Rates

The enlisted rating badge for Petty Officer Third Class and above consists of two parts. The chevrons indicate the pay grade (rank). Between the chevrons and the eagle is an insignia indicating the Sailor's job speciality (rating). Insignia are white on blue uniforms and Coast Guard blue on white uniforms. 

Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) : inspect, service, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair avionics systems that perform communications, navigation, collision avoidance, target acquisition, and automatic flight-control functions. 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. AETs perform ground handling and servicing of aircraft, and conduct routine aircraft inspections and aviation administrative duties. They will also fill aircrew positions such as navigator, flight mechanic, radio operator, sensor systems operator, and basic aircrewman.

Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT): AMTs inspect, service, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair aircraft powerplant, powertrain, 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 hold an aircrew position in specific Coast Guard aircraft.

Aviation Survival Technician (AST): ASTs inspect, service, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair aircraft and aircrew survival equipment and rescue devices. Additionally, ASTs perform the duties of a rescue swimmer and provide aircrew survival training to all aviators.

Boatswain's Mate (BM): BMs are a master of seamanship. BMs are capable of performing almost any task in connection with deck maintenance, small boat operations, navigation, and handling all personnel assigned to a ship's deck force. BM's have a general knowledge of ropes and cables, including different uses, stresses, strains, and proper stowing. They operate hoists, cranes, and winches to load cargo or set gangplanks, stand watch for security, navigation or communications. Additionally, in many assignments BMs will act as a federal law enforcement officer. BM's frequently act as officers-in-charge of patrol boats, tugs, small craft, and small shore units. BMs utilize their leadership and expertise to perform the missions of the Coast Guard, at sea and on shore.

Culinary Specialist (CS): receives comprehensive training in all facets of food preparation including culinary fundamentals, advanced culinary methods and techniques that include baking, sauces, seafood cookery, starch cookery, cake decorating and protein fabrication. Training also includes instruction in accounting and purchasing, inventory management, military leadership, nutrition and time management. CSs will also learn about equipment use and safety, sanitation, and dining-facility management. Many of the jobs, training, and experiences that CSs are exposed to prepare them to transition into a variety of food service related fields in the civilian sector.

Damage Controlman (DC): DCs are esponsible for preserving all modern safety and survival devices on Coast Guard vessels. DCs are the human safeguard for the ship and its crew. Among the DCs duties are welding, pipefitting, and woodworking. DCs also maintain shore installations.

Diver (DV): is a new rating created by the Coast Guard in 2014. They sweep ports and waterways during coastal security missions; conduct salvage and recovery operations; inspect Coast Guard cutter hulls; survey coral reefs and environmental sensitive areas; repair, maintain and place of aids to navigation; conduct polar operations as well as conduct joint operations with United States and international military divers.

Electrician's Mate (EM): EMs have a good working knowledge of the fundamentals of electricity, alternating and direct currents, circuits, switchboards and other electrical equipment on board. EMs are responsible for the operation and repair of a ship's or station's electrical equipment. EMs take care of the electrical propulsion equipment, gyrocompass (and related equipment), and ship's internal communications systems.

Electronics Technician (ET): ETs are responsible for the repair and maintenance of sophisticated electronics equipment, radio receivers and transmitters, radar, navigation equipment, and computer equipment. You'll be a true specialist of the electronics age.

Gunner's Mate (GM): GMs are expert in everything from small arms to large shipboard guns to rocket launchers. Even the pyrotechnics that light the sky for nighttime search and rescue mission are your responsibility. You'll operate, maintain, and repair all gunnery equipment and handle ammunition.

Health Services Technician (HS): HSs are responsible for caring for the health of Coast Guard people and their families. Saving lives is one of the Coast Guard's most important missions. You'll be at the forefront of this task. You will assist medical and dental officers, and serve on independent duty at some small units, ships and fly on rescue missions. You'll receive schooling in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, dentistry, X-ray, preventive medicine and more.

Intelligence Specialist (IS): performs a wide range of duties associated with the collection, analysis, processing, and dissemination of intelligence in support of Coast Guard operational missions.

Information Systems Technician (IT): is responsible for establishing and maintaining Coast Guard computer systems, analog and digital voice systems (telephones and voicemail), and installing and maintaining the physical network infrastructure that ties the systems together. ITs at sea support tactical command, control, communications, and computer systems.

