List of United States Navy ratings

thumb|From left to right: the service dress blue rating badge for a special warfare operator first class and a boatswain's mate second class.

United States Navy ratings are general enlisted occupations used by the U.S. Navy since the 18th century, which denote the specific skills and abilities of the sailor. Each naval rating has its own specialty badge, which is worn on the left sleeve of dress uniforms of enlisted personnel. U.S. naval ratings are the equivalent of military occupational specialty codes (MOS codes) used by the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, the ratings system used by the United States Coast Guard, and Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) used by the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.

Ratings should not be confused with rates, which are used to identify personnel of specific a rating and pay grade. For example, if a sailor has the pay-grade of E-5 (petty officer second class) and the rating of boatswain's mate, then combining the two—boatswain's mate second class (BM2)—defines both pay grade and rating in formal address or epistolary salutation. Thus, boatswain's mate second class (BM2) would be that sailor's rate.

Sailors from pay-grades E-1 to E-3 that have no rates, are considered to be in apprenticeships or training for a rating, thus the slang term "undes" (Pronounced UN-DEZ) (un-designated) when referring to them as a group. A Sailor actively working toward a specific rating is referred to as "striking for a rating" and is called a "striker". E-1 to E-3 are divided into five general occupational fields (airman, constructionman, fireman, hospitalman, or seaman) based on their rate. For example, an AD (Aviation Machinist's Mate) E-3 would be referred to as an Airman, an E-2 as an Airman Apprentice, and E-1 as an Airman Recruit. The paper designation for these is ADAN, ADAA, and ADAR respectively, SN, SA, and SR for sea-going rates, FN, FA, FR for engineering and damage control rates, CN, CA, CR for Seabee, naval construction units, and HN, HA, and HR for Hospital Corpsman.

History

The U.S. Navy's enlisted occupational system was a product of more than 200 years of Naval evolution. The Navy of the United Colonies of the 1775 era offered only a few different jobs above the level of ordinary seaman. These included Boatswain's mate, Quartermaster, and Gunner's Mate. These were titles of the jobs that individuals were actually performing and became the basis for petty officers and ratings. During this time, ship crews were taken from civilian life and enlisted for only one cruise, thus making the job at hand the primary consideration, rather than career possibilities. It was not until 1841 that distinguishing marks for a rating were prescribed in the Regulations of the Secretary of the Navy, but specialty marks were not added to enlisted men's uniforms until 1866. The marks consisted of the tools or instruments used in each rating's specific duty. The Master-at-Arms, the police officer of a ship, wore the star of authority and the Gunner's Mate wore two crossed cannons. Currently, all specialty marks for new ratings are approved by the Permanent Naval Uniform Board, which is a division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

As the U.S. Navy's rating system changed so did the U.S. Navy. The first steamship, mine, radar, torpedo, aircraft carrier, and many other "firsts" all established a new era in the Navy, and each directly impacted the enlisted occupation structure. During World War II, the U.S. Navy also briefly maintained a rating of "Specialist", similar to the rank in the U.S. Army. The rating of "Specialist" was discontinued in 1948.

Since the establishment of the rating system, the U.S. Navy enlisted rating structure played a key role in career development, serving as a basis for training, detailing, advancement, and simply keeping tabs on several hundred thousand sailors. After Stevens's retirement, a group of senior enlisted leaders came to the conclusion that the Navy needed to replace its current enlisted system and announced the changes on 29 September 2016 with the release of NAVADMIN 218/16. The changes would have eliminated ratings in favor of the generic titles of "Seaman" (E-1 to E-3) or "Petty Officer" (E-4 to E-6) and accompanying Navy Occupational Specialty (NOS) codes. The Navy stated that the decision was motivated by a desire to assist former sailors in obtaining employment after their naval service by making naval job titles more congruent with their civilian counterparts, as well as to make said titles more unisex. Former CNO Admiral John Richardson indicated he still intended to change the personnel system in the future; however, he stepped down in 2019, and there has since been no change.

Rating structure

thumb|right|275px|Rear Admiral [[Terry McCreary presenting a rating insignia of a mass communication specialist first class (MC1).]]

The pay grades E-4 (petty officer third class) through E-9 (master chief petty officer) fall within the rating structure. It is further broken down into four types of ratings and classifications:

57 General ratings: consisting of broad occupational fields such as boatswain's mate, electronics technician, machinist's mate, fire controlman, etc.
37 Service ratings: which are made up of sub categories of general ratings that require further specialized training and qualifications. Service ratings are established, changed, or removed depending on service requirements and changes in the way personnel are managed.
4 Compression ratings (AF, AV, CU, CB): Identify the combining of several general or service ratings at paygrade E-9 (E-8 for CU) to form broader career fields when the occupational content is similar. These ratings exist only at the E-8/E-9 levels and are not identified previously as a general or service rating.
Navy Enlisted Classifications (NEC), which are alphanumeric codes attached to a specific rating and are frequently used to indicate specialized qualifications and Emergency ratings.
Emergency ratings, which are specific ratings that can be established in time of war and are distinguished by a letter of the alphabet enclosed in a diamond.

