PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS (PO1) — U.S. NAVY E-6
The Navy's senior non-commissioned officer — leading petty officers of major divisions.
OVERVIEW
Petty Officer First Class (PO1) is the U.S. Navy E-6 enlisted paygrade. PO1s are the most senior non-commissioned officers below the Chief Petty Officer mess and are typically the Leading Petty Officer (LPO) of a major shipboard or shore division. The PO1 grade is also the lowest from which a Sailor can be selected for the Chief Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer (LDO) commissioning programs.
PO1s wear the rating mark on a crow consisting of an eagle over three chevrons. Promotion to E-6 is competitive and requires the Navy-wide advancement exam, satisfactory evaluations, and time-in-rate.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leading Petty Officer (LPO) of a major shipboard or shore division
- Mentor and develop the entire division's junior Petty Officers and Seamen
- Run rating-specific technical evolutions to qualified standards
- Eligible for Chief Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer accession boards
HISTORY
The "First Class" designation has been used in the U.S. Navy enlisted structure since the late 19th century. PO1 is the senior non-commissioned grade in the modern Navy — the next promotion, to Chief Petty Officer (E-7), brings a Sailor across the storied "Chief's mess" threshold and into the Navy's senior enlisted leadership.
PO1 is the typical paygrade from which Sailors apply for the Chief Warrant Officer accession program or the Limited Duty Officer commissioning program.
PAY
- Pass the Navy-wide E-6 advancement exam in selected rating
- Time-in-rate and time-in-service minimums
- Satisfactory evaluations and warfare-qualification status
- Leading Petty Officer (LPO) of a shipboard division
- Senior watchstander on the Navy's most demanding watches
- Senior instructor at an "A"- or "C"-school
- Detailer at MyNavyHR (BUPERS), Millington, TN