History
The U.S. Navy's enlisted occupational system is 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 ordinary level of seaman. These included Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Gunner's Mate, Master-at-Arms, Cook, Armorer, and Coxswain. 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 rather than career possibilities the primary consideration. It was not until 1841 that distinguishing marks for a rating were prescribed in the Regulations of the Secretary of the Navy and 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 Navy’s rating system has changed so has the 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 Navy also briefly maintained a rating of Specialist, similar to the rank in the United States Army. The rating of Specialist was discontinued in 1948.
After more than 200 years of evolution, today’s Navy enlisted rating structure still plays a key role in career development, serves as a basis for training, detailing, advancement, and simply keeping tabs on several hundred thousand Navy Personnel.
Read more about this topic: List Of United States Navy Ratings
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—Mary B. Clay, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 3, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)
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