petty officer
Enlisted naval supervisor
A petty officer is an enlisted rank in naval forces, positioned between ordinary sailors and commissioned officers.
The term "petty" here derives from the French *petit*, meaning small or minor, indicating authority that is real but limited in scope compared to higher officers.
Petty officers typically supervise sailors, manage specialized technical duties, and serve as the backbone of shipboard operations.
The petty officer trained new recruits on deck procedures.
Top-ranking leader
- seniorHigher in rank
- juniorLower in standing
- first classHighest quality or rank
- second classLower rank or quality
third class · noncommissioned · enlisted · rating · rate · advancement · promotion · insignia
Power to enforce obedience
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
example · instruction · enforcement · standards · accountability · respect · experience · professionalism
Petty officer overseeing seamanship
- quartermasterOfficer managing military supplies
- gunner's mateNaval weapons maintenance rating
- yeomanIndependent cultivator or naval clerk
- corpsmanMilitary enlisted medical personnel
submarine · coxswain · deck · watch · bridge · helm · mess · berthing
Overseeing people or processes
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- maintenancePreserving working condition
- drillHole-boring device
muster · instruction · coordination · delegation · oversight · accountability · reporting · logging
Disorderly, troublesome condition
- khakiDull yellowish-brown shade
- crowLarge black corvid
- service stripesUniform insignia denoting years
- shellbackEquator-crossing sailor
anchors · bluejacket · sailor · career · reenlistment · retirement
chief
Top-ranking leader
- seniorHigher in rank
- juniorLower in standing
- first classHighest quality or rank
second class · third class · noncommissioned · enlisted · rating · rate · advancement · promotion · insignia · chevron
authority
Power to enforce obedience
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
mentorship · example · instruction · enforcement · standards · accountability · respect · experience · professionalism · initiative
boatswain's mate
Petty officer overseeing seamanship
- quartermasterOfficer managing military supplies
- gunner's mateNaval weapons maintenance rating
- yeomanIndependent cultivator or naval clerk
corpsman · submarine · coxswain · deck · watch · bridge · helm · mess · berthing · shipboard
supervision
Overseeing people or processes
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- maintenancePreserving working condition
drill · muster · instruction · coordination · delegation · oversight · accountability · reporting · logging · scheduling
mess
Disorderly, troublesome condition
- khakiDull yellowish-brown shade
- crowLarge black corvid
- service stripesUniform insignia denoting years
shellback · anchors · bluejacket · sailor · career · reenlistment · retirement
- militarysoldiers, army, troops, officers, navy
- military termsarmy, navy, air force, marines, soldier
- Navyadmiral, battleship, destroyer, aircraft carrier, cruiser
- US Navynavy, fleet, sailor, admiral, submarine
- military personnelsoldiers, soldier, midshipmen, officers, troops
- military ranksgeneral, captain, major, sergeant, private
petty officercommissioned officer
Formally appointed military leader
naval officer · officer · admiral · fleet admiral · captain
office, officer, official, petty, unofficial, officially, officialdom, pettiest, pettier