Paygrades E-1 through E-3 can also have a rating abbreviation preceding their paygrade symbol if they are graduates of Class "A" schools; have received the rating designation in a previous enlistment; are assigned to a billet in that specialty as a striker; have passed an advancement examination and not been selected for advancement for reasons of numeric limitations on advancements; or have been reduced in rate because of punishment. Examples: BMSR is a boatswain's mate seaman recruit (paygrade E-1); MMFA is a machinist's mate fireman apprentice (paygrade E-2); EOCN is an equipment operator constructionman (paygrade E-3). HN is hospitalman, which is a hospital corpsman with the paygrade of E-3.

Aviation ratings

{| class="wikitable" style="border:#25185d;"

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Insignia

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| General rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Service rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Aviation boatswain's mate

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |AB

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |(Launching & Recovery) (Fuels) (Aircraft Handling)

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |ABE ABF ABH

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Aviation Boatswain's Mates are responsible for aircraft catapults, arresting gear and barricades. They operate fuel and lube oil transfer systems, as well as direct aircraft on the flight deck and in hangar bays before launch and after recovery. They use tow tractors to position planes and operate support equipment used to start aircraft.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Air traffic controller

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |AC

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Air Traffic Controllers assist with the speedy flow of air traffic by directing and controlling aircraft. They operate field lighting systems and communicate with aircraft. They furnish pilots with information regarding traffic, navigation, and weather conditions, as well as operate and adjust ground-controlled approach (GCA) systems and interpret targets on radar screens and plot aircraft positions.

Aviation ratings notes

I: ABE, ABF, and ABH combine at paygrade E-9 to the rate of Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (ABCM).

II: AM and AME combine at paygrade E-8 to the rate of Senior Chief Structural Mechanic (AMCS); AM, AME, and AD combine at paygrade E-9 to the rate of Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman (AFCM).

III: AE and AT combine at paygrade E-9 to the rate of Master Chief Avionics Technician (AVCM).

IV: In 2008, the AW rating merged with all other aircrew NECs and changed their title from aviation warfare system operators to naval aircrewman.

Construction ratings

{| class="wikitable" style="border:#25185d;"

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Insignia

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| General rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Service rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Builder

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |BU

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Navy builders are like civilian construction workers. They are skilled carpenters, plasterers, roofers, cement finishers, asphalt workers, masons, and painters. They build and repair all types of structures including: piers, bridges, towers, schools, offices, houses, and other buildings.

II: Before NAVADMIN 054/21; CE and UT combine at paygrade E-9 to the rating of Master chief Utilitiesman (UCCM).

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| rowspan="2" style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" |100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Cryptologic Technician

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |CT

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |(Interpretive) (Maintenance) (Collection) (Technical)

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |CTI CTM CTR CTT

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Cryptologic Technicians control the flow of messages and information and also conduct electronic warfare. Their work depends on their specific branch: CTAs or administration cryptologic technicians perform administrative and clerical duties that control access to classified material. CTIs or interpretive cryptologic technicians handle radiotelephone communications and foreign language translation. CTMs or maintenance cryptologic technicians maintain electronic and electromechanical equipment. CTRs or collection cryptologic technicians handle all Morse code communications and operate radio direction-finding equipment. Finally, CTTs or technical cryptologic technicians deal with electronic warfare. CTTs are the first line of defense against inbound threats and anti-ship missiles. They also collect, analyze, and provide electronic intelligence support to commands throughout the world.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Explosive Ordnance Disposal

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |EOD

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians locate, identify, render safe and dispose of all forms of ordnance (conventional, nuclear, chemical, biological, military, and improvised) both U.S. and foreign made. Parachute or helicopter insertion and deep-sea diving capabilities are sometimes necessary to perform this mission. In addition to working closely with other military services, EOD technicians occasionally assist civilian law enforcement agencies.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Electronics Technician

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |ET

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |Surface Nuclear Power Submarine, Navigation Submarine, Communications

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |ET ETN ETV While onboard submarines, they are split into three ratings: ITE (Electronic Warfare), ITR (Communications) and ITN (Network)

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Legalman

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |LN

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Legalmen are the Navy's paralegals. They assist Staff Judge Advocates in the proper administration of military justice and administrative law, such as courts-martial, nonjudicial punishment, and administrative separation. They work in Region Legal Service Offices (RLSO), Defense Service Offices, aboard aircraft carriers and large amphibious ships, and at various independent duty locations. Legalmen assist service members, retirees, and their family members with powers of attorney, wills, tax returns, voter registration procedures, immigration and customs regulations, Social Security regulations, and veterans' benefits.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Missile technician

