Naval rating

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The term rating or rate carries different meanings depending on which navy is being discussed.

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[edit] Royal Navy

In the Royal Navy, a rate is the equivalent of a military rank, held by a person below the ranks of Warrant Officer. A person who holds a rate is known as a rating.

In the age of sail, when civilians were frequently pressed into service in the Royal Navy, seamen were rated as "Landsman", "Ordinary", "Able", "Petty Officer", etc. by their captains to designate their ability and responsibility. Some men were given specialist rates, e.g. Surgeon's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Captain's secretary, etc.

Although generally commissioned officers were senior to warrant officers and warrant officers were senior to ratings, the method of appointment of men on a ship did not always reflect their seniority. For example, in those days the ship's cook was appointed by warrant, while Midshipmen were rated.

Today, Royal Navy ratings have two rates, a substantive rate that indicates their seniority, and a non-substantive rate that indicates their specialisation. For example, a Leading Rate who is a Radio Operator will be titled "LRO Smith"

The substantive rates today are:

Senior Rates -

Junior Rates -

The former Ordinary Rate is no longer used.

In the age of sail, there was also a system of rating ships by the number of guns carried.

[edit] United States Navy

In the U.S. Navy enlisted personnel are classified according to rating, which is the naval term for Military Occupational Specialty. It is common to confuse rating (occupational specialty) with rate (pay grade; for officers, rank). In order for sailors to increase their rate, they must take an exam in their rating. The scoring depends upon how many billets there are to fill.

Sailors obtain a rating either through attending a naval A school or through on-the-job training known as "striking." Some examples of a rating would be: Sonar Technician (Submarines), Electronics Technician, Machinist Mate (Nuclear), or [Aviation Ordnanceman].

[edit] United States Coast Guard

In the United States Coast Guard Petty Officers are classified by their rating. A list of ratings and insignia associated with them is available at http://www.uscg.mil/top/graphics/enlisted.asp


[edit] See also

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