Administration, Deck, Medical, Technical, and Weapons Specialty Ratings
| Insignia | General rating | Abbreviation | Service rating | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Boatswain's Mate | BM | ||
| Boatswain's Mates train and supervise personnel in all activities relating to marlinspike, deck, and boat seamanship, and oversee the maintenance of the ship's external structure and deck equipment. They act as petty officers in charge of small craft and may perform duties as master-at-arms, serve in or take charge of gun crews, and damage control parties.
Boatswain's Mates are also responsible for the "deck side" watch. In port three of the crew are on deck watch 24/7 (in hazardous areas such as war zones there are more than 3, depending on ship's size). They are the Officer of the Deck, Boatswain's Mate of the watch, and Messenger of the Watch (usually a Seaman or Seaman Apprentice). They are stationed very close to the gangway and monitor all the comings and goings of persons to and from the ship. At sea the Boatswain's Mate of the watch is within ear shot of the conning officer (on the bridge). The boatswain's Mate of the watch supervises the rest of the enlisted watch standers on deck. They include helmsman, messenger of the watch, and all the look outs. In port or at sea the Boatswain's Mate of the watch is charged with the responsibility of making all announcements to the crew; everything from chow call to general quarters (battle stations). |
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| Culinary Specialist | CS | |||
| Culinary Specialists prepare menus and order the quantities and types of food items. They operate galley and dining facilities, manage large facilities, keep records for food supplies and financial budgets, and can even serve as flight attendant aircrewmen. They can also serve as personal food service specialist, household/estate manager or chef for an admiral, the First Family, President of the United States at Camp David and the White House, to the Vice President at Number One Observatory Circle or for a commanding officer aboard ship or at shore bases. Ashore, Culinary Specialists often manage and maintain clubs, TAD hotels and Permanent Party naval barracks. | ||||
| Cryptologic Technician | CT | (Interpretive) (Maintenance) (Networks) (Collection) (Technical) |
CTI CTM CTN CTR CTT |
|
| Cryptologic Technicians control the flow of messages and information and also conduct Electronic Warfare. Their work depends on their special branch: CTAs or Administration Cryptologic Technicians (As of 01 OCT 07 CTA merged with the YN rating) 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. CTNs or Networking Cryptologic Technicians handle computer communication. 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. | ||||
| Explosive Ordnance Disposal | EOD | |||
| 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. | ||||
| Electronics Technician | ET | (Nuclear) submarine (Communications) submarine (Navigation) |
ETN ETR ETV |
|
| Electronics Technicians are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, detect enemy planes and ships, and determine target distances. They maintain, repair, and calibrate all electronic equipment used for communications, detection tracking, identification, and navigation. Electronics Technicians are employed onboard nuclear powered ships to maintain the control subsystems in nuclear reactors. | ||||
| Fire Controlman | FC | |||
| Fire Controlmen maintain the control mechanism used in weapons systems on combat ships. Complex electronic, electrical and hydraulic equipment is required to ensure the accuracy of Navy guided-missile and surface gunfire-control systems. They are responsible for the operation, routine care and repair of this equipment, which includes radars, computers, weapons direction equipment, target designation systems, gyroscopes and rangefinders. | ||||
| Fire Control Technician | FT | |||
| Fire Control Technicians maintain the electronic equipment used in submarine weapons systems. They are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the complex electronic, electrical and mechanical equipment required to ensure the accuracy of Navy guided-missile systems and underwater weapons. They are responsible for ship safety by recognizing and analyzing data from several critical systems including sonar, radar, periscope, radio, and torpedo inputs. | ||||
| Gunner's Mate | GM | |||
| Gunner's Mates operate and maintain all gunnery equipment, guided-missile launching systems, rocket launchers, guns, turrets, and associated equipment. They repair electrical, electronic, hydraulic and mechanical systems, and make detailed casualty analysis. They test ammunition, missiles and their ordnance components. GMs train and supervise personnel in the handling and stowage of ammunition, missiles, and assigned ordnance equipment. | ||||
| Hospital Corpsman | HM | |||
| Hospital Corpsmen are medical professionals who provide health care to service people and their families. They serve as pharmacy technicians, medical technicians, nurse's aides, physician's or dentist's assistants, battlefield medics, and more. All work falls into several categories: first aid and minor surgery, patient transportation, patient care, prescriptions and laboratory work, food service inspections, and clerical duties. | ||||
| Intelligence Specialist | IS | |||
| Intelligence Specialists are involved in collecting and interpreting intelligence especially secret information about enemies or potential enemies. They analyze photographs and prepare charts, maps, and reports that describe in detail the strategic situation all over the world. | ||||
| Information Systems Technician (Surface) Information Systems Technician Submarines (Submarine) |
IT ITS |
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| Information Systems Technicians design, install, operate, and maintain state-of-the-art informations systems. This technology includes local and wide area networks, mainframe, mini and microcomputer systems and associated peripheral devices. They also write programs to handle the collection, manipulation and distribution of data for a wide variety of applications and requirements. They perform the functions of a computer system analyst, operate telecommunications systems including automated networks and the full spectrum of data links and circuits. | ||||
| Legalman | LN | |||
| Legalmen are trained paralegals who assist professionals in the field of law. They work in Navy legal offices, performing administrative and clerical tasks necessary to process claims, conduct court and administrative hearings. They maintain records, documents and legal reference libraries. Legalmen may give advice on tax returns, voter registration procedures, immigration and customs regulations, regulations governing Social Security and veterans' benefits. They perform many duties related to courts-martial and nonjudicial punishment hearings. | ||||
| Logistics Specialist | LS | |||
| Storekeepers are the Navy's supply clerks. They see that needed supplies are available including everything from clothing and machine parts to forms and food. They have duties as civilian warehousemen, purchasing agents, stock clerks and supervisors, retail sales clerks, store managers, inventory clerks, buyers, parts clerks, bookkeepers and even fork lift operators. | ||||
