All Topics  
Seaman

 

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

Seaman



 
 
Seaman as a rate refers to one of the lowest rates in a Navy
Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions....
. In Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 context it refers to the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman
Able Seaman (rank)

Royal NavyIn the United Kingdom Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Able Seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea....
 and Leading Seaman
Leading Seaman

Leading Seaman is a non-commissioned member rank or rate in navy, particularly those of the Commonwealth of Nations....
, and followed by the Petty Officer
Petty Officer

A Petty Officer is a Non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navy....
 ranks.

In United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 context it refers to the lowest three enlisted rates of the U.S. Navy, followed by the Petty Officer
Petty Officer

A Petty Officer is a Non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navy....
 ranks. It is the equivalent of the private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 in the U.S. Army.

eaman is the third enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
 and other navies.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Seaman'
Start a new discussion about 'Seaman'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Seaman as a rate refers to one of the lowest rates in a Navy
Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions....
. In Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 context it refers to the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman
Able Seaman (rank)

Royal NavyIn the United Kingdom Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Able Seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea....
 and Leading Seaman
Leading Seaman

Leading Seaman is a non-commissioned member rank or rate in navy, particularly those of the Commonwealth of Nations....
, and followed by the Petty Officer
Petty Officer

A Petty Officer is a Non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navy....
 ranks.

In United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 context it refers to the lowest three enlisted rates of the U.S. Navy, followed by the Petty Officer
Petty Officer

A Petty Officer is a Non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navy....
 ranks. It is the equivalent of the private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 in the U.S. Army.

United States





Seaman is the third enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
 and other navies. For the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the Military of the United States and one of seven Uniformed services of the United States. In addition to being a military branch at all times, it is unique among the armed forces in that it is also a Admiralty law agency and a Federal government of the United States regulatory agency....
 the rate is just above Seaman Apprentice
Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice is the second lowest enlisted rank in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, just above Seaman Recruit and below Seaman; this rank was formerly known as Seaman Second Class....
 and below Petty Officer Third Class
Petty Officer Third Class

Petty Officer Third Class is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, just above Seaman and below Petty Officer Second Class, and is the lowest form of non-commissioned officer, equivalent to a Corporal in the United States Army and United States Marine Corps....
; this rate was formerly known as Seaman First Class.

The actual title for an E-3 in the U.S. Navy varies based on the community to which the sailor belongs. Likewise, the color of their group rate marks also depends on their community.

  • Those in the general deck and administrative community are Seamen. They wear White stripes on navy blue uniforms, and navy blue (black) stripes on white uniforms.
  • Hospital Corpsmen are Hospitalmen. They are the only rate in this community. They wear White stripes on navy blue uniforms, and navy blue stripes on white uniforms.
  • Those in the engineering and hull community are called Firemen and wear red stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.
  • Those in the aviation community are called Airmen and wear green stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.
  • Seabees are called Constructionmen and wear light blue stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.


No stripes are worn on the working uniforms - coveralls or utilities.

In October 2005, the Dental Technician rating was merged with the Hospital Corpsman rating, eliminating the Dentalman title. Those who once held the rank of Dentalman have instead become Hospitalmen.

Sailors who have completed the requirements to be assigned a rating and have been accepted by the Bureau of Naval Personnel as holding that rating (a process called "striking") are called Designated Strikers, and are called by their full rate and rating in formal communications (ie, Machinist's Mate Fireman, as opposed to simply Fireman), though the rating is often left off in informal communication. Those who have not officially been assigned to a rating are officially referred to as "Undesignated" or "Non-rates."

As with the Navy, the actual title for a E-3 in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the Military of the United States and one of seven Uniformed services of the United States. In addition to being a military branch at all times, it is unique among the armed forces in that it is also a Admiralty law agency and a Federal government of the United States regulatory agency....
 varies based on their community. However, the smaller size of the Coast Guard limits E-3s to only three options: Seaman (white stripes), Fireman (red stripes), and Airman (green stripes).

See also

United States Navy enlisted rates Comparative military ranks
Comparative military ranks

This article is a list of various states' armed forces military rank designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another....
United States Coast Guard officer rank insignia
United States Coast Guard officer rank insignia

United States Coast Guard officer rank describes an officers pay-grade. Rank is displayed on collar devices, shoulder boards, and on the sleeves of dress uniforms....
United States Coast Guard enlisted rate insignia
United States Coast Guard enlisted rate insignia

These charts represents the United States Coast Guard enlisted Naval rate insignia. Rates are used to describe an enlisted sailors pay-grade. Rates aren't to be confused with "List of United States Coast Guard ratings ", which describe the Coast Guards enlisted occupations....
List of United States Coast Guard ratings
List of United States Coast Guard ratings

United States Coast Guard ratings are general occupations that consist of specific skills and abilities. Each naval rating has its own specialty badge, which is typically worn on the left sleeve of their service dress uniform by all enlisted rank personnel in that particular field....