Intro to NAVSCI
U.S. Navy Enlisted Rating Structure
U.S. Navy/Marine Corps Ranks,
Uniforms, & Insignia
2
Learning Objectives
 The
student will know . . .
– (1) the Navy and Marine Corps rank/grade
structures and insignia and will be able to relate
them to their equivalents in the Army and Air
Force.
– (2) the general apprenticeship categories and the
symbol for each Navy enlisted rating
classification.
3
Learning Objectives
 The
student will know . . .
– (3) the requirements for the advancement in
rate/promotion and change of rating.
– (4) the type of training utilized to qualify for
rating classification.
– (5) the uniform regulations for NROTC
midshipmen.
– (6) Navy/Marine Corps grooming standards.
4
Some definitions
 Rating
– Duty calling for certain skills and aptitudes
– BM, CS, TM, EM, etc.
 Paygrade
– E-1 --> E-3, E-4 --> E-6, E-7 --> E-9
 Rate
– Rating + Paygrade = Rate
– An E-4 Machinist Mate is an MM3.
5
Some definitions
 Petty
Officer
– Navy personnel in paygrades E-4 --> E-9.
 Navy
job classifications (general ratings)
– Seaman (SN)
– Fireman (FN)
Constructionman (CN)
Hospitalman (HN)
– Airman (AN)
6
More definitions
 “Non-rates” – No job specialty
– E-1 --> Seaman Recruit
– E-2 --> Seaman Apprentice
– E-3 --> Seaman
– (Similar for Fireman, Airman, etc.)
 Striker
– person training for specific job as a non-rated E-
3.
7
More definitions
 Military
Operational Specialty (MOS)
– Marine Corps equivalent to the Navy’s rating
8
General enlisted ratings

Seaman (SN)
 Performs ship-related
duties
 Examples:
–
–
–
–
–
Deck
Weapons
Administrative
Clerical
Electronics Precision
9
General enlisted ratings

Hospitalman (HN)
– Assists doctors in
performing medical care
(aka corpsman)
10
General enlisted ratings

Fireman
– Marine engineering
– Ship maintenance

Examples
–
–
–
–
–
Damage Controlman
Machinist’s Mate
Engineman
Electrician’s Mate
Gas Turbine Systems
Mechanic
11
General enlisted ratings

Airman
– Various naval air
activities

Examples
– Aviation Boatswain’s
Mate
– Aviation Electronics
Technician
– Aviation Warfare
Systems Operator
– Aviation Ordnancemen
12
General enlisted ratings

Constructionman Seabees
– Operates and services
construction equipment

Examples
– Builder
– Steelworker
– Construction Mechanic
– Utilitiesman
13
Enlisted Ratings
 BJM
– Ch. 3 and 4.
14
Ratings
 Some
important ones to know
– AB, AD, AE, AM, AT, AW, PR
– DC, EM, EN, GS, MM
– BM, CS, ET, FC, GM, HM, IS, IT, MA, OS, PS,
SK, QM, YN
– Study the insignia on your handouts!
15
Determining a Recruit’s Rating

Where do they fit in the Navy?

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB)

Personal desires

Needs of the Navy
16
Schools for Enlisted Personnel
 Class “A”
– School that provides basic, rate-specific training
for in-rate duties (e.g. Intelligence Specialist “A”
School).
 Class “C”
– School that provides advanced, rate-specific
training for sailors who need to acquire special
skills within their rating. Can impact reenlistment
status!
17
Eligibility for Advancement
 Time
 Pass
in rate (TIR)
rate-specific examination
 CO’s
RECOMMENDATION!!!
18
Navy Enlisted Classification
 NEC’s
– Codes that show the special knowledge and
skills they have now
– A four-digit number (i.e. – 1733)
19
Navy and Marine Corps
Uniforms
20
Rising through the ranks

