Rating Descriptions

Aviation Machinist Mate (AMM, AD)
The Aviation Machinist Mate inspects, services, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs aircraft power plant and power train systems. Additionally ADs also hold an aircrew position in specific Coast Guard aircraft.

Aviation Survival Technician (AST), Aviation Survivalman (ASM)
ASTs function operationally as helicopter rescue swimmers and emergency medical technicians basic. ASTs may find themselves being deployed into a myriad of challenging rescues ranging from hurricanes and cliff rescues, to emergency medical evacuations from ships at sea. ASTs also provide all survival training to aviators such as swim tests, survival lectures and shallow-water egress training. Other aircrew positions include HC-130H dropmaster, loadmaster, sensor systems operator, HU-25A dropmaster, and basic aircrewman.

Aviation Electrical Technician (AET), Aviation Electronicsman (AL)
Inspects, services, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs aircraft power, communications, navigation, auto flight and sensor systems. In addition, they inspect, service, maintain, troubleshoot and repair aircraft batteries, AC and DC power generation, conversion and distribution systems, as well as the electrical control and indication functions of all airframe systems, including hydraulics, flight control, landing gear, fuel, environmental control, power plant, drive train, anti-ice, and fire detection. They also fill aircrew positions such as navigator, flight mechanic, radio operator, sensor systems operator, and basic aircrewman.

Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)
The AMT inspects, services, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs aircraft power plant, power train and structural systems. The AMT maintains metal, composite and fiberglass materials, fabricates cables, wire harnesses and structural components; and performs aircraft corrosion control, nondestructive testing, basic electrical troubleshooting and record keeping. Additionally AMTs also hold an aircrew position in specific Coast Guard aircraft.

Aviation Metalsmith (AM)
Aviation Metalsmiths maintained metal, composite and fiberglass materials, fabricated cables, wire harnesses and structural components; and performed aircraft corrosion control, nondestructive testing, Additionally AMs also held an aircrew position in specific Coast Guard aircraft.

Aviation Ordananceman (AO)
Aviation Ordnancemen operated and handled aviation ordnance equipment. They were responsible for the maintenance of guns, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and missiles. Their duties included the stowing, issuing, and loading of munitions and small arms.

Boatswain’s Mate (BM)
The most versatile member of the Coast Guard’s operational team is the Boatswain’s Mate. Boatswain’s Mates are masters of seamanship, and are capable of performing almost any task in connection with deck maintenance, small boat operations, navigation, and supervising all personnel assigned to a ship’s work force or small boat station.

Damage Controlman (DC)
Damage Controlman in today’s Coast Guard have the knowledge and skills of numerous civilian professional trades. Welder, plumber, carpenter, and firefighter are a few examples of the trades and skills learned and practiced by the DC.

Quartermaster (QM)
The quartermaster was the enlisted member in charge of the watch-to-watch navigation and the maintenance, correction, and preparation of nautical charts and navigation publications. They assisted the navigator and Officer of the Deck. They were also responsible for navigational instruments and clocks and the training of ship’s lookouts and helmsmen. In addition, after WWII, the Signalman rating was absorbed into the QM rating. They merged into the BM rating in 2003.

Gunners Mate (GM)
Gunner’s Mates are the CG’s small arms weapons specialists. GMs are one of the oldest ratings. They work with everything from pistols, rifles and machine guns to 76mm gun weapons systems. They are responsible for training personnel in proper handling of weapons, ammunition and pyrotechnics. They perform maintenance on all ordnance/gunnery equipment: mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic.

Machinery Technician (MK)
Operates, maintains and repairs ship’s propulsion, auxiliary equipment and outside equipment such as steering, engineer, refrigeration/air conditioning and steam equipment.

Electricians Mate (EM)
EMs are responsible for installation, maintenance, repair, and management of sophisticated electrical and electronic equipment. These include Electrical power generation, Fractional and integral horsepower motor, Cutter propulsion plant control, Interior communication systems, electronic navigation equipment and gyrocompass equipment

Electronics Technician (ET)
ETs are responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair and management of sophisticated electronic equipment, including command and control systems, shipboard weapons, guidance and fire-control systems, communications receivers and transmitters, data and voice-encryption equipment, navigation and search radar, tactical and electronic-detection systems, electronic-navigation equipment, and computers.

Subsistance Specialist (SS), Cook (CK)
Food service specialists receive top training in cooking skills, accounting, and management. They also will learn equipment use and safety; recipe conversions; basic food preparation skills and terminology; baking; sanitation; purchasing; storage; nutrition and wellness cooking; and dining-facility management. Today they are known as Food Service Specialists (FS).

Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME)
Protecting America’s Ports, Waterways, and Interests at home and abroad. Maritime Enforcement Specialists are trained in Maritime Law Enforcement, Anti-terrorism, Force Protection, and Physical Security.

Yeoman (YN, Y)
Prepares and routes correspondence and reports; and maintains personnel records and publications. YNs are key problem-solvers, counselors, and sources of information to personnel on questions ranging from career moves, entitlements, and incentive programs to retirement options and veterans’ benefits.

Utilitiesman (UT)
Utilitiesman supervised and performed tasks involved in the installation and maintenance of plumbing, steam, compressed air and fuel storage and distribution systems. They maintained air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, as well as sewage collecting and disposal facilities.

Fire Controlman (FC)
Fire Controlmen maintained the control mechanism used in weapons systems on combat ships. They were responsible for the operation, routine care and repair of this equipment, which included radars, computers, weapons direction equipment, target designation systems, gyroscopes and range finders.

Hospital Corpsman (HM)
Hospital Corpsmen were medical professionals who provided health care to service people and their families. They served as pharmacy technicians, medical technicians, nurse’s aides, physicians or dental assistants, battlefield medics, and more. All work fell into several categories: first aid and minor surgery, patient transportation, patient care, prescriptions and laboratory work, food service inspections, and clerical duties.

