Navy ratings are how the Navy sorts out who does what. Every sailor has a rating—basically their job title—which defines their role and skills.
These jobs keep the entire fleet running, from engine maintenance to cybersecurity.
But as warfare changes, so do the jobs. New tech replaces old ways of doing things. Some ratings become obsolete, either absorbed into new roles or wiped out entirely.
Over the years, plenty of once-crucial Navy jobs have disappeared.
This is a look at those discontinued Navy ratings—what they did, why they mattered, and how their disappearance reshaped the Navy.
The Evolution of Navy Ratings
1775 – The Basics
Navy jobs started simple. Quartermasters steered. Boatswain’s Mates kept order. Gunner’s Mates handled firepower. That was about it. No frills, just function.
19th & Early 20th Century – More Jobs, More Skills
Ships got bigger. Missions got trickier. The Navy needed specialists. Buglers signaled orders. Printers handled paperwork. Signalmen ran communications. Sailing wasn’t the only priority anymore—expertise was.
World War I & II – Every Job You Can Think Of
War changes everything. The Navy exploded in size, and so did its job list. Standard roles—engineers, radio operators—grew fast.
But some jobs got oddly specific. Pigeon Trainer. Airship Rigger. If the Navy used it, someone had to manage it.
Cold War & Beyond – The Tech Boom
Nuclear power. Missiles. Computers. The Navy needed experts. New ratings appeared—nuclear reactors, electronic warfare, Information Technology. Seamanship took a backseat to specialization. The future was high-tech.
Notable Discontinued Navy Ratings and Their Roles
Pigeon Trainer (Quartermaster, Pigeon – QM (P))
Back when radios weren’t reliable, the Navy used carrier pigeons to deliver messages in combat. WWI, WWII—these birds got the job done.
But by 1961, radios had improved, and the Navy didn’t need feathered messengers anymore.
Airship Rigger (AR)
During WWII, the Navy had airships, and someone had to keep them flying. Airship Riggers handled repairs and maintenance. But by 1948, airships were out, and so was the rating.
Bugler (BUG)
Before loudspeakers, Buglers signaled everything—wake-ups, orders, battle stations. But by 1948, radios and PA systems took over, and the job disappeared.
Boiler Technician (BT)
Steam-powered ships needed heat, and Boiler Technicians made it happen. They maintained the massive boilers that kept Navy ships moving.
But as steam-powered vessels disappeared, so did the need for the job. In 1996, the Navy rolled it into the Machinist’s Mate rating.
Signalman (SM)
Flags and flashing lights were the original ship-to-ship communication. Signalmen were the ones sending those messages.
But with encrypted radios and satellites taking over, the Navy shut down the rating in 2003.
Nuclear Weaponsman (NW) → Gunner’s Mate Technician (GMT) → Weapons Technician (WT)
These sailors handled nuclear weapons—maintenance, security, the whole deal. But by 1995, policies changed, and the Navy didn’t want a separate rating just for nukes anymore.
Chemical Warfareman
Specialized in chemical warfare—detection, response, containment. But as the Navy restructured, their duties folded into the Damage Controlman rating.
Printer (PrTr)
Before computers, ships needed onboard printing presses for newsletters, reports, and manuals. But as print media faded, so did the rating. It evolved into Mass Communication Specialist.
Powder Monkey (Boy)
In the Civil War era, young boys hauled gunpowder to cannons in battle. By 1893, the Navy officially ended the practice—no more kids running explosives across a warship.
Why Navy Ratings Get Discontinued
Automation Kills Jobs
Machines take over, and sailors move on. Systems that needed a full crew now run with a few keystrokes.
Tracking targets, maintaining equipment, running diagnostics—computers handle it faster. Ratings tied to outdated tech don’t last.
Merging and Cutting Redundancies
Too many specialized ratings clog up the system. The Navy cleans house by rolling smaller roles into broader ones.
If a job overlaps with another, it gets absorbed. If a rating is too niche, it disappears. Simpler structure, smoother operations.
Warfare Never Stays the Same
Every shift in combat strategy erases old jobs. Steam engineers vanished when nuclear power took over. Cyber warfare now carries as much weight as missiles. If a rating no longer fits the fight, it’s gone.
Culture Reshapes the Navy
Job titles evolve with the times. Gender-neutral classifications replace outdated names. Ratings get reorganized to reflect a modern force.
The Navy keeps tradition where it matters, but the structure has to match today’s world.
The Legacy of Discontinued Ratings
Old Ratings Built Today’s Navy
Nothing in the Navy exists without the jobs that came before it. Signalmen didn’t disappear—they evolved into modern comms specialists.
Torpedomen turned into today’s weapons techs. One rating gets cut, but the work doesn’t go away. It just shifts.
Veterans Don’t Let Ratings Die
A rating isn’t just a job. It’s what sailors called themselves. Even when the Navy moves on, veterans hold onto it.
They swap stories, teach the next generation, and make sure their rating isn’t forgotten. The name gets erased, but the people keep it alive.
Insignia Still Holds Weight
Old ratings don’t just vanish. The patches, badges, and uniforms still mean something. Veterans collect them, frame them, pass them down.
Museums put them on display. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s proof those jobs mattered.
Speaking of Navy Jobs
Discontinued ratings show how the Navy changed. Every rating that disappears marks a shift—new tech, new tactics, new ways of doing the job.
The Navy moves on, but those ratings built what’s there now. Veterans keep them alive.
The Navy might wipe a rating from the books, but the people who wore it don’t forget. They tell the stories, pass down the traditions, and make sure the job isn’t erased.
That history needs to be saved. Shadow boxes, medal displays, and old insignia keep it from getting lost. Museums, veteran groups, and historical societies help make sure those ratings don’t fade.
The job might be gone, but the legacy stays.
But if you want to explore current Navy jobs that might be right for you, contact your local Navy recruiter for more information.
