NavyWeek.org is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense, NAVCO, or DFAS. This page is informational reference material — not official guidance — and is compiled from public U.S. government sources.

WHEN EACH RATING WAS RETIRED

• RM · Decommissioned 1999
  Radioman
  Operated Navy radio circuits from the early 20th century through the late 1990s
  Cryptologic & IW · Active 1921–1999
• DP · Decommissioned 1999
  Data Processing Technician
  Operated the Navy's mainframe and minicomputer systems from the late 1960s through the late 1990s
  Cryptologic & IW · Active 1967–1999
• OT · Decommissioned 1998
  Ocean Systems Technician
  Operated the SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System) shore acoustic-surveillance arrays during the Cold War
  Cryptologic & IW · Active 1972–1998
• BT · Decommissioned 1996
  Boiler Technician
  Operated every Navy steam-propulsion plant from WWII through the late Cold War
  General Surface & Combat · Active 1948–1996
• OM · Decommissioned 1995
  Opticalman
  Maintained periscopes, range-finders, and optical fire-control equipment from WWII through the early 1990s
  General Surface & Combat · Active 1948–1995
• ML · Decommissioned 1995
  Molder
  Operated the Navy's shipboard and shore foundries — pouring bronze, brass, aluminum, and iron castings for repair-part production
  General Surface & Combat · Active 1948–1995
• PM · Decommissioned 1991
  Patternmaker
  Crafted the wood and metal patterns from which the Navy's shipboard foundries cast bronze, brass, and aluminum parts
  General Surface & Combat · Active 1948–1991

• SK · Decommissioned 2009
  Storekeeper
  One of the oldest enlisted ratings in the U.S. Navy, dating to the founding of the service
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1797–2009
• AK · Decommissioned 2009
  Aviation Storekeeper
  Managed aviation supply and repair-parts logistics for every carrier air wing for over sixty years
  Naval Aviation · Active 1948–2009
• PC · Decommissioned 2009
  Postal Clerk
  Operated Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) postal facilities aboard every deployed Navy ship and at every overseas FPO
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1948–2009
• IM · Decommissioned 2007
  Instrumentman
  Maintained mechanical instruments, typewriters, watches, gauges, and (after 1995) optical instruments
  General Surface & Combat · Active 1948–2007
• PH · Decommissioned 2006
  Photographer's Mate
  Documented every major U.S. Navy operation from WWII through the early Global War on Terror
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1942–2006
• JO · Decommissioned 2006
  Journalist
  Wrote and produced the Navy's internal journalism — base newspapers, ship's newsletters, Navy News Service
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1948–2006
• LI · Decommissioned 2006
  Lithographer
  Operated the Navy's afloat and ashore print plants for nearly sixty years
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1948–2006
• PN · Decommissioned 2005
  Personnelman
  Maintained the Navy's service-record system from the post-WWII era through the modern NSIPS rollout
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1948–2005
• DK · Decommissioned 2005
  Disbursing Clerk
  Operated the Navy's afloat and ashore disbursing offices for over fifty years
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1948–2005
• DT · Decommissioned 2005
  Dental Technician
  Operated every Navy dental clinic and shipboard dental space for nearly sixty years
  Medical & Dental · Active 1948–2005
• MS · Decommissioned 2004
  Mess Management Specialist
  Operated every Navy galley and wardroom for nearly thirty years
  Admin & Logistics · Active 1975–2004

ALL DECOMMISSIONED RATINGS A–Z

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Why does the U.S. Navy decommission ratings?
  The Navy disestablishes a rating when its mission converges with another rating, when technology eliminates the underlying skill (e.g., shipboard mainframes for Data Processing Technicians), or when the population falls below the size needed to sustain a healthy career pyramid. Most modern disestablishments roll the historical rating into one or more active ratings, and current Sailors convert via NEC-bridging instructions in the disestablishment NAVADMIN.
• How many U.S. Navy ratings have been decommissioned?
  This reference covers 18 of the most-significant Tier-1 decommissioned U.S. Navy enlisted ratings from the post-Cold War era through the 2000s and 2010s consolidations. Many additional pre-1990 ratings (Shipfitter, Sonarman, Radarman, Communications Technician, Torpedoman's Mate, Photographic Intelligenceman, Ship's Serviceman and others) were also disestablished and are tracked as predecessors on their successor active ratings.
• What happened to Sailors when their rating was decommissioned?
  Active-duty Sailors in a disestablishing rating convert to the successor rating named in the OPNAV/NAVADMIN message. Sailors typically retain paygrade and seniority, complete a bridge training course or NEC qualification for the new rating, and update their service record. Reservists and IRR personnel follow the same conversion path on their next paid drill or recall.
• Can I look up the historical rating of a relative or veteran?
  Yes. Each historical rating page on NavyWeek covers what the rating did, when it existed, why it was discontinued, and which active ratings absorbed its mission — useful context for veteran-benefits paperwork, biography research, and family history when a discharge document (DD-214) lists a rating that no longer exists in the modern Navy.

Editorial policy

• Source priority. We cite the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) rating-badge index, MyNavyHR / NPC enlisted community pages, and BUPERSINST / NAVADMIN disestablishment messages first. Non-government sources are not used as primary evidence on this page.
• Independence. NavyWeek.org is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense, NAVCO, or any federal agency. We do not accept payment to recommend specific recruiters, schools, vendors, or services.
• Review cadence. Decommissioning years, successor mappings, and era tags are re-verified quarterly and any time NPC or NHHC publishes new rating history.
• Reviewer. The page is reviewed for accuracy by the reviewer named in the byline. The "Last reviewed" date at the top of the page reflects the most recent review pass.
• Corrections. Factual errors are corrected as soon as we can verify the issue against an official source. See the "Report an outdated fact" link below.
• Not advice. This page is informational only. For decisions about service, benefits, pay, or assignment, rely on official .mil sources and your chain of command, detailer, recruiter, or accredited representative.