Master at Arms (MAA)
Masters-at-Arms upheld law and order aboard ships, shore stations, controlled access to CG installations. The basic duty of an MAA was to enforce rules and regulations, maintain good order and discipline, and protect life and property.

Sonar Technician (ST)
Sonar Technicians were responsible for underwater survelliance. They assisted in safe navigation and aid in search and rescue and attack operations. They operated and repaired sonar equipment and jammed enemy sonars. ST’s operated, maintained and repaired sonar systems, and other various equipment associated with underwater detection, counter-detection, warfare and communications. They were absorbed into the ET rating in 1993.

Engineman (EN)
Enginemen were responsible for internal diesel and gasoline engines. They also maintained refrigeration, air conditioning, distilling plant, engines and compressors.

Machinist’s Mate (MM)
Machinist’s Mates were responsible for the continuous operation of the many engines, compressors, gears, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment along with other types of machinery onboard ships and shore installations. They were responsible for the ship’s steam propulsion and auxiliary equipment and the outside (deck) machinery. They were absorbed into the BT and EN ratings in 1974 and today are known as MK.

Journalist
Concerned with public affairs and visual communications. Their role was to present the US CG to CG and civilian audiences, through a variety of media. Journalists wrote and produced both print and broadcast journalism, including news and feature stories for military and civilian newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations. Today they are known as Public Affairs Specialists.

Storekeepers
Storekeepers are tasked with maintaining ship and company military supply stores. Their responsibilities generally include purchasing and procurement, shipping and receiving, and issuing of equipment, tools, consumable items or anything else obtained.

Signalman (SM)
Signalman was a job combining both visual communications, and advanced lookout skills. Signalmen were responsible for transmitting, receiving, encoding, decoding, and distributing messages obtained via the visual transmission systems of flag semaphore, visual morse code and flaghoist signaling. The rating was disestablished and merged into the QM rating in 1948.

Torpedoman (TM)
Performed organizational and intermediate level maintenance on underwater ordnance. Handled torpedoes and antisubmarine rockets launched from surface ships, submarines, and aircraft, as well as missiles, decoys, and countermeasures launched from submarines. Operated and maintained test equipment, launching/firing systems, and stowage facilities associated with underwater ordnance. Prepared underwater ordnance for launching, conduct postfire/postrun routines, and weapons performance evaluation procedures

Health Services Technician (HS)
Administers medicine; applies first aid; assists in operating room; nurses patients; and assists dental officers.

Radioman (RM, RT)
Radioman and Radio Technician were ratings for enlisted personnel, specializing in communications technology. They went on to become Telecommunications Specialists (TC) and today they are Operations Specialists (OS).

Keeper
Keepers were the Chief Boatswains Mate or Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class of yesterday filling what we know today as the Officer in Charge. They ran the day to day operations of the Lifesaving Station and usually commanded a crew of 6. They were usually fisherman of the area or were prior Surfman. They were selected by the Superintendent of the area.

Surfman
The primary responsibility of the Surfman was to stand watch, patrolling the beaches or standing in a lookout tower looking for vessels in distress and to keep a log of passing vessels. They were in charge of maintenance of life saving gear and when needed, were part of a boat crew during rescues. Today, this is a position held by a select few of Boatswain’s Mate’s in our nation’s most perilous maritime environments.

Boiler Tender (BT)
The Boiler Tender was responsible for operating and maintaining the propulsion and auxiliary boilers.

Motor Machinist Mate (MoMM)
They were responsible for any diesel and/or gasoline engines.

Carpenter’s Mate (CM)
They were responsible for all wooden structural maintenance and repairs onboard the cutter. This rating was absorbed into the DC rating in the 1950’s.

Aviation Carpenter’s Mate (ACM)
A short lived rating since after the 1930’s all aircraft changed over from wooden fuselages to metal versions. The rating was absorbed into the Aviation Machinist Mate.

Commissary Steward (CS)
They were the cutter or stations cook and meal server. They were typically black and Phillipino personnel and served in the Wardroom. Disestablished in 1948.

Pharmacist Mate (PhM)
They served as pharmacy technicians, medical technicians, nurse’s aides, physicians or dental assistants, battlefield medics, and more. All work fell into several categories: first aid and minor surgery, patient transportation, patient care, prescriptions and laboratory work, food service inspections, and clerical duties. Disestablished in 1948.

Boy 1st Class
During WWI and WWII by law, personnel under the age of 18 were not authorized to be carried on a cutter or station’s muster in a regular rate. But due to pay and assignment purposes they were given the title Boy 1st Class until their 18th birthday where they were then titled Apprentice, Apprentice SN, FN, etc.

Coxswain (Cox)
Coxswains were the boat drivers and in charge of the crew of the boat they were commanding. They were merged into the BM rating in 1948 and today, coxswain is one of the Boatswains Mate primary duties.

Seaman Apprentice (SA), Seaman (SN), Seaman 1st Class, 2nd Class, 3rd Class (S1/2/3)
Fireman (FN), Fireman 1st Class, 2nd, 3rd (F1/2/3)
All were considered non-rated personnel and usually some of the youngest and junior members of the crew.

Carpenter’s Mate (CM)
Absorbed into the DC rating in 1948.

Pattern Maker (PM)
Disestablished in 1923

Ships Service Laundryman (SSML)
Specialized in laundry. Rating was held only during WWII.

Steward
Worked in the Wardroom for the Officers. Disestablished in 1944.

Bayman
Disestablished in 1920.

Chief Aircraft Pilot (CAP)
Enlisted pilots. Disestablished in 1979.