Navy Petty Officers have it tough...

A Marine stands in the rain with a 35-pound pack on his back, 15 lb. weapon in hand, after having marched 12 miles, and says, "This is the ****!"

A Green Beret stands in the rain with a 45 lb. pack on his back, weapon in hand, after having jumped from an airplane and marched 18 miles, and says with a smile, "This is good ****!"

An Army Ranger lies in the mud, 55 LB pack on his back, weapon in hand, after swimming 10 miles to shore, crawling through a swamp and marching 25 miles at night past the enemy positions, says with a grin,

"This really is great ****."

A Navy! SEAL, up to his nose in the stinking, bug infested mud of a swamp with a 65 LB pack on his back and a weapon in both hands after jumping from an aircraft at high altitude, into the ocean, swimming 12

miles to the shore, killing several alligators to enter the swamp, then crawling 30 miles through the brush to assault an enemy camp, says, "I love this ****."

A Navy Petty Officer, sitting in his easy chair aboard his air-conditioned, state of the art warship 50 miles off shore says, "My e-mail's out? What kind of **** is this?"

If it weren't so true, it probably wouldn't be so funny!

I'm not a military man, but if I were, I choose to be the petty officer...

The Marine is taking a leak.

MACS are you a Petty Officer?

No. But I once was.

I'm a Senior Chief Petty Officer now. Less work, more delegation, more responsibility and more money.

E-1 = Seaman Recruit

E-2 = Seaman Apprentice

E-3 = Seaman

E-4 = 3rd Class Petty Officer

E-5 = 2nd Class Petty Officer

E-6 = 1st Class Petty Officer

E-7 = Chief Petty Officer

E-8 = Senior Chief Petty Officer

E-9 = Master Chief Petty Officer

O-1 = Ensign

O-2 = Lieutenant Junior Grade

O-3 = Lieutenant

O-4 = Lieutenant Commander

O-5 = Commander

O-6 = Captain

O-7 = Rear Admiral lower half

O-8 = Rear Admiral Upper half

O-9 = Vice Admiral

O-10 = Admiral

Navy Ranks, mind you...

You know, even after 20 years in the Army, I still need a cheat sheet at the Navy rank structure. I know I've saluted sailors well below my rank, but when in doubt - whip it out!

Also, I had a buddy of mine get great Navy treatment until they realized that an Army Captain is not an equal to a Navy Captain!

Well that breaks it down for a civilian. Thanks. So you being an enlisted man can only go up one more step?

"O" Ranks = Officers? = They went through Annapolis?

The whole "O-7 = Rear Admiral lower half

O-8 = Rear Admiral Upper half" is loaded with homo-erotic intrigue.

I what fancy boy came up with those titles?

O is officer ranks and E is enlisted ranks.

The Officers don't necessarily have to go through Annapolis. They can get their degrees on their own and then attend Officer's Candidate School.

But... if they got an O they have a bachelors degree... unless they are prior enlisted and applied for an officer program.

A lot of the enlisted nowadays have degrees too. The Military pays 100% tuition while you're active, if you can find the time to do it.

The ranking structure was adopted from old british navy ranks, for the most part.

What!!! Im only a E-3

I started out as Petty ****.

But was discharged quickly.

"So you being an enlisted man can only go up one more step?"

Sorry, forgot to address this. Yes and no. I can only be promoted one more time, unless I apply for an officer program (no thank you). Then i'd owe the navy at least 4 more years, depending on which program I applied for, assuming my application was approved (which it most certainly would be, the Navy needs security officers really bad).

Enlisted folks that are promoted to officer through the various programs are paid on a separate scale until they make O-4. It's just a bit more money for your time in service basically.

Don't forget ROTC.

Hell Shawn,

I thought you got bumped up to Master Chief after your last tour? I thought that is why they put you in dry dock. Must be allusions of grandeur via proxy.

wjmiskelly,

Where are you on this totem pole?

"The whole "O-7 = Rear Admiral lower half

O-8 = Rear Admiral Upper half" is loaded with homo-erotic intrigue.

I what fancy boy came up with those titles?"

Senator John F. Kerry.. remember he was decorated Navy War Hero for a couple months before he became a member on the Senate Arms Committee

Hog

8track,

I'm an O-3 LT Naval Academy graduate prick.

Although I believe you ranking Bill, you'll have to work on the Prick part. You seem to be a pretty good dude to me.

(Don't worry, I won't tell anybody).

So, you're a lieutenant, Bill?

Congratulations.

Btw, how did a couple of tall dudes like you and Dave Robinson sneak in.

I thought that there were height limits.

No height limits bloody but i'm sure the LT here can attest to the fact that ship's ain't built for tall people. Not in the least. If you're over 6' 2", you're stooping a lot.