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, Deck, Medical, Technical, and Weapons Specialties

Aviation Specialties

Construction Specialties

Engineering and Hull Specialties

Obsolete Specialties

Listed below is a guide to ordering Navy Rates!!

The First Number designates the Rank

(E-1 through E-9)

0/ E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)

1/ E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)

2/ E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)

3/ E-7 Chief Petty Officer (CPO)

4/ E-6 Petty Officer First Class (PO1)

5/ E-5 Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)

6/ E-4 Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)

7/ E-3 Seaman

8/ E-2 Seaman Apprentice

9/ E-1 Seaman Recruit

The Second Number designates the Type and Background / Stripes (0 through 9)

Type	Background	Stripes
0 Bullion	Black	Gold

Type	Background	Stripes
1 Bullion	Black	Red

Type	Background	Stripes
2 Dress Male	White	Blue

Type	Background	Stripes
3 Work Male	White	Blue

Type	Background	Stripes
4 Dress Female	White	Blue

Type	Background	Stripes
5 Work Female	White	Blue

Type	Background	Stripes
6 Dress Male	Black	Red

Type	Background	Stripes
7 Work Male	Black	Red

Type	Background	Stripes
8 Dress Female	Black	Red

Type	Background	Stripes
9 Work Female	Black	Red

The Last Two Number designates the Specialty Mark (01 through 74)

01 AB Aviation Boatswain's Mate

02 AC Air Traffic Controller

03 AD Aviation Machinist's Mate

04 AE Aviation Electrician's Mate

05 AG Aerographer's Mate

06 AK Aviation Storekeeper

07 AM Aviation Structural Mechanic

08 AO Aviation Ordnanceman

72 AQ Aviation Fire Control Technician

09 AS Aviation Support Equipment Technician

10 AT Aviation Electronics Technician

71 AW Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator

11 AW Aviation Warfare Systems Operator

12 AZ Aviation Maintenance Administrationman

13 BM Boatswain's Mate

14A BR Boilermaker

14 BT Boiler Technician

15 BU Builder

16 CE Construction Electrician

17 CM Construction Mechanic

48 CS Culinary Specialist

18 CT Cryptologic

19 DC Damage Controlman

20 DK Disbursing Clerk

21 DM Illustrator Draftsman

22 DP Data Processing Technician

23 DS Data Systems Technician

24 DT Dental Technician

25 EA Engineering Aide

26 EM Electrician's Mate

27 EN Engineman

28 EO Equipment Operator

28A EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician

29 ET Electronics

30 EW Electronic Warfare Technician

31 FC Fire Controlman

31A FP Pipefitter

32 FT Fire Control Technician

32A GF Aviation Guided Missileman

33 GM Gunner's Mate

34 GS Gas Turbine System Technician

34A GS Guided Missileman

35 HM Hospital Corpsman

36 HT Hull Maintenance Technician

37 IC Interior Communications Electrician

38 IM Instrumentman

39 IS Intelligence Specialist

61 IT Information Systems Technician

40 JO Journalist

41 LI Lithographer

42 LN Legalman

42A MA Machine Accountant

43 MA Master-at-Arms

43A MC Mass Communication Specialist

44 ML Molder

45 MM Machinist's Mate

46 MN Mineman

47 MR Machinery Repairman

48 MS Mess Management Specialist

49 MT Missile Technician

50 MU Musician

51 NC Navy Counselor

51A ND Navy Diver

52 OM Opticalman

53 OS Operations Specialist

54 OT Ocean Systems Technician

55 PC Postal Clerk

56 PH Photographer's Mate

57 PM Patternmaker

58 PN Personnelman

59 PR Aircrew Survival Equipmentman

58 PS Personnel Specialist

60 QM Quartermaster

61 RM Radioman

62 RP Religious Programs Specialist

63 SH Ship's Serviceman

64 SK Storekeeper

65 SM Signalman

66 ST Sonar Technician

67 SW Steelworker

74 TD Tradevman

68 TM Torpedoman's Mate

69 UT Utilitiesman

69A WT Weapons Technician

70 YN Yeoman

CPO RATING BADGES

1. Description

a. Rating badges consist of a perched eagle with expanded wings pointing upward and the eagle's head to its right. Chevrons, rocker, and stars, as authorized, indicates the wearer's rate, and a specialty mark to indicate rating are included as part of the rating badge. All are embroidered on a pentagonal shaped background. The chevrons on rating badges measure 3-1/4 inches wide for male CPO's and rating badges measure 2-1/2 inches wide for female CPO's. Rating insignia, chevrons and rockers for women are 3/4 the size of the men's rating badges.

b. Background material for rating badges and service stripes match the color of the uniform coat or jacket. Colors of the eagles, specialty mark, stars, chevrons and service stripes for prescribed uniforms are as indicated below:


UNIFORM	RATING BADGE