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Group Rate Marks
for
Pay Grades E-1 through E-3

Sailors in pay grades E-1 through E-3 are considered to be in apprenticeships. As they begin their path towards advancement to Petty Officer in a specific specialty, they begin in the appropriate "group". For example, a Sailor who wishes to be an Electrician's Mate will begin in the Engineering/Hull group. The groups and the general rate marks (stripes) for E-1 through E-3 are shown here. (Note: E-1s do not wear any rate marks.) These rate marks are shown for the dress blue uniform. For whites, the background is white and the stripes are Navy blue. Those who earn it through a training school [an "A" school] or by passing a Navywide examination will wear a rating insignia above the stripes.
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Group
(linked to rating insignia)		 Pay Grade Rate Abbreviation Stripe Color
Deck,
Administration,
Medical,
Dental		 E-1 Seaman Recruit
Hospital Recruit
Dental Recruit		 SR
HR
DR		 [none]
E-2 Seaman Apprentice
Hospital Apprentice
Dental Apprentice		 SA
HA
DA
E-3 Seaman
Hospitalman
Dentalman		 SN
HN
DN
Engineering,
Hull		 E-1 Fireman Recruit FR [none]
E-2 Fireman Apprentice FA
E-3 Fireman FN
Aviation E-1 Airman Recruit AR [none]
E-2 Airman Apprentice AA
E-3 Airman AN
Construction
(SeaBees)		 E-1 Constructionman Recruit CR [none]
E-2 Constructionman Apprentice CA
E-3 Constructionman CN