Radarman
Encyclopedia
Radarman was a rating in the U.S. Navy during, and after, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. The following ratings existed during the war for male or female enlisted personnel training, or with training, in the operation and maintenance of radar sets:

Levels of Rating

  • Radarman, striker (E-3) - designated RD.
  • Radarman, RDSN (E-3) - designated RDSN.
  • Radarman 3rd class (E-4)- designated RD3.
  • Radarman 2nd class (E-5) - designated RD2.
  • Radarman 1st class (E-6) - designated RD1.
  • Radarman, chief (E-7) - designated RDC.
  • Radarman, senior chief (E-8) - designated RDCS.
  • Radarman, master chief (E-9) - designated RDCM.

Duties

The radarman was generally required to attend and complete a U.S. Navy Class "A" radar school at a designated Naval Training Centers (NTC
NTC
NTC may refer to:* National Transitional Council, the provisional authority of the Libyan Republic* National Transitional Council , a political body of the Republic of the Congo* National Textbook Company , US book-publishing firm...

) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Once assigned to a ship or shore station, the radarman was required to operate and maintain the installed radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

 and electronic warfare equipment. Radarmen were specially trained in emergency repair procedures, as vessels they were assigned to went into combat areas.

The Radarman (RD) rating was changed to Operations Specialist (OS) in October 1972, with its operational duties assigned to the OS rating, electronic warfare operation and maintenance to the Electronic Warfare Technician (EW), and its radar maintenance duties to the Electronics Technician (ET) rating.

Operations Specialists play an important role with search-and-rescue teams, such as man overboard and directing search-and-rescue helicopters to downed pilots at sea.

The Operations Specialist also operates radar, navigation, and communications equipment in shipboard and combat information centers (CICs) or bridges. They detect and track ships, planes, and missiles. They operate and maintain IFF (identification friend or foe) systems.

Since changing from RD to OS, the OS rating has taken on more functions or duties. Besides Radar navigation, tactical communications, naval gunfire support, and Air Intercept Control (AIC), the OS now directs amphibious operations, establishes and maintains tactical data links, Anti-Submarine Tactical Air Control (ASTAC), Strike control, and other duties.

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 Radarman specialized training took place at the RD "A" school located at the Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...

 New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, These men and women could serve on a variety of assignments including large Coast Guard Ships and Vessel Traffic Services. The school was later moved to United States Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

where is stayed until 2003. The rate was changed to Operations Specialist during the "Merger of the Millennium" in the summer of 2003.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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