Naval rating
Encyclopedia
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy
, subordinate to Warrant Officer
s and Officer
s hence not conferred by commission or warrant
. The term is generally used in reference to rank
, whilst in the United States it is used differently to denote both rank and specialist employment.
The system of conferring authority on sailors in the Royal Navy
and elsewhere evolved through the recognition of competence; Landsman
, Ordinary or Able and through the appointment of authority as a petty officer
.
Historically the term rate also applied to ships
, denoting their combat strength by the number, and type, of guns.
The general structure
now used in the majority of countries breaks down into four major groupings:
of the individual, whereas a "rating" refers to the specialization of the individual. Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers are referred to by a combination of rate and rating: for example, a Petty Officer Second Class with the rating of Gunner's Mate is referred to and addressed as "Gunner's Mate Second Class," abbreviated and sometimes spoken GM2; similarly a Chief Petty Officer with the rating of Quartermaster is referred to as a Chief Quartermaster (QMC). Personnel E-1 to E-3 have no rating and are thus called "non-rated men" or "non-rates;" however they are broadly classed into one of five groups of junior rates, Seaman (SN), Fireman (FN), Airman (AN), Hospitalman (HN) and Constructionman (CN).
Within these a number of further specializations are available such as aviation electrician, or gas systems technician dealing with propulsion.
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
, subordinate to Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s and Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s hence not conferred by commission or warrant
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
. The term is generally used in reference to rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
, whilst in the United States it is used differently to denote both rank and specialist employment.
The system of conferring authority on sailors in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and elsewhere evolved through the recognition of competence; Landsman
Landman (rank)
Landman was a military rank given to naval recruits.-United Kingdom:In the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in the middle of the 18th century , the term Landman referred to a seaman with less than a year's experience at sea...
, Ordinary or Able and through the appointment of authority as a petty officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
.
Historically the term rate also applied to ships
Rating system of the Royal Navy
The rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the British Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the...
, denoting their combat strength by the number, and type, of guns.
The general structure
Comparative military ranks
This article is a list of various states' armed forces ranking designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. Several of these lists mention NATO reference codes. These are the NATO rank reference...
now used in the majority of countries breaks down into four major groupings:
- Able Rate
- Leading Rate
- Petty OfficerPetty OfficerA petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
- Chief Petty OfficerChief Petty OfficerA chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
United States Navy
A "rate" refers to the pay grade or rankMilitary rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of the individual, whereas a "rating" refers to the specialization of the individual. Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers are referred to by a combination of rate and rating: for example, a Petty Officer Second Class with the rating of Gunner's Mate is referred to and addressed as "Gunner's Mate Second Class," abbreviated and sometimes spoken GM2; similarly a Chief Petty Officer with the rating of Quartermaster is referred to as a Chief Quartermaster (QMC). Personnel E-1 to E-3 have no rating and are thus called "non-rated men" or "non-rates;" however they are broadly classed into one of five groups of junior rates, Seaman (SN), Fireman (FN), Airman (AN), Hospitalman (HN) and Constructionman (CN).
Within these a number of further specializations are available such as aviation electrician, or gas systems technician dealing with propulsion.