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |MT

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Missile Technicians operate and maintain the UGM-133 Trident II D5 missile Strategic Weapon System (SWS) carried aboard ballistic missile submarines and at strategic weapons facilities. Missile technicians operate and maintain electronic, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic strategic weapon subsystems, test and operate the MK98 fire-control system and MK 6 guidance system, perform classified targeting operations, and provide physical security to nuclear weapon systems.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Robotics Warfare Specialist

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |RW

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Robotics Warfare Specialists enable Robotic and Autonomous System (RAS) operations and maintenance at the tactical edge. RWs are subject matter experts for computer vision, mission autonomy, navigation autonomy, data systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning on RAS platforms.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Special Warfare Boat Operator

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |SB

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Special Warfare Boat Operators (SWCC - special warfare combatant-craft crewmen) drive fast speedboats down narrow, winding rivers, or the open ocean while performing high speed, medium range, or all weather insertion/extraction of special operations forces. They participate in maritime interdiction operations, tactical swimmer operations, intelligence collection, operation deception, and coastal patrol.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Special Warfare Operator

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |SO

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Special Warfare Operators are Navy SEALs, which are the Navy's primary unconventional warfare units that conduct warfare at SEa, in the Air, and on Land (SEAL). A SEAL's core skills consist of: sniper, breacher, communicator, maritime/engineering, close air support, driver, navigator (rural/urban/protective security), heavy weapons operator, sensitive site exploitation, air operations (parachuting/helicopter insertion, etc.), climber, interrogator, technical surveillance, and advanced special operations. SEALs oversee ocean-borne mine disposal, carry out direct action raids against military targets, conduct reconnaissance, and secure beachheads for invading amphibious forces.

II: Information Systems Technician now includes former rating of cryptologic technician – communications (CTO).

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Machinery Repairman

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |MR

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Machinery Repairmen are skilled machine tool operators. They make replacement parts and repair or overhaul a ship's engine auxiliary equipment, such as evaporators, air compressors and pumps. They repair deck equipment, including winches, hoists, condensers, and heat exchange devices. Shipboard machinery repairmen frequently operate main propulsion machinery, besides performing machine shop and repair duties.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Navy Diver

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |ND

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center; font-size: x-small" |

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Navy divers are responsible for a wide variety of tasks like underwater ship maintenance, construction, and underwater rescue. They are assigned to Naval Special Warfare Units to provide diving technical expertise and supervisory support to all submersible operations. Also issued to sailors attached to Marine units.

Engineering and hull ratings notes

Prior to March 2014, IC and EM combine at paygrade E-9 to the rating of Master Chief Electrician's Mate (EMCM). After that time, the IC Rating was moved to the Seaman ratings group from the Fireman ratings group. Now, upon selection to E9, ICCS is promoted to ICCM.

Command ratings

{| class="wikitable" style="border:#25185d;"

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Insignia

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| General rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Command Master Chief Petty Officer

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |CMDCM

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Command Master Chief Petty Officers (CMDCM) are equal in paygrade to Rating Master Chief Petty Officers (MCPOs) but have positional authority within the chief petty officer's mess and the enlisted crew of a United States Navy unit and serve as the senior enlisted advisers to their unit's commanding officer.

| colspan="5" style="background:#25185d; height:5px;"|

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;" rowspan="2"|

100px

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" | Fleet, Force, or Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |FLTCM, FORCM or MCPON

|- style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| colspan="4" style="border:1px solid #25185d; vertical-align:top;"|Fleet Master Chief Petty Officers (FLTCMs) and Force Master Chief Petty Officers (FORCMs) are equal in paygrade to MCPOs but have positional authority from a fleet or force level command over all subordinate unit commands' enlisted forces and serve as the senior enlisted advisors to the flag officer fleet/force level Commanders. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) holds positional authority over all subordinate fleet/force/unit commands' enlisted forces and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Navy Operations (CNO).

Discontinued and changed ratings (1961–present)

{| class="wikitable" style="border:#25185d;"

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Insignia

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| General rating

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Abbreviation

! style="background:#25185d; color:white;"| Status

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Aviation Storekeeper

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |AK

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Storekeeper on 1 January 2003.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulics) Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structures)

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |AMH AMS

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Aviation Structural Mechanic on 1 March 2001.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Boiler Technician

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |BT

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Machinist's Mate on 1 October 1996.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Cryptologic Technician (Communications)

Cryptologic Technician (Administration)

Cryptologic Technician (Networking)

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |CTO

CTA

CTN

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Information Systems Technician on 1 March 2006.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Disbursing Clerk

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |DK

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Personnel Specialist on 1 October 2005.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Molder

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |ML

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Disestablished in 1997

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Nuclear Weaponsman

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |NW

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Changed to Gunner's Mate Technician in 1962.

| style="border:1px solid #25185d; background:#fff;"|

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Ocean Systems Technician

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d; text-align: center" |OT

| style="border: 1px solid #25185d;" |Merged into Sonar Technician on 1 October 1998.