The series consists of files containing form S206 (later
revised as form PP101) which are routine six-monthly confidential reports by Commanding Officers. The form has been revised over the years from fairly cryptic comments  around c 1910's to six broad sections around the 1920's. As well as giving basic details such as name, rank, date of birth, ship, and period covered by the report, the six broad sections that form the body of the report are: 1. general conduct, 2. ability (professional, intellectual,
administrative etc), 3. command ability for seagoing ships, 4. general opinion of officer, 5. whether suitable to specialise, and 6. whether recommended for promotion.
 
The files are in blue covers with the officer's name written in the top left-hand corner and the printed text "Officers (RAN) Personal Record - Strictly Confidential" . Beneath this is printed "Not to be attached to files";  at the bottom left appear the words "Personnel Branch".
 
Officers who were seconded from the Royal Navy to serve with the Royal Australian Navy are included in this series.
 
The inside back cover has the next-of-kin information and a few files have a small black-and-white photograph of the officer taped to the cover in a square provided for that purpose.
 
Although the bulk of the transfers to archival custody as CRS A3978 were made by the Department of Defence from 1978 onwards, 0.36 m had been transferred by the Department of the Navy in 1960 as CT 158/9. Conversion of CT 158/9 to CRS A3978/T7 took place in 1987.