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NavyMentor

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Navy Career Explorer

Browse the main enlisted career fields and example ratings by what interests you.

The Navy calls its enlisted jobs ratings, and there are dozens of them. This explorer groups them into broad career fields so you can see what exists before you talk to a recruiter.

Navy career explorer

Aviation

Launch, recover, maintain and arm naval aircraft, on carriers and ashore.

Example ratings

  • Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (AB)
  • Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM)
  • Aviation Ordnanceman (AO)
  • Air Traffic Controller (AC)
  • Naval Aircrewman (AW)

Surface operations and seamanship

Navigate, handle lines and boats, stand watch and run combat systems at sea.

Example ratings

  • Boatswain’s Mate (BM)
  • Quartermaster (QM)
  • Operations Specialist (OS)
  • Gunner’s Mate (GM)
  • Sonar Technician (ST)

Engineering and hull

Keep the ship’s propulsion, power, structure and damage-control systems working.

Example ratings

  • Machinist’s Mate (MM)
  • Electrician’s Mate (EM)
  • Hull Maintenance Technician (HT)
  • Damage Controlman (DC)
  • Engineman (EN)

Nuclear

Operate and maintain the reactors that power submarines and aircraft carriers. Among the most academically demanding enlisted pipelines.

Example ratings

  • Machinist’s Mate, Nuclear (MMN)
  • Electrician’s Mate, Nuclear (EMN)
  • Electronics Technician, Nuclear (ETN)

Electronics and combat systems

Maintain radar, communications, weapons-control and navigation electronics.

Example ratings

  • Electronics Technician (ET)
  • Fire Controlman (FC)
  • Interior Communications Electrician (IC)

Information warfare

Networks, cyber, signals, intelligence analysis and weather.

Example ratings

  • Information Systems Technician (IT)
  • Cryptologic Technician (CT)
  • Intelligence Specialist (IS)
  • Aerographer’s Mate (AG)

Medical and dental

Care for sailors and Marines in hospitals, aboard ships and in the field.

Example ratings

  • Hospital Corpsman (HM)

Supply and logistics

Run supply chains, pay, food service and ship’s stores.

Example ratings

  • Logistics Specialist (LS)
  • Culinary Specialist (CS)
  • Retail Services Specialist (RS)

Administration, legal and media

Personnel, pay, legal support, public affairs and religious ministry support.

Example ratings

  • Yeoman (YN)
  • Personnel Specialist (PS)
  • Legalman (LN)
  • Mass Communication Specialist (MC)
  • Religious Program Specialist (RP)

Security

Law enforcement, force protection and physical security.

Example ratings

  • Master-at-Arms (MA)

Construction — Seabees

Build and repair bases, airfields and infrastructure, often in expeditionary settings.

Example ratings

  • Builder (BU)
  • Construction Electrician (CE)
  • Equipment Operator (EO)
  • Steelworker (SW)
  • Utilitiesman (UT)

Special warfare and diving

Physically demanding, highly selective communities with their own screening tests.

Example ratings

  • Special Warfare Operator (SO)
  • Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB)
  • Navy Diver (ND)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD)

This is an overview, not a list of open jobs. Which ratings are available to you depends on your ASVAB line scores, medical screening and the Navy’s needs at the time — a recruiter or classifier has the current picture. Browse official career descriptions on Navy.com.

How ratings are actually assigned

You do not simply pick a rating from a list. What is offered to you depends on your ASVAB line scores, your medical screening at MEPS, any security clearance requirements, and which ratings the Navy needs to fill when you enlist. A classifier walks you through the options you qualify for.

That is why preparation matters: stronger ASVAB scores open more of this list. See how ASVAB scores work for the Navy and how the joining process works.

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