...but surely it doesn't matter if he/she is naval or civilian....they would still gain experience? - though perhaps at a reduced rate?

He/she would still be a civilian officer unless the political later upgraded them to naval, so I'm not sure I see a problem with a civilian gaining experience

I can see the logic in this, but the problem comes with the idea of using civilian officer experience for different (non-combat) bonuses (they don't now, but they was some talk about the possibility).

If we want to go down that route then you can't mix the experience; unless the officer starts to carry TWO experience values, one for combat experience and one for non-combat, then only use the one relevant to his type (naval or civilian). Then of course you get the further complication that a naval officer could still logically apply his non-combat experience to non-combat orders, but the civilian officer can't do the opposite (because he's "not allowed").

Maybe, all things considered, officers need a bit of a rethink (again)? Is this separation of naval/civilian of any use? It is more helpful for players or just more confusing and frustrating?