| Master-at-Arms | MA | |||
| Masters-at-Arms uphold law and order aboard ships, shore stations, control access to naval installations, and deploy overseas with expeditionary forces and squadrons performing Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) duties. The basic duty of an MA is to enforce rules and regulations, maintain good order and discipline, and protect life and property. Some other duties include conducting criminal investigations, personal protective services, take part in correctional and rehabilitative programs, Military Working Dog (MWD) handlers, small arms instruction, lethal and non-lethal weapons training, and organize and train sailors assigned to Shore Patrol police duty. Their equivalents in the civilian world are detectives, security guards, and policemen. | ||||
| Mass Communication Specialist | MC | |||
| Mass Communication Specialists are public affairs and visual information experts. They present the U.S. Navy story to audiences in the Navy and to the rest of the world through a variety of media. Mass Communications Specialists write and produce print and broadcast journalism, news, and feature stories for military and civilian newspapers, magazines, television and radio broadcast stations. They record still and video photography of military operations, exercises, and other Navy events. | ||||
| Mineman | MN | |||
| Minemen test, maintain, and repair mines and their components. They are responsible for assembling, testing, and delivering mines to the planting agent. They maintain minehandling and minelaying equipment. At sea, Minemen primarily man Avenger Class mine countermeasures ships as well the new Independence Class littoral combat ships as a part of the MCM module. Their duties at sea include but are not limited to: operating mine hunting sonar, operating remote controlled submersibles in prosecuting mine-like contacts, rigging and deploying minesweeping gear as well as standing normal underway deck and Combat Information Center watches. | ||||
| Missile Technician | MT | |||
| 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 subsytems, 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. | ||||
| Musician | MU | |||
| Musicians play in official Navy bands and special groups such as jazz bands, dance bands and small ensembles. They give concerts and provide music for military ceremonies, religious services, parades, receptions and dances. Official unit bands usually do not include stringed instruments, but each musician must be able to play at least one brass, woodwind or percussion instrument. Sailors are selected for this rating through auditions. | ||||
| Navy Counselor | NC | (Career) (Recruiter) |
NC(C) NC(R) |
|
| Navy Counselors offer vocational guidance to Navy personnel — individually and in groups — aboard ships and at shore facilities. They assess the interests, aptitudes, abilities and personalities of individuals and assist them in reaching their full potential. They are responsible directly to the command triumvirate (CO, XO, CMC) and report on many items such as retention, attrition, advancement, testing and various other facets of the career development program. Additionally, it is their keen eye and attention to detail that ensure personnel throughout the command are updated on current Navy policies in regards to career management, off duty education and administrative procedures, among various other responsibilities. | ||||
| Operations Specialist | OS | |||
| Operations Specialists operate radar, navigation and communications equipment in the shipboard combat information centers (CICs) or bridges. They detect and track ships, planes, and missiles. They operate and maintain identification friend or foe (IFF) systems, electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment and radio-telephones. They control and assist aircraft. | ||||
| Personnel Specialist | PS | |||
| Personnel Specialists provide enlisted personnel with information and counseling about Navy jobs, opportunities for general education and training, and promotion requirements. They assist enlisted members' families with legal aid or reassignments in hardship situations. Personnel Specialists keep records up to date, prepare reports, type letters and maintain files. | ||||
| Quartermaster | QM | |||
| Quartermasters assist the navigator and officer of the deck (OOD), steer the ship, take radar bearings and ranges, make depth soundings and celestial observations, plot courses and command small craft. | ||||
| Religious Programs Specialist | RP | |||
| Religious Programs Specialists assist Navy chaplains with administrative and budgetary tasks. They serve as custodians of chapel funds, keep religious documents and stay in contact with religious and community agencies. They prepare devotional and religious educational materials, set up volunteer programs, operate shipboard libraries, supervise chaplains' offices and perform administrative, clerical and secretarial duties. They train personnel in religious programs and publicize religious activities. | ||||
| Special Warfare Boat Operator | SB | |||
| Special Warfare Boat Operators 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. | ||||
| Ship's Serviceman | SH | |||
| Ship's Servicemen manage barber shops, tailor shops, ships' uniform stores, laundries, dry cleaning plants and cobbler shops. They serve as clerks in exchanges, gas stations, warehouses, and commissary stores. Some ship's servicemen function as Navy club managers. | ||||
| Special Warfare Operator | SO | |||
| Special Warfare Operators are Navy SEALs. They are trained to jump from airplanes at high altitudes and open their parachutes at low proximity to the earth into frigid waters. They jump from helicopters travelling 30 knots at 30 feet over the water with no parachute. In addition Special Warfare Operators oversee ocean-borne mine disposal, carry out direct action raids against military targets, conduct reconnaissance, and secure beachheads for invading amphibious forces. | ||||
| Sonar Technician | ST | (Surface) (Subsurface) |
STG STS |
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| Sonar Technicians are responsible for underwater surveillance. They assist in safe navigation and aid in search and rescue and attack operations. They operate and repair sonar equipment and jam enemy sonars. Sonar Technicians operate, maintain and repair sonar systems, antisubmarine warfare fire control equipment and other various equipment associated with underwater detection, counter-detection, warfare and communications. | ||||
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Yeoman | YN | ||
| Yeomen perform Administrative and Clerical work. They deal with visitors, coordinate worldwide travel, submit passport applications, telephone calls and incoming mail, and assist various ships, squadrons, staff commands, and special warfare teams around the world with administrative tasks. They write and type business and social letters, notices, directives, forms and reports. | ||||
Read more about this topic: List Of United States Navy Ratings
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