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ENGINEMAN (EN)

The Navy's diesel-engine and small-craft propulsion rating — patrol craft, amphibs, submarines (auxiliary), and emergency diesels.

Rating Badge

Rating Code

Community

General Surface & Combat

Paygrade Range

E-1 to E-9

ASVAB Minimum

VE+AR+MK+AS=195

A-School

Surface Warfare Officers School Detachment, Great Lakes, IL · ~9 weeks

Clearance

Standard

Obligation

4 years

OVERVIEW

Engineman (EN) is the U.S. Navy's diesel-engine and small-craft propulsion rating. ENs operate and maintain the diesel main engines and emergency diesel generators on amphibious ships, mine countermeasures vessels, patrol craft, RHIBs, and the auxiliary diesels on virtually every Navy combatant. The rating is heavily represented in the Coastal Riverine Force and aboard the Navy's expeditionary mobile bases (ESBs) and expeditionary fast transports (EPFs).

ENs and Machinist's Mates share an engineering lineage but diverge on plant type — MMs handle gas turbines, steam turbines, and reactor steam, while ENs run the Navy's diesels.

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 ~9 weeks at Surface Warfare Officers School Detachment, Great Lakes, IL, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR+MK+AS=195 and an enlistment obligation of 4–6 years. ENs 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 ENs 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, EN 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 ENs DO

Enginemen operate and maintain medium- and high-speed diesel main engines on amphibious ships, mine countermeasures ships, patrol craft, and small boats; emergency diesel generators on every U.S. Navy combatant; reduction gears and clutch assemblies for diesel propulsion plants; fuel-oil purifiers and lubricating-oil systems; and the diesel-driven fire pumps and dewatering pumps used in damage-control casualties. They serve as boat-engineer of small craft and as engineering watchstanders aboard amphibious ships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Enginemen operate and maintain medium- and high-speed diesel main engines on amphibious ships, mine countermeasures ships, patrol craft, and small boats; emergency diesel generators on every U.S. Navy combatant; reduction gears and clutch assemblies for diesel propulsion plants; fuel-oil purifiers and lubricating-oil systems; and the diesel-driven fire pumps and dewatering pumps used in damage-control casualties. They serve as boat-engineer of small craft and as engineering watchstanders aboard amphibious ships.
Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior ENs as required by the chain of command.
Lead the EN 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

The Engineman rating evolved from the early-20th-century specialty engineering ratings that emerged with the Navy's adoption of diesel and gasoline propulsion for submarines, motor torpedo boats, and small craft. The rating consolidated multiple legacy diesel ratings during the post-World War II rating reforms.

Today EN is one of the smaller engineering ratings but remains essential to the amphibious force, expeditionary commands, and the Coastal Riverine Squadrons.

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 Engineman (EN) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern ENs 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 ENs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

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. Engineman A-School~9 weeks
Surface Warfare Officers School Detachment, Great Lakes, IL
Initial rating-skills training for EN accessions.
3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
Amphibious warfare ships (LSD / LPD / LHA / LHD)
On-the-job training and qualifications in the EN rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

E-1/E-3
Apprentice Engineman
A-school at Great Lakes; first tour in an engine room or on a patrol craft.
E-4/E-6
Petty Officer Engineman
Qualify on diesel main engines and emergency diesels; lead a work-center.
E-7+
Chief Engineman
Engineering Department LCPO on an amphib or MCM, or instructor at the Surface Warfare Engineering School.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

Amphibious warfare ships (LSD / LPD / LHA / LHD)
Mine countermeasures ships (MCM-1 Avenger class)
Patrol craft and Coastal Riverine boats
Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB) and Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF)

EXAMPLE NECs

EN-4291 Diesel Engine Inspector
EN-4296 Patrol Craft Engineer

How to address

As an enlisted Sailor by paygrade and last name (e.g. "Petty Officer Smith" for E-4–E-6, "Chief Smith" for E-7+). The rating abbreviation "EN" is appended to the paygrade in writing — e.g., EN1 Smith for EN Petty Officer First Class.

Prerequisites

U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB VE+AR+MK+AS=195
High school diploma or equivalent
Pass the Navy physical and medical screening

Common assignments

Amphibious warfare ships (LSD / LPD / LHA / LHD)
Mine countermeasures ships (MCM-1 Avenger class)
Patrol craft and Coastal Riverine boats
Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB) and Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF)

RELATED RATINGS

RELATED BASES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ENs operate diesel and gasoline engines and small-craft propulsion plants; MMs operate gas turbines, steam turbines, and reactor steam plants.

Yes — Enginemen maintain submarine emergency diesel generators, but the primary submarine engineering ratings are MM (Nuclear), EM, and ET.

Engineman A-school is at the Surface Warfare Engineering School detachment at Naval Station Great Lakes, IL.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02

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