E-1
 Seaman Recruit
21
Rising through the ranks

E-2
 Seaman Apprentice
22
Rising through the ranks

E-3
 Seaman
23
Rising through the ranks

E-4
 Petty Officer Third
Class
 BM3
24
Rising through the ranks

E-5
 Petty Officer Second
Class
 BM2
25
Rising through the ranks

E-6
 Petty Officer First
Class
 BM1
26
Rising through the ranks

E-7
 Chief Petty Officer
 QMC
27
Rising through the ranks

E-8
 Senior Chief Petty
Officer
 QMCS
28
Rising through the ranks

E-9
 Master Chief Petty
Officer
 QMCM
29
Rising through the ranks

E-9
 Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy
 MCPON
30
Rising through the ranks

O-1
 Navy
– Ensign (ENS)

USMC
– 2nd Lieutenant (2LT)
31
Rising through the ranks

O-2
 Navy
– Lieutenant Junior Grade
(LTjg)

USMC
– 1st Lieutenant (1LT)
32
Rising through the ranks

O-3
 Navy
– Lieutenant (LT)

USMC
– Captain (CAPT)
33
Rising through the ranks

O-4
 Navy
– Lieutenant Commander
(LCDR)

USMC
– Major (MAJ)
34
Rising through the ranks

O-5
 Navy
– Commander (CDR)

USMC
– Lieutenant Colonel
(LtCol)
35
Rising through the ranks

O-6
 Navy
– Captain (CAPT)

USMC
– Colonel (COL)
36
Rising through the ranks

O-7
 Navy
– Rear Admiral, Lower
Half (RADM)

USMC
– Brigadier General
(BGEN)
37
Rising through the ranks

O-8
 Navy
– Rear Admiral, Upper
Half (RDML)

USMC
– Major General (MGEN)
38
Rising through the ranks

O-9
 Navy
– Vice Admiral (VADM)

USMC
– Lieutenant General
(LGEN)
39
Rising through the ranks

O-10
 Navy
– Admiral (ADM)

USMC
– General (GEN)
40
Navy Uniforms
 Khakis
(Officers & CPO’s)
– Collar devices
– Wash khaki
 Short or long sleeve
 Being replaced by NWU
– CNT (Summer) khaki / POLY-
WOOL

Short sleeve
– Khaki combination cover, garrison
cap, or ball cap
41
Navy Uniforms
 Officer
summer whites
– CNT (Certified Navy Twill)
– Shoulder boards
– No collar devices!
– Gold belt buckle
– White combination cover
– WHITE SHOES
– No shoulder
boards, but collar devices.
 Chiefs
42
Navy Uniforms
 Officer
Service Dress Whites
– “Choker” whites
– CNT
– Shoulder boards
– No collar devices!
– Gold belt buckle
– White combo cover
– No shoulder boards, but collar
devices.
 Chiefs
43
44
Navy Uniforms
 Enlisted
summer whites
– Cotton/polyester
– Crow on left sleeve
– Silver belt buckle
– “Dixie cup”
45
Navy Uniforms
 Service
Dress Blues
– Ranks as stripes on sleeve
– Soft shoulder boards on white shirt
– Combination Cover
46
Navy Uniforms
 Service
Dress Blues (enlisted)
– Similar to enlisted dress whites
47
Navy Uniforms
 Utilities
(Enlisted
working uniform)
– Crow on left sleeve
– Name sewn in over
right breast pocket and
right rear pocket
– Long sleeve version
also
– Ballcap
– Being Phased Out
48
Navy Uniforms
 Enlisted
Service
Uniform
– New, replaces old
summer white and winter
blue uniforms
– Black slacks with khaki
shirt and black garrison
cover
49
Navy Uniforms
 Navy Working Uniform
– New working uniform for
E-1 – O-10
– Blue/Gray digital
camouflage pattern for
shipboard use
– Green and tan versions
are being developed for
field use.
50
Warfare Insignia

Surface Warfare Officer
Pin
51
Warfare Insignia

Enlisted Surface
Warfare Specialist
(ESWS) Pin
52
Warfare Insignia

Submarine Warfare
Officer Pin
 “Dolphins”
53
Warfare Insignia

Enlisted Submarine
Warfare Pin
 “Dolphins”
54
Warfare Insignia

Naval Aviator Pin
 (Pilot)
 Makes you look cool
 Most coveted pin in the
Navy
55
Warfare Insignia

