Seaman

Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks.

In the United States it means the lowest three enlisted rates of the U.S. Navy, followed by the higher Petty Officer ranks. A "seaman" is the equivalent of a private in the U.S. Army when it comes to their pay, benefits, and approximate level of duty and responsibility.

The term "seaman" is also a general-purpose for a man or a woman who works anywhere on board a modern ship, including in the engine spaces, which is the very opposite of sailing. Furthermore, "seaman" is a short form for the status of an "able-bodied seaman", either in the navies or in the merchant marines. An able-bodied seaman is one who is fully-trained and qualified to work on the decks and superstructure of modern ships, even during foul weather, whereas less-qualified sailors are restricted to remaining within the ship during times of foul weather - lest they be swept overboard by the stormy seas or by the high winds.

In the United Kingdom
In the Royal Navy, hold the rank titles of either Ordinary Seaman (commonly Ordinary Rate) or Able Seaman (commonly Able Rate).

In the United States of America


Constructionman variation



Fireman variation



Airman variation



Seaman insignia

Seaman is the third enlisted rank from the bottom in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and other navies and coast guards. For the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard the rank and pay just above that of a Seaman Apprentice and below those of a Petty Officer Third Class. This naval rank was formerly called the Seaman First Class.

The actual title for an E-3 in the U.S. Navy varies based on the subset of the Navy to which the sailor, seaman, submariner, aviator, hospitalman, nurse, etc., has been assigned. Likewise, the color of his/her group rate mark also depends on his section of the navy.


 * Those in the general deck and administrative community are "seamen". They wear white stripes on their navy blue uniforms, and navy blue (black) stripes on their white uniforms.
 * Hospital Corpsmen are now called "hospitalmen." They possess the only rating in this area of duty. They wear white stripes on their navy blue uniforms, and navy blue stripes on their white uniforms.
 * Those in the ship's engineering and hull maintenance area are called "firemen", and they wear red stripes on both their navy blue and white uniforms.
 * Those in the aviation area of the Navy are called "airmen", and they wear green stripes on both their navy blue and white uniforms.
 * Seabees are called "constructionmen", and they wear light blue stripes on both their navy blue and white uniforms.

No such stripes are worn on the working uniforms - coveralls, utility wear, flight suits, hospital and clinic garb, diving suits, etc.

In October 2005, the dental technician rating was merged into the hospital corpsman rating, eliminating the "dentalman" 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 (i.e., Machinist's Mate Fireman, as opposed to simply Fireman), though the rating is often left off in informal communications. Those who have not officially been assigned to a rating are officially referred to as "undesignated" or "non-rates."

As with the Navy, the actual title for a E-3 in the U.S. Coast Guard varies based on their community. However, the smaller size of the Coast Guard limits the E-3s to only three options: seaman (white stripes), fireman (red stripes), and airman (green stripes). The Coast Guard does not possess its own medical corps, dental corps, pharmacy corps, or legal corps, but rather, it either draws the necessary services and experts from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, or U.S. Army, or it contracts for services by civilians. Likewise, the U.S. Marine Corps does not possess its own trained experts in these areas, but rather, it generally uses the corps of experts from the U.S. Navy, or else from the other two American Armed Forces (whichever one is available in the region) that have own corps of experts: e.g. medical, dental, legal, or nursing.