U.S. NAVY RANKS

created by congress in april 1798 the department of the navy has its earliest roots in the continental navy which was formed in 1775 by general george washington to defend the american colonies from british attack regarded as the second oldest branch of the united states military the united states navy is charged with the defense of the country at sea the seabourn support of the other u.s military services and the maintenance of security on the seas wherever the interests of the united states extend in this video we will take a look at all the ranks of the united states navy [Music] the united states navy categorizes its ranks into enlisted sailors warrant officers and commissioned officers in ascending order of seniority in contrast to the other u.s military services which organize enlisted service members according to ranks the united states navy categorizes its sailors according to rates even though it also uses the same e1 to e9 pay grade structure as the other branches the rate of an enlisted sailor can be determined by their rating badge which is a combination of a rape badge of stripes or chevrons in a rocker as well as a specialty mark represented by the symbol just above the stripes or chevrons on the left sleeve of most uniforms u s navy enlisted sailors start out in the rate of semen recruit where they learn the culture and essential skills needed in the navy seamen are usually assigned to an occupational rate in either the category of semen firemen construction men airmen or hospital men there is currently no uniform insignia for the rate of seam and recruit moving up in rate a seaman recruit usually receives an automatic promotion to the rate of semen apprentice when they complete six months of time in service assuming that they follow protocols and exhibit a satisfactory performance in the rate of semen apprentice sailors continue their education by attending ascension training within their rating and they will also be tasked with some menial duties a semen apprentice wears an insignia featuring two diagonal stripes and their specialty mark with colour variations depending on the uniform and their occupation seamen upon promotion to this rate sailors would have met the basic qualifications and are usually assigned responsibilities ashore or on a vessel seamen may be tasked with lookout and helmsman duties damage control emergency and security alert teams among other duties a seaman wears an insignia featuring three diagonal stripes and their specialty mark with colour variations depending on the uniform and their occupation the rates of seam and recruit through to seamen are classified as apprenticeships as sailors become more seasoned in the navy they may be promoted to petty officer third class in order to be promoted to petty officer third class sailors must complete a specialty test in their particular rating at this rate they are expected to display leadership skills as well as technical expertise and provide mentorship for junior sailors the insignia for petty officer third class features one chevron below a perched eagle and the specialty mark next in order of seniority is petty officer second class to get a promotion to this rate sailors must sit another rating exam meet the minimum training and qualification requirements for their rate and have their commanding officers recommendation those in this rate will have similar responsibilities to those of a petty officer third class but they manage more resources and larger work groups or watch sections a petty officer second class wears an insignia featuring two chevrons below a perched eagle and the specialty mark petty officer first class in this rate sailors start making the transition from junior to senior petty officers a petty officer first class mentors junior non-commissioned officers and plays a leadership role in their division team they also manage more significant resources and delegate tasks their insignia features three chevrons below a perched eagle and the specialty mark u s navy sailors in the rates of semen apprentice through to petty officer first class where color insignia similar to their sleeve insignia but without the specialty mark ascending in rate sailors are promoted to chief petty officer a chief petty officer is considered a senior non-commissioned officer and has increased authority and responsibilities sailors in this rate have technical expertise and strong leadership skills and are also responsible for training and mentoring junior non-commissioned officers chief petty officers wear an insignia featuring a perched eagle three chevrons and a rocker as well as a specialty mark senior chief petty officer senior chief petty officers typically serve as department chiefs and are relied on for their technical supervision and managerial expertise as well as training and supervision of junior sailors a senior chief petty officer's insignia features a star above a perched eagle three chevrons and a rocker as well as a specialty mark next in order of seniority is the rate of master chief petty officer master chief petty officers are senior enlisted petty officers in the navy they are vested with special command trust and confidence extending to administrative and managerial functions involving enlisted personnel they must also have significant technical expertise in their respected fields their insignia features two stars above a perched eagle three chevrons and a rocker as well as a specialty mark fleet or command master chief petty officer sailors in this rate serve as senior enlisted advisers at the fleet or command level they work as liaisons between the commanding officer and the enlisted rates serving as the senior enlisted leader they wear an insignia featuring two stars above a perched eagle three chevrons and a rocker as well as a star taking the place of the specialty mark master chief petty officer of the navy a sailor in this rate serves as the senior enlisted adviser to the chief of naval operations as well as the chief of naval personnel they also serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the navy this is the highest rate in the navy for enlisted sailors but if a sailor is serving as the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff seniority would be given to that enlisted sailor the insignia for the master chief petty officer of the navy features three stars above a perched eagle three chevrons and a rocker as well as a star taking the place of the specialty mark u.s navy chief petty officers wear a collar insignia featuring a gold-fouled anchor a silver-imposed usn and stars based on the amount on their sleeve insignia next in order of seniority are the ranks for warrant officers warrant officers are technical experts in one of the navy's designated specialties the lowest rank in this category is the rank of warrant officer one this rank was re-established in 2018 and the first set of warrant officer ones in decades graduated in 2019 following the re-establishment a u.s navy warrant officer 1 wears a collar insignia featuring a gold bar with two blue breaks or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia featuring one quarter inch gold stripe with three blue breaks the lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer ii a chief warrant officer too serves as a technical specialist with command authority within their field of expertise holders of this rank wear a collar insignia featuring a