Posted on 07/19/2015 9:50:15 PM PDT by Graybeard58
I have a picture of my uncle in his navy uniform, W.W.2 era. I know nothing about Navy ranks. Can somebody tell me his rank by looking at the chevron on his sleeve and translate it to, E2,E3,E4, etc.
I will post the pic in reply number 1 as I don't know how to post it in the body of the article. Thanks.
petty officer first class, E6?
First Class Petty Officer. Not sure of the specialty.
Apprentice Petty Officer First Class. It’s not a real NCO rank. It was what they gave recruit leaders during recruit training. That came off his uniform PDQ when he hit the fleet. This is probably his boot camp graduation photo.
Very interesting:
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/37211-strange-ww1-era-usn-aviation-jumper-help/
By Jove, I think you got it right.
I forgot about the ‘crossed’ lines for RPO’s (Recruit Petty Officers)
That is why I couldn’t find it in the ‘right am, rates section” — the Original types...Boatswain, Quartermaster, Gunner etc.....the specialty rates went on the Left sleeve and the ‘Right Arm rates were another world’
HERO
1st class.
The Recruit PO patch was much smaller and on the left arm. But, during WWII the Navy enlisted some critical ratings at senior levels depending on their civilian work experiences. These were known as specialist ratings. The emblem in the center is a square knot. Sorry, don’t know the job associated with it.
The Navy also had “right arm” and “left arm” ratings for petty officers. Right arm rates were those belonging to the seaman branch and included: Boatswain's Mate (crossed anchors), Gunner's Mate (crossed cannons), Turret Captain (gun turret), Torpedoman’s Mate (torpedo), and Quartermaster (ship's steering wheel). These ratings were senior to other ratings in precedence. Left arm rates were all other ratings.
Petty officers wore a badge with an eagle, rating symbol, and chevron. One chevron was a 3rd class PO, 2 chevrons a 2nd class PO, three chevrons a 1st class PO, and three chevrons with a rocker was a chief PO.
Right arm rates went away in 1948 and all enlisted rating badges are now worn on the left sleeve. Today's “super chief” ratings, one star over the CPO chevrons and rocker (E-8 or Senior Chief) and two stars over the CPO chevrons and rocker (E-9 or Master Chief) were added in 1958. Example of the three chief designations; Chief Quartermaster (QMC - E-7), Senior Chief Quartermaster (QMCS - E-8), and Master Chief Quartermaster (QMCM - E-9).
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