⚓ Guide to U.S. Navy Ranks & Ratings
This guide provides context for the abbreviations and terms appearing in GG Archives’ U.S. Navy cruise books and rosters. Many abbreviations represent ratings (occupational specialties), while others indicate rank. Modern equivalents are noted where appropriate.
📌 Officer Ranks
- RADM – Rear Admiral
- CAPT – Captain
- CDR – Commander
- LCDR – Lieutenant Commander
- LT – Lieutenant
- LTJG – Lieutenant, Junior Grade
- ENS – Ensign
- CHC – Chaplain Corps (with designators, e.g., (P) for Protestant, (C) for Catholic)
📌 Chief Petty Officers & Senior Enlisted
- CPO – Chief Petty Officer
- SCPO – Senior Chief Petty Officer
- MCPO – Master Chief Petty Officer
- QMC – Quartermaster Chief
- BMC – Boatswain’s Mate Chief
- SDC – Steward Chief (historic rating; later became Mess Management Specialist, now Culinary Specialist)
📌 Enlisted Rates (Common Abbreviations)
- SN – Seaman
- AN – Airman
- FN – Fireman
- PN – Personnelman (modern: PS – Personnel Specialist)
- YN – Yeoman (administrative clerical specialist)
- BM – Boatswain’s Mate (seamanship, deck handling)
- RM – Radioman (modern: IT – Information Systems Technician)
- CT – Cryptologic Technician
- MU – Musician
- PH – Photographer’s Mate (modern: MC – Mass Communication Specialist)
- AO – Aviation Ordnanceman
- AD – Aviation Machinist’s Mate
- LI – Lithographer (merged into MC rating in 2006)
- SD – Steward (historic rating, phased out by 1970s)
📌 Notes for Researchers
- Historic Variations: Many abbreviations changed after 1948 (Women’s Armed Services Integration Act) and again in later reorganizations (1970s, 2000s).
- State Codes: Hometowns in rosters follow modern USPS two-letter abbreviations when listed.
- Blank Hometowns: Some cruise books listed no hometown. We omit these fields for clarity.
- Genealogical Use: Ratings provide clues to occupational specialty—valuable for reconstructing family history or service context.
Provenance: Adapted from U.S. Navy manuals and GG Archives editorial notes on cruise books and rosters.
