Tag Archives: navy rates

Well hello there, new rates

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When Americans in China were in sticky situations from 1901-1941, this is how the brown-water sailors of the US Navy's YANGPAT came ashore.

With (former) SECNAV Mabus now working on his golf game and the Navy rating system reinstated, it looks like the sea service is doubling down with a series of new rates.

The Navy announced Wednesday the establishment of four new ratings for active duty Sailors, yeoman submarine (YNS), logistics specialist submarine (LSS), culinary specialist submarine (CSS) and fire controlman Aegis (FCA) in NAVADMIN 021/17.

This realignment was made to improve management of ship manning and personnel inventory for both the Surface and Submarine ratings.

The new ratings will be effective:
– Sept. 2, 2017, for E-6
– Oct. 17, 2017, for E-7 through E-9
– Nov. 28, 2017, for E-1 through E-5

Sailors serving as Aegis fire controlman and yeoman, logistics specialist, culinary specialist submarine Sailors will be converted to their applicable service ratings by enlisted community managers with no action needed from the member.

More here

All of which makes this post by the Duffleblog that much sweeter.

It looks like the Navy is backpedaling on scrapping the rates after all

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Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John Richardson, with the support of Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steve Giordano, made the announcement in NAVADMIN 283/16.

“Our Navy needs to be a fast-learning organization – that includes Navy leadership,” Richardson wrote in the NAVADMIN. “The Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority states that our most junior teammate may have the best idea and that we must be open to capturing that idea. We have learned from you, and so effective immediately, all rating names are restored.”

“The SECNAV, MCPON and I, along with other Navy leadership, have had the opportunity to speak with thousands of Sailors during our travels throughout the fleet. The feedback from current and former Sailors has been consistent that there is wide support for the flexibility that the plan offers, but the removal of rating titles was unnecessary and detracted from accomplishing our major goals.”

Now can someone please help the SECNAV pack his things…

White House on Navy rate petition: Go pound sand

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navy-rates-cover

As you may remember, there was a We The People/Change.org petition to halt the wholesale scrapping by SECNAV Ray “I hate the Navy” Mabus of the Navy’s 241-year rating system. 

It garnered more than 100,000 signatures and thus required a comment from the White House in response.

Repeated thus:

The Navy’s recent announcement about Navy Occupational Specialties has garnered attention from many veterans and supporters like you who cherish naval tradition.

This new classification system, which was produced by a comprehensive review led by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and his senior enlisted leadership, moves toward occupational specialties titles similar to the other armed services. Modernizing this system provides many benefits within the Navy, such as increased flexibility in training and assignments. It also affords our Sailors opportunities when transitioning to the civilian workforce by aligning their specialties with civilian occupations.

This Administration believes that providing widely-recognized credentials will improve service members’ chances of success in the private sector. Improving hiring opportunities for veterans remains a high priority for this Administration, embodied in efforts such as the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s “Joining Forces” initiative.

Organizational changes that require a cultural shift can cause friction during transition periods, but the President has confidence in the decisions made by U.S. Navy leaders and agrees that the benefits in future years will outweigh growing pains in the next several months. Whether one’s Navy career occurred under the former rating structure or today’s modernized system, the President maintains his steadfast pride in Sailors who have sacrificed and worked hard to serve with distinction.

On the bright side the /sarc/ Duffleblog is reporting the Coast Guard will now receive all the leftover and unused rates.

“Turning over the rates is bittersweet. They have served as a long and distinguished tradition within the U.S. Navy with much good work done in terms of pride in one’s rate. And I know that it means a lot for us to know that it will be in the service of the Coast Guard in continuing the custom of creating weird and obscure rates with painfully specific job titles,” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Steven said.

Kittens, parrots and ambidextrous rate patches

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U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph # NH 57497

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph # NH 57497

USS Alabama (Battleship # 8) Ship’s Gunner and Gunner’s Mates, summer 1903. Note the kitten and parrot mascots, the Chief’s pipe and the comment written on the First Class Gunner’s Mate at right (accidental discharge?)

She was an 11,565-ton leviathan of the Illinois-class armed with 4 x 13″/35 main guns and 14 x 6″/40cal secondaries and her gunnery crew in 1903 was both very photogenic and celebrated.

Forward turret crew Gunner's Mates pose by the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903. Note the ex-Apprentice marks (figure "8" knot badges) worn by two of these men.Photo # NH 57494, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.

Forward turret crew Gunner’s Mates pose by the breech of one of the ship’s 13″/35 guns, 1903. Note the ex-Apprentice marks (figure “8” knot badges) worn by two of these men as well as the flatcaps. Photo # NH 57494, from the collections of the United States Naval Historical Center.

Champion guns crew with Lieutenant Lewis J. Clark, 1903. They are posed with a 13-inch shell, on the foredeck in front of the ship's forward 13"/35 gun turret.Photo # NH 57495.

Champion guns crew with Lieutenant Lewis J. Clark, 1903. They are posed with an 1100-pound, 13-inch shell, on the foredeck in front of the ship’s forward 13″/35 gun turret. Photo # NH 57495.

Crew members F. Petry (left) and W.M. Langridge (in gun) pose at the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903. Note the "A" with figure "8" knot on Petry's shirt. Photo # NH 57496

Crew members F. Petry (left) and W.M. Langridge (in gun) pose at the breech of one of the ship’s 13″/35 guns, 1903. Note the “A” with figure “8” knot on Petry’s shirt. Langridge also appears prominently in another image above, his pomade being very distinctive. Photo # NH 57496

These 13″ guns were used in the Navy’s first several classes of battleship from USS Indiana (BB-1) through USS Wisconsin (BB-9) and were pretty effective, with Navweaps noting “During the Battle of Santiago on 3 July 1898, the battleship Oregon (B-3) engaged in a running shoot with the Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon. Oregon’s last shots traveled 9,500 yards (8,700 m) and landed just ahead of the Spanish ship, convincing her to surrender.”

Also, note the gunners have alternating patches in the images above, some on their left sleeve, others on their right. Before WWI, Navy gunners mates on large ships such as a battleship would have their patches arranged to identify their watch station on ship. E.g. left sleeve for portside, right sleeve for starboard broadsides.

In 1917, this changed to right arm for seaman branches, left arm for non-seaman. In 1946 they all went to left arm rates. In 2016, well…

Bring back those beautiful rates!

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130924-N-XZ912-002 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 24, 2013) – Gunners Mate 3rd Class Amelia Sandoval, left, and Gunners Mate 2nd Class Samuel Ervin perform maintenance on a torpedo tube aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52). Barry, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 24, 2013) – Gunners Mate 3rd Class Amelia Sandoval, left, and Gunners Mate 2nd Class Samuel Ervin perform maintenance on a torpedo tube aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52). Barry, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz)

Just in case you didn’t know, there is a Change.org petition to halt the scrapping by Ray Mabus of the Navy’s longstanding rating system.

For 241 Years Navy personnel have been identified by their Job specialty, known as a “Rating”. The oldest rates such as Boatswain Mates, and Gunners Mate predate the founding of this country. Being known by your job title was a sense of pride. A sign of accomplishment. The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations just senselessly erased this tradition. One only has to visit Navy social media pages to see the disgust and outrage of current and former personnel. One by one current leadership continues to erode the very things that set the Navy apart from the other services. Mr. President, I and the others signing this petition request you use your authority to restore to our Sailors what they have earned.

Click here if you want to see, sign or share.