Looking for a military term

[ffutures]

I think that there's a military term for this - a civilian who signs on as a temporary officer equivalent in the armed forces, subject to orders etc.

The idea is that I want a rationale for civilian characters aboard a military vessel. Reserves doesn't quite work for my purposes. I could make them civilian employees, but I think I want them to be a little more in the chain of command.

Any suggestions?

Later - I think "Acting supernumerary" will do.

Comments

Rationale?

[3pitaka.livejournal.com]

The question is why the military recruits in such a fashion instead of either performing the relevant education within its own ranks, or commissioning existing specialists (as, for instance, physicians have been commissioned).

One justification might be that military education in this world has become so specialized (concentrating on, say, mathematics and technicalia of weapons systems and engines) that there's no room left for specialists in "non-essential" fields like biology or geology or intercultural relations.

Re: Rationale?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

In this case it's a way to get some good publicity by giving a couple of journalists with useful skills a free ride.

Re: Rationale?

[dsample.livejournal.com]

In that case, I think just "supernumerary" will do. The "acting" is redundant.

Re: Rationale?

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

For the Japanese during WWII, they wanted Taiwanese doctors in the Navy, but they didn't want them to have command authority: thus, Medical Advisory Officers.