U.S. Navy Rank Insignia Identification Guide

This is an identification guide for the Enlisted rank/rating insignia used by the U.S. Navy. In the 1833 regulations, an insignia of a fouled anchor was authorized to signify the rank of Petty Officer. The insignia was worn on the front of the right or left upper sleeve depending on rating. In the 1841 regulations, an eagle matching the eagle on the uniform button, was added to the insignia. In the 1852 Regulations, a star was added to the insignia above the eagle. In the 1866 Regulations, the insignia was changed to a spread wing eagle on a fouled anchor with a star above. This insignia was worn on the front of the right upper sleeve for the Starboard Watch, and the front of the left sleeve for the Port Watch. The insignia were to be white on blue for the winter uniform and blue on white for the summer uniform. A system of rating patches were authorized for specific duties aboard ship. Note that rank patches were not issued. Patterns were provided and each sailor was expected to embroider or obtain the appropriate design.

In 1885, a system of enlisted chevrons combined with the rating patches was formalized, and adopted in the Regulations of 1886. Initially, 3 grades were established for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class Petty Officers. An additional grade of Chief Petty Officer was added in 1893. Diagonal stripes for Seaman, Seaman Apprentice, and Seaman Recruit were added in 1948. Senior Chief and Master Chief Petty Officer grades were added in 1958. To align with positions created by the Army and Marines, the position of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy was created in 1967. This position served to present the views and concerns of enlisted men to the Department of the Navy. The positions of Command Senior Chief and Command Master Chief Petty Officer were adopted in 2015. They server as the principal enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact [email protected].

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Petty Officer Patch 1833-1886


1833 Petty Officer Insignia	1833 Petty Officer Insignia	1841 Petty Officer Insignia	1841 Petty Officer Insignia	1852 Petty Officer Insignia
1852 Petty Officer Insignia	1866 Petty Officer Insignia - Starboard Watch	1866 Petty Officer Insignia - Starboard Watch	1866 Petty Officer Insignia pattern- Port Watch	1866 Petty Officer Insignia - Port Watch

Rating Insignia - 1866 to 1886


Coxswain/Boatswain Mate	Signals Quartermaster	Quartermaster of the Helm	Master at Arms	Captain of the Forecastle
Captain of the Top	Gunner's Mate	Sailmaker's Mate	Carpenter's Mate	Ship's Cook

Rank/Rate Insignia by Pattern - 1886 to date

The 1886 insignia consisted of red chevrons with eagle and rate symbol. The eagle and rate symbol were navy blue on white for the summer uniform and white on navy blue for the winter uniform. The Petty officer 3rd Class had 2 chevrons, 2nd Class had 3 chevrons, and 1st Class had 3 chevrons and a lozenge. A Chief Petty Officer initially had 3 chevrons and 3 arcs but was changed to a single arc in 1894. Crew assigned to the Port Watch worh the insignia on their left sleeve while crew of the Starboard Watch wore the insignia on the right sleeve. In either case, the eagle was to face forward. In 1913, the chevron color for the summer uniform was changed from red to navy blue. While gold bullion stripes for three tours with good conduct were referenced in the 1886 Regulations, the 1913 Regulations provided specific requirements including that the eagle and speciality rating were to be in silver bullion. In 1917, all Chief Petty Officers were authorized to wear the silver bullion eagle and speciality rating on Dress Blues regardless of stripe color. In 1942, Deck Ratings worn the insignia on their right sleeve with all other ratings worn on the left sleeve. In 1948, all insignia was worn on the left sleeve.


1886 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1886 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1886 Pattern Petty Officer 2nd Class	1886 Pattern Petty Officer 3rd Class	1893 Pattern Chief Petty Officer
1893 Pattern Chief Petty Officer	1894 Pattern Chief Petty Officer	1894 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1894 Pattern Petty Officer 2nd Class	1894 Pattern Petty Officer 3rd Class
1897 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1897 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1905 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1905 Pattern Chief Petty Officer	1913 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class
1913 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1941 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1941 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class	1990 Pattern Chief Petty Officer	1990 Pattern Petty Officer 1st Class

Rank/Rate Insignia by Background Color - 1886 to date


Winter Blues	Summer Whites	Khaki Work Uniform	Gray Coveralls	Marine Greens
3 Tours - Good Conduct	Seaman Blues with Rating	Seaman Blues	Seaman Whites	Fireman Blues
Fireman Whites	Constructionman Blues	Constructionman Whites	Airman Blues	Airman Whites

Rank/Rating Insignia - 1886 to date


Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	Command Master Chief Petty Officer	Command Senior Chief Petty Officer	Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer	Petty Officer 1st Class	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Office 3rd Class	Seaman
Seaman Apprentice	Seaman Recruit

