Seaman

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This page is about the naval term.

For other uses, see Seaman (disambiguation).

Seaman can be a generic term for male sailor.

Seaman as a rank refers to the one of the lowest ranks in a navy. In Commonwealth context it refers to the lowest rank in the navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks.

[edit] Canada

In the Canadian Navy, Seamen comprise the ranks below Petty Officer — namely, Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, and Master Seaman; these ranks, together with their Army and Air Force counterparts, are collectively termed the Junior Ranks.

Rank insignia (if any) are worn on the left sleeve of the Service Dress tunic, and on epaulets on both shoulders of other uniforms. Seaman wear a common cap badge: a foul anchor within a ring, surmounted by a crown; this is distinct from the cap badges of officers and of Chiefs and Petty Officers.

The old Naval term "Rating" is still sometimes used to describe these ranks, but has no official status in the Canadian Forces.

[edit] United States

Seaman is the third lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and other navies. For the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard the rank is just above Seaman Apprentice and below Petty Officer Third Class; this rank was formerly known as Seaman First Class.

The actual title for an E-3 in the U.S. Navy varies based on the community to which the sailor belongs. Likewise, the color of their group rate marks also depends on their community.

• Those in the general deck and administrative community are Seamen. They wear White stripes on navy blue uniforms, and navy blue (black) stripes on white uniforms.
• Hospital Corpsmen are Hospitalmen. They are the only rate in this community. They wear White stripes on navy blue uniforms, and navy blue stripes on white uniforms.
• Those in the engineering and hull community are called Firemen and wear red strips on both navy blue and white uniforms.
• Those in the aviation community are called Airmen and wear green stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.
• Seabees are called Constructionmen and wear light blue stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.

No stripes are worn on the working uniforms - coveralls or utilities.

In October, 2005, the Dental Technician rating was merged with the Hospital Corpsman rating, eliminating the Dentalman Recruit title. Those who once held the rank of Dentalman have instead become Hospitalmen.

Sailors who have completed the requirements to be assigned a rating and have been accepted by the Bureau of Naval Personnel as holding that rating (a process called "striking") are called Designated Strikers, and are called by their full rate and rating in formal communications (ie, Machinist's Mate Fireman, as opposed to simply Fireman), though the rating is often left off in informal communication. Those who have not officially been assigned to a rating are officially referred to as "Undesignated" or "Non-rates."

U.S. Coast Guard seamen wear white/silver insignia.

[edit] See also

• U.S. Navy enlisted rate insignia
• Comparative military ranks

U.S. military enlisted ranks
	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
Air Force:	AB	Amn	A1C	SrA	SSgt	TSgt	MSgt	SMSgt	CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF
Army:	PV1	PV2	PFC	SPC - CPL	SGT	SSG	SFC	MSG - 1SG	SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps:	Pvt	PFC	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt	GySgt	MSgt - 1st Sgt	MGySgt - SgtMaj - SMOMC
Navy:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON
Coast Guard:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPOCG