Rate Insignia of Navy Enlisted Personnel
The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge — a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating (specialty) is worn on the left upper sleeve of all uniforms in grades E-4 through E-6. E-1 through E-3 have color coded group rate marks based upon their occupational field. Group rate marks for E-2 and E-3 are worn on dress uniforms only. Personnel in paygrade E-1 do not wear group rate marks. Chief Petty Officers (E-7 through E-9) wear collar devices on their white and khaki uniforms, and rate badges on their Service Dress Blues.
Enlisted Rating Insignia
The enlisted rating badge for Petty Officer Third Class and above consists of two parts. The chevrons indicate pay grade (rate). Between the chevrons and the eagle is an insignia indicating the Sailor's job speciality (rating). Insignia are silver on blue uniforms and Navy blue on white uniforms. Sailors in pay grades E-4 through E-6 can be addressed as "Petty Officer (name)" or [as example] "Boatswain's Mate Third Class (name)". The latter would be written as BM3.
Chief Petty Officers are always referred to as "Chief", "Senior Chief", or "Master Chief" as appropriate. As example: "Chief Jones" or in subsequent references, just "Chief".
The linked tables show the rating insignia for various Navy specialities. For clarity, the insignia are displayed in these groupings:
Administration/Medical/Dental
Engineering/Hull
Aviation
Construction
Aviation Specialties
AB - Aviation Boatswain's Mate
AC - Air Traffic Controller
AD - Aviation Machinist's Mate
AE - Aviation Electrician's Mate
AG - Aerographer's Mate
AK - Aviation Storekeeper
AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic
AO - Aviation Ordnanceman
AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician
AT - Aviation Electronics Technician
AW - Aviation Warfare Systems Operator
AZ - Aviation Maintenance Administrationman
PR - Aircrew Survival Equipmentman
Information Courtesy of the
United States Navy!!
