Fisher's quip that Nelson would not qualify for the contemporary Royal Navy attacks an entry system that had accumulated restrictions over decades. Recruiting had changed steadily since the 1830s and 1840s but was no longer delivering enough suitable personnel. The fact that Fisher and Beresford agreed both on the problem and on common entry as a remedy signals how serious the shortage appeared. Osborne, Dartmouth, and the new pipeline addressed access and throughput as well as the status of technical branches.
Notable Point · 1:05:10-1:06:51
Fisher's Nelson test exposed rigid officer recruitment
The claim that Nelson would fail contemporary entry rules illustrates why common entry also had to widen and modernize the officer pipeline.