A Petty Officer (PO) is most well-known a rank in the grade category of the NCOs in naval forces of English-language countries, US Navy.

Royal Navy

In the British Royal Navy and other Navies of the Commonwealth countries equivalent rank is "„leading rate "“.

United States Navy

The PO is usually a specialist or a responsible person for a small group of crew ranks.

In US Navy is gradated the rank depending upon length of service and responsibility in three classes, whereby "„the Petty Officer Third Class "“(PO3) is the lowest. Since the Petty Officer actually represents a grade category, he is comparable at the earliest with the leading seamen of the German navy. The equivalent ranks of the other US armed services are Corporal, Sergeant and Staff Sergeant (USMC and the USA) and senior Airman, Staff Sergeant and Technical Sergeant (USAF).

Use designations

Petty Officers are on the one hand responsible person and on the other hand technique specialists. Each PO has a rank (guess/advise) and a use designation (rating), similarly the MOS in the other armed services. The full service designation einens PO consists therefore of these two titles. A PO3 its use designation "„Machinist"´s Mate "“is, correctly "„Machinist's Mate Third Class "“is called. The designation PO will only generally related, in order to e.g. designate a group of PO or a PO, whose use designation is unknown.

Each use designation has an official abbreviation, for example mm for Machinist"´s Mate, CBM for Boatswain"´s Mate or YN for Yeoman. If this abbreviation with rank is combined, an abbreviation for the special PO, e.g. BM3 for Boatswain"´s Mate Third Class is created. Usually a PO is then treated with this contraction, in the correspondence, as well as when name imprinting. Often the PO is then addressed only with its contraction without its surname, then a PO3 (mm) is e.g. called Miller only MM3.

With the material variants of ranks on the top sleeve the symbol for the use designation is to be found in the center.

Service Stripes

The NCOs of US Navy carry so-called service Stripes at the left sleeve of its A-class uniform (not at the daily service uniform). Everyone of these red crossbars stands for 4 years service. There is also a golden execution, which is carried by NCOs, who are free at least 12 years in the service and from disciplinary actions.

Illustrations of ranks

see also

Chief Petty Officer

Articles in category "Petty Officer"

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