Naval Flight Officer
Pin
 (NFO)
56
Warfare Insignia

Enlisted Aviation
Warfare Specialist Pin
 (EAWS)
57
Warfare Insignia

Special Warfare Pin
 (SEALs)
58
Warfare Insignia

Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Officer
 (EOD)
59
Warfare Insignia

Command at Sea
60
Warfare Insignia

Command Ashore
61
Differences between Line &
Staff Officers
 Unrestricted Line
(URL) Officers are eligible
for command-at-sea (ship, squadron, SEAL
team, etc.).
– Surface Warfare Officers
– Aviators/Flight Officers
– Nuclear Propulsion Officers
– Special Warfare and Special Operations Officers
62
Differences between Line &
Staff Officers
 Restricted
Line Officers are those in
seagoing specialties who are eligible for
command of shore installations within their
specialty. Some examples include:
– Intelligence and Cryptology Officers
– Cryptology Officers
– Engineering Duty Officers (EDO’s)
63
Differences between Line &
Staff Officers
 Staff
Corps Officers are those in shore-based
support fields who are eligible for command
of shore installations within their specialty.
Some examples include:
– Medical Corps and Medical Service Corps
Officers
– Supply Officers
– Chaplains and JAG Officers
– Civil Engineering Corps (CEC) Officers
64
Staff Corps

Medical Corps
65
Staff Corps

Dental Corps
66
Staff Corps

Nurse Corps
67
Staff Corps

Chaplain Corps
– Christian
68
Staff Corps

Chaplain Corps
– Jewish
69
Staff Corps

Chaplain Corps
– Muslim
70
Staff Corps

Supply Corps
71
Staff Corps

Civil Engineering
Corps
72
Staff Corps

Judge Advocate
General’s Corps
73
Other

Career Counselor
74
Marine Corps Enlisted Ranks
75
USMC Ranks

E-1
 Private
76
USMC Ranks

E-2
 Private First Class
(PFC)
77
USMC Ranks

E-3
 Lance Corporal (LCPL)
78
USMC Ranks

E-4
 Corporal (CPL)
79
USMC Ranks

E-5
 Sergeant (SGT)
80
USMC Ranks

E-6
 Staff Sergeant (SSGT)
81
USMC Ranks

E-7
 Gunnery Sergeant
(GySGT)
82
USMC Ranks

E-8
 First Sergeant
(1STSGT)

Master Sergeant
(MSGT)
83
USMC Ranks

E-9
 Sergeant Major
(SGTMAJ)

Master Gunnery
Sergeant (MGYSGT)
84
USMC Ranks

E-10
 Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps
(SGTMAJMC)
85
Marine Corps Uniforms
86
Marine Uniforms
 Blue-White
Dress “B”
– Blue dress coat
– White slacks
– White belt
– Combination cover
87
Marine Uniforms

Blue Dress “C”
– Long sleeve khaki shirt
– Khaki tie
– Blue slacks with red stripes down the
sides
– “Smokey the Bear” hat for DI’s
88
Marine Uniforms
 Blue
Dress “D”
– Short sleeve khaki shirt
– Blue slacks with red stripes down the sides
– Marine Combination cover
 Service
uniforms are similar, just with green
pants and garrison cover.
89
Was that enough information?

Believe it or not, we just scratched the surface!
 Ribbons, insignia, and uniforms here are the ones
you’re most likely to see.
 Many more!
– Dinner dress uniforms
– More medals
– Swords, tiaras, boat cloaks, etc.
– Marine dress uniforms worse than Navy!
90
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 John Smith, high school graduate
– Loves working on cars, engines
– Sees the Navy as a great opportunity!
– Enlists at his local recruiting office
 Basic Training (8
– Becomes a FR
weeks)
 Core Engineering School
– Assigned to Engineering Specialty (MM, EM)
– Emerges as a MMFR (EMFR, etc.)
91
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 After
school, go to sea!
– Gets more OJT
– After 9 months as FR, eligible for advancement.
– Becomes MMFA
– Spends 9 more months as FA
– Takes locally prepared Apprenticeship exam
– Becomes E-3 (MMFN).
92
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 Now,
he wants to get his “crow”
 Things he needs to do:
– Spend at least 6 months as MMFN
– Pass Navy Wide Exam for MM rating (E-4)
 Not enough to just pass! Must have score higher than
the “cutoff” (determined after the exam)
– Petty Officer Indoc
93
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career

MMFN Smith passes, but his score is below the
cutoff. He “PNA’ed” the test
– Passed, but Not Advanced
– This gives you a couple of points for the next time.

Six months later he takes the test again. This time,
he aces it! He’s now a Petty Officer (3rd class)
– --> MM3 Smith
94
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 Now,
he needs to spend at least another year
as a MM3.
 Also needs
– PARS for E-5
– High score on NWE
– Good evals!
95
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 But
now, it gets harder to advance.
 Why? Less room at the top!
 He needs really high score to make E-5. Has
to wait a year as a MM3 before taking the
MM2 test.
 Doesn’t get it for 2 more years.
 Finally, after 3rd try, makes E-5
– Petty Officer 2nd Class
– Starts working on his ESWS pin.
96
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 At
this point, thinking hard about staying in
for 20 years.
 Likes Navy. (Tough, but rewarding)
 Decides to re-enlist.
97
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career

Gets his ESWS pin.
– “Enlisted Surface
Warfare Specialist”
– Need several other
qualifications before
you can get this.
– Career enhancer

He is now MM2 (SW)
Smith
98
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 After
3 years as MM2 (SW), eligible to try
for E-6.
– Must take E-6 Navy Leadership (NAVLEAD)
 Again,
takes several tries to get the score he
needs.
 Makes E-6
– MM1 (SW)
 Becomes
divisional LPO.
 Sees khakis in his future!
99
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 After
another 3 years, again he takes the test.
 This time, test won’t automatically advance!
 He’s shooting for SBE
– Selection Board Eligible
 At
this point, he must stand out among his
peers.
100
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 His
evaluations have to say things like
– #1 First Class Petty Officer in the command!
– Ranks 1 out of 36! Stellar performer!
– Personally kept the ship from sinking!
– Better than most of the Chiefs!
– It would be a crime against humanity to not
promote him!
– etc, etc.
101
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 He must also take
– Navy Leadership Course for CPO’s
– the CPO indoctrination course
 After
Selection board sees his evals and his
grades, he’s selected for CPO!
 Chief’s initiation
 Puts on khaki uniform (E-7)
– MMC (SW) Smith
102
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 Yet
another 3 years go by. He now becomes
eligible for E-8.
– No more exams
– Just CPO Leadership course
– Glowing evals a MUST!
 Selection
board makes him a Senior Chief
Petty Officer.
– MMCS (SW)
103
Life cycle of the enlisted Naval
career
 By
now, he’s past his 20 year point.
 Decides he still likes his job.
 Pushes on for another 3 years.
 Again, he’s selected for Master Chief Petty
Officer --> MMCM (SW)
– Becomes Command Master Chief
– Works closely with CO to make command run
smoothly.
104
Potential test questions
 Everything.
 Write
the full name for the following rates:
– EM2
– YNSA
– ETC (SW)
– LTJG
– MAJ
105
Potential test questions
 If
you saw someone wearing
– a light blue shirt with dark blue slacks,
– black “bird” with two “V’s” on his left sleeve
– what can you tell about this person?
106
Potential test questions
 If
you saw someone wearing
– long sleeved white jacket with collar snug
around neck
– white slacks and white shoes
– gold shoulder boards with an anchor and three
stars on them
– what can you tell about this person?
107
Potential test questions
 Describe
the
– Surface Warfare Officer pin
– Submarine Officer pin
– Aviator pin
– (Hint: There’s at least one person on the staff
wearing each one of these!)
108
Potential test questions
 You
are the Electrical Division Officer. One
of your E-3’s wants very much to advance to
the next paygrade.
– What is his rate?
– What would his rate be if he advanced?
– What requirements does he have to complete in
order to get advanced?
109
Potential test questions
 At
what paygrade does a Navy enlisted
person start wearing khaki uniforms?
 What is an E-6 called in the Navy? Marine
Corps?
 What is an O-5 called in the Navy? Marine
Corps?
110
Potential test questions
 Everything in
this lecture is pretty important.
You will use this knowledge on a daily basis.
111