ELECTRICIAN'S MATE (EM)

OVERVIEW

Electrician's Mate (EM) is the U.S. Navy's electrical-power generation and distribution rating. EMs operate and maintain the ship's gas-turbine generators, diesel generators, switchboards, motor controllers, lighting, and shore-power tie-ins on every U.S. Navy combatant. The rating splits into a surface track and a Nuclear-track EMN that operates the electrical plant on submarines and aircraft carriers.

EMs work side-by-side with MMs and ETs in the engineering and reactor departments. The senior EM aboard a surface ship typically owns the ship's electrical-distribution system end-to-end and serves as the Engineering Department's electrical division leading petty officer.

The general community covers the U.S. Navy's traditional shipboard ratings — deck, engineering, weapons, and combat-systems Sailors who keep surface combatants and amphibious ships in the fight. Sailors in this community typically rotate between sea and shore tours and are eligible for a wide range of NECs, instructor billets, and enlisted commissioning programs.

A-school for the rating runs ~13 weeks (Surface) / ~12 months Nuclear pipeline at Surface Warfare Officers School Detachment, Great Lakes, IL (Surface) / Nuclear Power Training Command, Goose Creek, SC (Nuclear), where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR+MK+GS=210 and an enlistment obligation of 5–6 years. EMs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior EMs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.

Across the active force, EM Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.

WHAT EMs DO

Surface EMs operate and maintain ship-service generators (gas-turbine and diesel), main switchboards, motor controllers, lighting and emergency lighting circuits, shore-power connections, and degaussing systems. Nuclear EMs operate the electrical plant on submarines and aircraft carriers, including the reactor-plant electrical control systems, vital busses, and the motor generator sets that drive submarine main propulsion. EMs also operate uninterruptible power systems and high-voltage shore-power tie-ins during in-port maintenance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Surface EMs operate and maintain ship-service generators (gas-turbine and diesel), main switchboards, motor controllers, lighting and emergency lighting circuits, shore-power connections, and degaussing systems. Nuclear EMs operate the electrical plant on submarines and aircraft carriers, including the reactor-plant electrical control systems, vital busses, and the motor generator sets that drive submarine main propulsion. EMs also operate uninterruptible power systems and high-voltage shore-power tie-ins during in-port maintenance.
• Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior EMs as required by the chain of command.
• Lead the EM work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
• Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.

HISTORY

Electrician's Mate was established in the late 19th century as electric lighting and power began to replace oil lamps and steam-driven mechanical systems aboard ship. The rating absorbed the Interior Communications and Electrician sub-specialties through several 20th-century consolidations.

The Nuclear-track EMN was established alongside MMN and ETN to provide the rated electrical operators for shipboard pressurized-water reactor plants beginning with USS Nautilus.

Like all surface-Navy general ratings, the rating evolved alongside the U.S. Navy's transition from sail to steam, then steam to gas-turbine and electric-drive propulsion, and continues to adapt to today's distributed maritime operations and integrated combat systems.

Today the Electrician's Mate (EM) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern EMs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.

The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring EMs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
   Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
   Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors at the Navy's only boot camp.
2. 2. Electrician's Mate A-School~13 weeks (Surface) / ~12 months Nuclear pipeline
   Surface Warfare Officers School Detachment, Great Lakes, IL (Surface) / Nuclear Power Training Command, Goose Creek, SC (Nuclear)
   Initial rating-skills training for EM accessions.
3. 3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
   Every U.S. Navy commissioned surface ship
   On-the-job training and qualifications in the EM rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. E-1/E-3
   Apprentice Electrician's Mate
   A-school then electrical work-center striker tour; nuclear EMs complete a ~12-month NPS+Prototype pipeline.
2. E-4/E-6
   Petty Officer EM
   Qualify as electrical operator, motor controller technician, and switchboard operator.
3. E-7+
   Chief Electrician's Mate
   Engineering Department LCPO or Reactor Department EM Division Chief.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

• Every U.S. Navy commissioned surface ship
• Aircraft carriers (CVN-68 / CVN-78) — Nuclear EMs
• Every U.S. Navy submarine — Nuclear EMs
• Submarine tenders and amphibious flagship staffs

EXAMPLE NECs

• EM-4291 Shipboard Electrical Operator
• EM-3387 Nuclear Electrician

RELATED RATINGS

• MM · General Surface & Combat
  Machinist's Mate
• ET · General Surface & Combat
  Electronics Technician
• EN · General Surface & Combat
  Engineman

RELATED BASES

• Navy Base · IL
  Naval Station Great Lakes
• Navy Base · CT
  Naval Submarine Base New London
• Navy Base · GA
  Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• Navy Electrician's Mate (navy.com)
• Naval Nuclear Power Training Command
• My Navy HR — EM Rating Detail