Bullion Insignia - 1886 to date


Gold Bullion Good Conduct stripes	Silver Bullion with Good Conduct stripes	Silver Bullion with Good Conduct stripes	Silver Bullion with normal stripes	Silver Bullion with normal stripes
Silver Bullion for Khaki uniform	Silver Bullion for Dress White uniform	Silver Bullion with Good Conduct stripes	Unoffical Silver Bullion with normal stripes	Unoffical Silver Bullion with normal stripes

Rating Symbols - 1886 to date

Rating Symbols identify the trade /specialty of the enlisted man.There are 139 symbols that have been used since 1886. The titles associated with the symbols have changed over time. The dates and titles of each symbol are listed in the description.


Aerographer - 1923-1942 Aerographer's Mate - 1942-present	Air Controlman - 1948-present	Apothecary - 1885-1898 Hospital Corpsman - 1948-present	Aircrew Survival Equipmentman - 1965-present Parachute Rigger - 1942-1965	Airship Rigger - 1944-1948
Aviation Antisub Warfare Oper - 1968-1994 Aviation Warfare Sys Oper - 1994-present	Aviation Antisub Warfare Tech - 1963-present	Aviation Boatswain's Mate - 1944-present	Aviation Carpenter's Mate - 1921-1941	Aviation Electrician's Mate - 1947-present
Aviation Radio Tech - 1942-1945 Aviation Radioman - 1942-1948 Aviation Electronicsman - 1948-1959	Aviation Fire Control Tech - 1954-present	Aviation Fire Controlman - 1945-1948	Aviation General Utility - 1926-1958	Aviation Guided Missleman - 1954-1960
Aviation Machinist's Mate - 1921-present	Aviation Maint Admin - 1963-present	Aviation Metalsmith - 1921-1948	Aviation Ordnanceman - 1926-present	Aviation Photographer's Mate - 1948-1953 Photographer's Mate - 1994-present
Aviation Pilot - 1924-1933	Aviation Pilot - 1942-1948	Aviation Quartermaster - 1918-1921	Aviation Rigger - 1921-1926	Aviation Storekeeper - 1948-2003 Storekeeper V - 1945-1948
Aviation Structural Mech - 1948-present	Aviation Support Equip Tech - 1966-present	Baker - 1908-1948 Ship's Cook - 1896-1948	Bandmaster - 1885-1944 First Musician - 1893-1944 Musician - 1944-present	Blacksmith - 1885-1936 Coppersmith - 1927-1936 Molder 1917-1948 Shipfitter - 1902-1972
Boatswain's Mate - 1885-present Coxswain - 1885-1948	Boilerman - 1948-1976 Boiler Tech - 1976-1995	Boilermaker - 1885-1948 Coppersmith - 1893-1927 Engineman - 1917-1930 Machinist's Mate - 1885-present Motor Machinist's Mate - 1921-1926 Oiler - 1885-1921 Water Tender - 1885-1948	Boilermaker - 1956-1971 Boilerman - 1971-1976 Boilermaker - 1976-1977	Buglemaster - 1927-1948
Builder - 1948-present	Carpenter's Mate - 1885-1948 Painter - 1885-1948 Patternmaker - 1917-1947 Plumber & Fitter - 1893-1921	Commissary Steward - 1902-1948 Commissaryman - 1948-1974	Communications Tech - 1948-1967 Cyptologic Tech - 1976-present	Construction Battalion - 1942
Construction Electrician's Mate - 1948-1958 Construction Electrician - 1958-present	Construction Mechanic - 1958-present	Culinary Specialist - 2004-present	Damage Controlman - 1948-1972	Data Processing Tech - 1967-1998 Machine Accountant - 1948-1967
Data Systems Tech - 1963-1997	Dental Tech - 1948-2005	Disbursing Clerk - 1948-2005	Draftsman - 1948-2005 Illustrator Draftsman - 1961-present	Driver - 1948-1958 Equipment Operator - 1958-present
Electrician/Electrician's Mate - 1898-present	Electronics Warfare Tech - 1971-2000	Electronics Tech - 1948-present	Electronics Tech Mate - 1945-1948 Information Tech Specialist - 2001-present Radioman - 1921-present	Engineering Aide - 1961-present Surveyor - 1948-1961
Engineman - 1948-present	Explosive Ordnance Disposal - 2006-present	Fire Control Tech - 1946-1955	Fire Controlman - 1921-1955 Fire Control Tech - 1955-1985	Fire Controlman - 1985-present
Gas Turbine System Tech - 1978-present	Guided Missleman - 1954-1961 Missle Tech - 1961-present	Gun Captain - 1902-1904	Gunner's Mate - 1885-present	Gunner's Mate - 1885-present
