Armed Forces News

Sailors who converted to new ratings as part of the Signalman (SM) rating disestablishment fared well for selection to chief petty officer. Of the 88 E-6 SMs who converted to other rates in advance of the rating disestablishment, 44.3 percent made chief in their new rating, including 16 each in the Quartermaster and Master-at-Arms ratings. Overall advancement opportunity to E-7 was 21.9 percent. The Navy is studying future rating mergers, such as a combination of the Disbursing Clerk and Personnelman ratings. Another possibility would be a merger of the Hospital Corpsman and Dental Technician ratings. Other considerations include the feasibility of forming a mass communication rating by merging Journalist, Draftsman, Photographer’s Mate and Lithographer ratings into one