gold bar with three blue breaks or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with one half inch gold stripe with three blue breaks ascending in rank u.s navy warrant officers are promoted to chief warrant officer iii warrant officers in this rank are usually relied upon to supervise the maintenance and repair of all types of equipment during extended deployments at sea they wear a collar insignia featuring a silver bar with two blue breaks or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with one half inch gold stripe with two blue breaks the penultimate rank for warrant officers is that of chief warrant officer iv promotion to this rank is based on outstanding military performance training and education a chief warrant officer 4 wears a collar insignia featuring a silver bar with three blue breaks or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with one half inch gold stripe and one blue break the final rank for warrant officers in the u.s navy is the rank of chief warrant officer 5. holders of this rank are considered the most skilled and experienced warrant officers in the command they wear a collar insignia featuring a silver bar with an horizontal blue stripe and a shoulder board or sleeve insignia featuring one half inch gold stripe with an horizontal blue line and a blue break the shoulder board and sleeve insignia for warrant officers also feature their specialty device the ranks above the warrant officer ranks are the ranks for commissioned officers these officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the senate the most junior commissioned officer rank in the u.s navy is the rank of ensign to be commissioned as an ensign candidates must graduate from naval officer training after graduating they learn their trait through on the job training and are mentored by superior officers and experienced petty officers ensigns wear a collar insignia featuring a gold bar or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia featuring one half inch gold stripe following promotion from the rank of ensign officers are promoted to the rank of lieutenant junior grade in this rank they have increased responsibilities and may serve as a division officer in a fleet leading a team in a specialized area a lieutenant junior grade wears a collar insignia featuring a silver bar or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with a quarter inch gold stripe and one half inch gold stripe lieutenant lieutenants are qualified in warfare and have strong leadership skills they often serve as division officers and carry significant responsibilities including mentoring junior officers they may also be given command of small ships aircraft squadrons or submarines u.s navy lieutenants can be identified by a colo insignia with two silver bars or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with two half inch gold stripes officers in the ranks of ensign through to lieutenant are categorised as junior grade officers next in the order of seniority are the ranks for mid-grade offices the lowest rank in this category is the rank of lieutenant commander holders of this rank have varying roles but they may serve as department head or executive officer on a ship aircraft squadron submarine or a seal team officers in this rank wear a collar insignia featuring a gold oak leaf or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with one quarter inch gold stripe between two half inch gold stripes commander commanders fill senior leadership roles which vary depending on whether they are ship or shore based they may command a frigate submarine seal team shore installation or squadrons of aircraft u.s navy commanders wear a collar insignia featuring a silver oak leaf or a shoulder board and sleeve insignia with three half inch gold stripes following promotion from the rank of commander officers are promoted to the rank of captain this is the highest rank for mid-grade officers captains may command ships including aircraft carriers cruisers or ballistic missile submarines as well as seal groups or shore installations the collar insignia for the rank of captain features a silver spread eagle and the shoulder board and sleeve insignia features four half inch gold stripes the next rank category for us navy officers is that of flag officers the lowest rank in this category is the rank of rear admiral lower half which replaced the rank of commodore in 1985 officers in this rank may command a major operation at sea or onshore such as overseeing an amphibious group or an expeditionary strike group they wear a collar insignia featuring one star a shoulder board insignia with one star and a fouled anchor or a sleeve insignia consisting of one two inch gold stripe next in order of seniority is the rank of rear admiral upper half holders of this rank usually command a fleet of ships such as destroyers or submarines or serve as deputies in larger commands these officers wear a collar insignia featuring two stars a shoulder board insignia with two stars and a fouled anchor or a sleeve insignia consisting of one two inch gold stripe and one half inch gold stripe moving up in rank officers may be promoted to the rank of vice admiral vice admirals oversee the highest navy commands and they may also serve as deputies for regional commands during an operation or time of war they wear a collar insignia featuring three stars a shoulder board insignia consisting of three stars and a fouled anchor or a sleeve insignia consisting of two half inch gold stripes and one two inch gold stripe ascending in rank the next achievable rank is that of admiral admiral is currently the highest rank attainable by u.s navy officers they serve in the highest operations in the navy such as command of a regional fleet such as the pacific or atlantic fleets or serve as chief of naval operations the colo insignia for a u.s navy admiral features four stars while the shoulder board insignia features four stars and a fouled anchor and the sleeve insignia consists of three half inch gold stripes and one two inch gold stripe during wartime navy officers may be promoted to the temporary rank of fleet admiral there have only been four in the history of the u.s navy with the last to be appointed to the rank was william halsey jr in 1945. the collar insignia for a fleet admiral features five stars their shoulder board insignia features five stars and a fouled anchor while the sleeve insignia consists of four half inch gold stripes and one two inch gold stripe navy officers are designated as either line officer or as a staff corps officer unrestricted line and restricted line officers wear an embroidered gold star above their insignia while staff core officers wear unique designated devices did you know that six us presidents served in the u.s navy during world war ii john f kennedy lyndon b johnson richard nixon joel ford jimmy carter and george h.w bush served in the us navy during world war ii in fact every president from 1961 to 1993 except for ronald reagan was a u.s navy veteran if you didn't know this you learnt it on military stuff thanks for watching don't forget to check out our other videos you

Channel: Military Stuff

Views: 188,484

Keywords: Military Stuff, army ranks, navy ranks, air force ranks, coastguard ranks, marines ranks, British Army, Royal Air force, Royal Marines

Id: NhtH-ntOv2I

Length: 17min 19sec (1039 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 16 2022