continuity of his “Very Good” Conduct during the two years immediately preceding the award may nevertheless be deemed worthy of a badge, if his general conduct and bearing are of the requisite standard. Conversely, although a sailor may not have been punished, the Captain might, in certain circumstances, consider him below the requisite standard.
(7) Before a sailor is deprived of a Good Conduct Badge, the Captain must invariably ascertain whether he is due for the award of any badges, and if he is due, then the Captain should consider the award of the badges with reference to the sailor’s conduct prior to the commission of the offence with which he has been charged. If the conduct of the sailor so merits, the Captain should award the Good Conduct Badge due. The question of deprivation of a Badge or badges shall then be considered on the merits of the case.