Enlisted personnel of the Navy are divided into two groups, rated and non-rated.  The rated personnel are petty officers and are divided into four levels of responsibility and skill, ranging from third class, upward through second class and first class, to chief, which is the highest petty officer rating.

Non-Rated Distinctions

Cuff Marks 1886 - 1947

Branch Marks 1912 - 1947

Seaman, blue uniform	Seaman, white uniform	Fireman, blue uniform	Fireman, white uniform

In 1948, a new system of insignia for non-rated personnel was introduced. The Navy revised its non-rated personnel structure, and adopted a system of diagonal sleeve stripes to indicate the lowest three pay grades.

	Seaman insignia	Airman variation	Fireman variation
Seaman E-3
Seaman Apprentice E-2
Seaman Recruit E-1	no insignia worn

The United States Coast Guard uses the same insignia structure as the Navy, except that Seaman Recruit continues to carry one diagonal stripe in the Coast Guard, which is no longer the case in the Navy.