10-18
You should also be familiar with the rating structure
of the other branches of the U.S. military. Refer to figure
10-11 for a comparison of the Navy, Marine Corps,
Army, and Air Force enlisted structure.
RANK INSIGNIA/CORPS DEVICES—U.S.
NAVAL OFFICER
The paygrade of an enlisted person is referred to as a
rate. For example, an E-4 is a petty officer third class.
The paygrade of a commissioned officer is called a rank.
A lieutenant is an 0-3. Commissioned officers hold their
positions of command by the authority given them by
the President of the United States.
Naval Officers
An officer of a given grade is junior to all officers of
higher grades and senior to all officers of lower grades.
Any commissioned officer is senior to any warrant
officer or enlisted person. When officers are of the same
grade, then the officer first commissioned in that grade
outranks officers commissioned at later dates. In other
words, officers of the same grade rank according to their
date of commission—the earlier the date, the more
senior the officer. If the officers have the same date of
rank, then they take precedence according to a
numerical listing kept by the Navy Department. Figures
10-12, 10-13, and 10-14 show the rank insignia of U.S.
naval officers as well as the insignia of other branches of
the U.S. armed forces.
Student Notes:
FIRE CONTROLMAN - FC
MINEMAN - MN
GUNNER’S MATE - GM
FIRE CONTROL TECHNICIAN - FT
TORPEDOMAN’S MATE - TM
MISSILE TECHNICIAN - MT
WEAPONS SPECIALTIES
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN - HM
D
DENTAL TECHNICIAN - DT
MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
Figure 10-10B.—Rating insignias for enlisted personnel (continued).
