Boatswain's Mate (United States Navy)
| Boatswain's Mate | |
|---|---|
Rating insignia
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| Issued by | United States Navy |
| Type | Enlisted rating |
| Abbreviation | BM |
| Specialty | Deck |
The United States Navy occupational rating of boatswain's mate (abbreviated as BM) was a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) to enlisted members who were rated or "striking" for the rating as a deck seaman. The colloquial form of address for a boatswain's mate is "Boats".
The rating of Boatswain's Mate dates from the American Revolutionary War and was one of the oldest U.S. Navy rates in continuous existence from 1775 to 2016. For a period of three months at the end of 2016 the rating (along with all ratings in the Navy) were scheduled for elimination but the decision had subsequently been reversed.
Boatswain's mates train, direct, and supervise personnel in ship's maintenance duties in all activities relating to marlinspike, deck, boat seamanship, painting, upkeep of ship's external structure, rigging, deck equipment, and boats. Boatswain's mates take charge of working parties; perform seamanship tasks; act as petty officer-in-charge of picketboats, self-propelled barges, tugs, and other yard and district craft. They serve in, or take charge of damage control parties. BMs also operate and maintain equipment used in loading and unloading cargo, ammunition, fuel, and general stores. BMs take charge of and supervise UNREP (Underway Replenishment) procedures and equipment. They are integral to ship's navigation and serve as ship's Helmsman and the ship's Lee Helmsman. In addition they also serve as RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) coxswains.
Boatswain's mates enjoy a normal path of advancement to Chief Warrant Officer and limited duty officer. Candidates must have normal color perception, and no speech impediment. Candidates need not meet any special citizenship or security requirements.
Boatswain's mates also stand watch on ship's bridges, passing information relating to routine and special activities to the crew with the distinctive boatswain's call or boatswain's pipe. On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to "call the stroke". Later, because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as pipe down, and the Side or Away Galley (the boarding or debarking of officials). So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navies.
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