CHAPTER 2. PRECEDENCE

SECTION 1. REGULAR NAVY

C-2102. ENLISTED PERSONNEL: PAY GRADES, TITLES AND ABBREVIATIONS

(1) The enlisted pay grades are listed in order of precedence with their general titles and abbreviations in the table below. The specific rating title and rating abbreviation may be substituted for the "petty officer" words or letters in each case. Examples are: Master Chief Boatswain's Mate (BMCM), and Boatswain's Mate Second class (BM2).

Pay Grade

General Title

Abbreviation

E-9

Master chief petty officer

POCM

E-8

Senior chief petty officer

POCS

E-7

Chief petty officer

POC

E-6

Petty officer, first class

PO1

E-5

Petty officer, second class

PO2

E-4

Petty officer, third class

PO3

E-3

General apprenticeship

-

E-2

General apprenticeship, apprentice

-

E-1

General apprenticeships, recruit

-

C-2103. ENLISTED PERSONNEL: PRECEDENCE

(1) Two systems of military precedence are in effect: One for military matters and one for non-military matters.

(a) Military matters are defined as those in which in individual may be required to exercise his authority over others.

(b) Non-military matters are defined as those which involve privileges or honorary functions, in which no responsibility to exercise authority over others in involved.

(2) Unless otherwise directed by competent authority, enlisted personnel shall take precedence for military matters in accordance with the rules prescribed in this paragraph. In such matters the individual taking precedence shall be considered to be the senior member.

(a) Personnel in one pay grade take precedence over all personnel in lower pay grades, regardless of rating held.

(b) Where personnel are in the same pay grade, they shall take precedence in accordance with rating held, regardless of continuous service in pay grade. Paragraphs (5) and (6) below list the ratings and rates in order of precedence.

(c) Where personnel are in the same pay grade and rating, the one with the greater amount of continuous service in that pay grade takes precedence. For advancements authorized as a result of Navy-wide examinations, the date of the authorized increment advancement for the individual will be utilized in determining precedence even though an earlier date is authorized in determining eligibility for subsequent advancement.

(d) Where personnel are in the same rating and pay grade, and have the same amount of continuous service in that pay grade, the one with the greater amount of continuous service in the next lower pay grade shall take precedence.

(3) The rules of precedence for nonmilitary matters are as follows:

(a) Personnel in one pay grade take precedence over all personnel in lower pay grades, regardless of rating held.

(b) Where personnel are in the same pay grade, the one with the greater amount of continuous service in that pay grade takes precedence, regardless of rating held. For advancement authorized as a result of Navy-wide examinations, the date of the authorized increment advancement for the individual will be utilized in determining precedence even though an earlier date is authorized in determining eligibility for subsequent advancement.

(c) Where personnel in the same pay grade have the same amount of continuous service in that pay grade the one with the greater amount of continuous service in the next lower pay grade shall take precedence, regardless of rating held.

(4) The following rules apply to both systems of precedence:

(a) In the case of personnel in pay grade E-7 (chief petty officer, acting appointment or chief petty officer, permanent appointment) service in pay grade for purposes of precedence starts with advancement to chief petty officer, acting appointment, providing continuous service is maintained.

(b) Continuous service is defined as service in present enlistment plus those preceding enlistments involving active or inactive naval service, provided no periods in excess of 3 months has occurred between discharge and reenlistment. For purposes of precedence of personnel reenlisted under broken service conditions, precedence in the pay grade in which reenlisted after broken service commences with the date of reenlistment. Service in the pay grade in which reenlisted, or a higher pay grade, prior to broken service may not be considered for purposes of precedence.

(c) Proficiency pay status shall not influence enlisted precedence.

(d) Strikers within a pay grades do not take seniority over other personnel of the same pay grade by reason of the rating for which they may be striking.

(5) The following table lists the ratings in proper order. Service ratings are not listed but have the same precedence as their corresponding General rating.

RatingAbbreviation

  • Boatswain's Mate................................ BM
  • Quartermaster................................... QM
  • Signalman....................................... SM
  • Gunner's Mate................................... GM
  • Damage Controlman............................... DC
  • Radioman........................................ RM
  • Radarman........................................ RD
  • Sonar Technician................................ ST
  • Steam Propulsionman (E-9 only).................. SP
  • Machinist's Mate................................ MM
  • Engineman....................................... EN
  • Aircraft Maintenanceman (E-9 only).............. AF
  • Aviation Machinist's Mate....................... AD
  • Machinery Repairman............................. MR
  • Torpedoman's Mate............................... TM
  • Mineman......................................... MN
  • Aviation Ordnanceman............................ AO
  • Fire Control Technician......................... FT
  • Avionics Technician (E-9 only).................. AV
  • Aviation Fire Control Technician................ AQ
  • Missile Technician.............................. MT
  • Electronics Technician.......................... ET
  • Aviation Electronics Technician................. AT
  • Aviation Antisubmarie Warfare Technician........ AX
  • Data Systems Technician......................... DS
  • Electrician's Mate.............................. EM
  • Aviation Electrician's Mate..................... AE
  • Interior Communications Electrician............. IC
  • Boilerman....................................... BT
  • Boilermaker..................................... BR
  • Shipfitter...................................... SF
  • Aviation Structural Mechanic.................... AM
  • Aviation Support Equipment Technician........... AS
  • Molder.......................................... ML
  • Pattermaker..................................... PM
  • Precision Instrumentman (E-9 only).............. PI
  • Instrumentman................................... IM
  • Opticalman...................................... OM
  • Tradevman....................................... TD
  • Aviation Boatswain's Mate....................... AB
  • Aircrew Survival Equipmentman................... PR
  • Aerographer's Mate.............................. AG
  • Air Controlman.................................. AC
  • Yeoman.......................................... YN
  • Personnelman.................................... PN
  • Postal Clerk.................................... PC
  • Aviation Maintenance Administrationman.......... AZ
  • Telecom Censorship Technician................... ESK
  • Storekeeper..................................... SK
  • Aviation Storekeeper............................ AK
  • Disbursing Clerk................................ DK
  • Machine Account................................. MA
  • Lithographer.................................... LI
  • Photographer's Mate............................. PH
  • Photographic Intelligenceman.................... PT
  • Illustrator Draftsman........................... DM
  • Journalist...................................... JO
  • Commissaryman................................... CS
  • Ship's Serviceman............................... SH
  • Musician........................................ MU
  • Constructionman (E-9 only)...................... CU
  • Builder......................................... BU
  • Engineering Aid................................. EA
  • Equipmentman (E-9 only)......................... EQ
  • Equipment Operator.............................. EQ
  • Steelworker..................................... SW
  • Construction Electrician........................ CE
  • Utilities Man................................... UT
  • Construction Mechanic........................... CM
  • Communications Technician....................... CT
  • Hospital Corpsman............................... HM
  • Dental Technician............................... DT
  • Steward......................................... SD

(6) The following table lists the general apprenticeship rates in proper order:

Seaman

Airman

Fireman

Constructionman

Hospitalman

Dentalman

Stewardsman

 

Last preventative maintenance performed on this page December 30, 2005