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Navy Seaman Apprentice

E-2 Junior Enlisted, U.S. Navy
(Next) E-3 SNNavy Seaman

Navy Ranks » Seaman Apprentice RankSA PaySA Rank History

How to get promoted to Seaman Apprentice History of the Navy Seaman Apprentice Rank

A Seaman Apprentice is a Junior Enlisted in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade E-2.

An "able-bodied seaman" is someone who knows their way around a ship and can handle themselves in rough weather. While "Seaman" refers to the lowest rank in most foreign Navies, in the USN this refers to E-3.

"Seaman" is the overall rank of sailors E-1 to E-3, but more appropriately refers to a category of administration, deck, technical, and weapons rates such as Boatswain's Mate, Master-at-Arms, or Special Warfare Operators. "Fireman" refers generally to engineering and hull ratings such as Electrician's Mate or Machinist's Mate. "Airman" refers to aviation ratings such as Aviation Electrician's Mate or Naval Aircrewman. "Constructionman" refers to a set of construction ratings collectively known as "SeaBees" (Construction Battalion members, or CBs). "Hospital Corpsman" is its own unique category. All undesignated sailors are simply known as "Seamen" until they receive a rating.

Want to learn more? Read about the Navy's Seaman Apprentice rank on

History of the Navy