Investigator (IV): IVs are specialists, providing support to Coast Guard law enforcement and intelligence missions. You'll conduct both criminal and personal background checks and investigations, collect and analyze intelligence information, and provide personal protection services to high-ranking Coast Guard officials and other VIPs. PSs work at a Marine Safety Office (MSO), enforcing maritime laws and regulations to ensure the physical security of the port or you may serve in a Port Security Unit (PSU), training for deployment in support of the Department of Defense's national defense operations. Port Security Specialists are trained in general law enforcement and defensive combat techniques to provide limited shoreside and waterside security. This may include providing protective security for your own unit and restricting access to vessels, waterfront facilities and waterways through the enforcement of security zones.

Maritime Enforcement (ME) : are a cadre of professionals well grounded in knowledge and skills pertaining to law enforcement and security duties. As such, members of this rating can be expected to be assigned challenging duties including traditional maritime law enforcement, anti-terrorism, force protection, port security and safety, as well as providing unit-level training in these fields.

Machinery Technician (MK): MKs are knowledgeable in the fields of internal combustion engines (gas/diesel/gas turbine), air conditioning and refrigeration, hydraulics; bearings, gears, clutches; pumps and valves; basic electricity; pneumatics, and engineering-related hazardous waste. In addition to the related mechanical skills, in many assignments you will act as a federal law enforcement officer. As a federal law enforcement officer, you will receive training related to federal laws and use of force policies. Also as you advance through the rate, you might be assigned as an Engineering Petty Officer (EPO). As an EPO, you will be a manager of both people and engineering equipment. EPO's are assigned to the following units: small boat stations, patrol boats, tugs, and aids to navigation units. MK's are responsible for maintaining mechanical equipment in an operational ready status for the Coast Guard.

Marine Science Technician (MST): MSTs conduct marine safety activities such as investigating pollution incident monitoring cleanups, conducting foreign registry boardings to enforce pollution and navigation safety law, conducting harbor patrols and facility inspections, supervising explosives loading, serving on the National Strike Force (NSF), and more. Among the MSTs scientific duties are observing and forecasting weather for air stations and icebreakers and operating the Marine Safety Laboratories.

Musician (MU): MUs represents the U.S. Coast Guard around the nation and the world, at presidential functions, and for the Secretary of Transportation and other Cabinet Officials on formal and informal occasions.

Operation Specialist (OS): OSs operate radar, navigation and communications equipment in shipboard combat information centers (CICs) or bridges. They detect and track ships, planes and missiles. They also operate and maintain identification friend or foe (IFF) systems, electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment and radio-telephones.

Public Affairs Specialist (PA): PAs are the Coast Guard's information link to the military and civilian communities! PAs provide them with news and photos about Coast Guard accomplishments, developments and policies, using news releases, radio and television reports and interviews. PAs also "get the word out" with internal publications such as magazines, newspapers and brochures. PAs are also the Coast Guard's official photographers, covering a variety of interesting assignments.

Port Securityman (PS) : (is now RESERVE SPECIFIC) a rating fully comprised of reserve personnel, performed vital missions for the Coast Guard since World War I. Their role has been to safeguard critical and vital ports of commerce, both overseas and in the United States, against the threat of terrorism and other acts of maritime crime. They enforce maritime laws and regulations, serve in port security units that deploy in support of Department of Defense operations, work in maritime safety and security teams, and work with the marine industry to increase the security of commercial enterprises in a homeland security role. In January of 2010, the new maritime enforcement specialist rating took effect, which now execute the duties of port security specialists.

Yeoman (YN): YNs are good human resources managers and are vital to mission accomplishment. In the Coast Guard, our Yeomen handle many of the HR duties. YNs may experience a vast array of responsibilities ranging from career counseling and planning to payroll certification, to legal administrative assistant duties. Although sometimes stressful and challenging, the satisfaction when the YN experiences taking care of the simplest or most difficult problem will give a great sense of accomplishment and pride in the mission they perform. Entitlements and regulations are constantly changing and YNs are the key source of information for others.

Accurate as of May 2020 when compared against CG Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6J dtd 09 December 2018.