Hospital Steward - 1898-1916 Pharmacist's Mate - 1916-1948	Hull Maint Tech - 1972-present	Instrumentman - 1948-1999 Special Artficer - 1944-1948	Intelligence Specialist - 1975-present	Interior Communications Electrician - 1948-present
Journalist - 1948-present	Legalman - 1973-present	Lithographer - 1948-present	Machinery Repairman - 1948-present	Mailman - 1944-1948 Postal Clerk - 1960-present
Mass Communications Specialist - 2006-present	Master-at-Arms - 1885-1921	Master-at-Arms - 1974-present	Mineman - 1944-present	Molder - 1948-1997
Motor Machinist's Mate - 1942-1948	Navy Counselor - 1974-present	Navy Diver - 2006-present	Nuclear Weaponsman - 1957-1961	Ocean Systems Tech - 1970-1997
Operations Specialist- 1971-present Radarman - 1947-1972	Opticalman - 1948-1999	Pattern Maker - 1948-1997	Personnelman - 1948-2005	Photographer - 1921-1942
Photographer's Mate - 1942-1948	Photographer's Mate - 1948-1994	Photographic Intelligenceman - 1958-1975	Pipefitter - 1948-1958	Printer - 1885-1958
Quartermaster - 1885-present	Radarman - 1942-1947	Religious Program Specialist - 1979-present	Sailmaker's Mate - 1885-1939	Ship's Cook - 1838-1896
Ship's Serviceman - 1944-present	Ship's Writer - 1885-1896 Yeoman - 1896-present	Signalman - 1921-1948/1957-2004	Sonarman - 1944-1964 Sonar Tech - 1964-present	Soundman - 1942-1944
Special Warfare Boat Operator - 2006-present	Special Warfare Operator - 2006-present	Specialist A - 1942-1959 Athletic Instructor - 1942-1944 Physical Training Instructor - 1944-1948 Airship Rigger - 1948-1955 Aircraft Carburetor Mechanic - 1956-1959	Specialist B - 1948-1965 Master At Arms (Shore) - 1948-1954 Stevedore - 1958-1965	Specialist C - 1942-1965 Classification - 1942-1942 Classification Interviewer - 1943-1948 Chaplain's Assistant - 1954-1965
Specialist E - 1945-1965 Recreation & Welfare Assistant - 1945-1948 Motion Picture Service - 1945-1948 Physical Training Instructor - 1948-1965	Specialist F - 1944-1965 Fire Fighter - 1944-1965	Specialist G - 1942-1948 Gunnery Instructor - 1942-1943 Aviation/Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Instructor - 1943-1948	Specialist H - 1959-1965 Harbor Defense Sonarman - 1959-1965	Specialist I - 1942-1965 IBM Operator - 1942-1943 Electric Accounting Machine Operator - 1943-1946 Instructor (Misc) - 1948-1965
Specialist K - 1948-1974 Chemical Warfareman - 1948-1955 Telecommunications Censorship Technician - 1957-1972 Information Security Specialist 1972-1974	Specialist M - 1942-1965 Mail Clerk - 1942-1944 Underwater Mechanic - 1948-1965	Specialist O - 1942-1948 Naval Material Inspector - 1942-1948	Specialist P - 1942-1960 Photographer - 1942-1944 Photographic Specialist - 1944-1948 Photogammetry Assistant - 1948-1960	Specialist Q - 1943-1948 Communications Specialist - 1943-1946 Cryptographer - 1946-1948
Specialist R - 1942-1965 Recruiter - 1942-1948 Transportationman - 1948-1965	Specialist S - 1942-1954 Entertainer - 1942-1942 Shore Patrol & Security 1942-1948 Shore Patrolman - 1948-1954	Specialist T - 1942-1957 Instructor - 1942-1948 Transportation Airman - 1948-1957	Specialist U - 1943-1965 Utility (V-10) - 1943-1944 Motion Picture Service - 1948-1965	Specialist V - 1943-1962 Transport Airman - 1943-1948 Aviation Pilot - 1948-1962
Specialist W - 1942-1965 Welfare/Recreation Leader - 1942-1965	Specialist X - 1943-1961 Specialist (Not Otherwise Classified) - 1943-1961	Specialist Y - 1943-1948 Control Tower Operator - 1943-1948	Steelworker - 1948-present	Steward - 1944-1963
Steward - 1963-1975	Storekeeper - 1916-present Yeoman - 1885-1916	Teleman - 1948-1956	Torpedoman's Mate - 1921-present	Tradevman - 1948-1988
Turret Captain - 1903-1948	Underwater Medhanic - 1948-1948	Utilitiesman - 1948-present	Weapons Tech - 1987-1994