the meaning of "by training"

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "by training" in the following sentence? "He was a naval officer and engineer by training."

[Ewood27]

He was an oficer in the Royal Navy (presuming he's Nritish) and has trained within the Navy as an engineer officer. The RN has a thriving and essential Engineering Branch and the officers wear thin purple rings between their rank marking rings on their sleeves.

[Ewood27]

He might even have been British!

[woofgang]

It means that that is what he had taken training to do, and probably has a qualification in, the implication being that he is now doing something else, eg I am an occupational therapist by training, but my most recent job has been in software development.

[woofgang]

good morning ewood, cross posting again!!