Seaman (E-3)

How to read it

The uniform regulations call the stripes a group rate mark: E-2 sailors wear two stripes and E-3 sailors wear three, on the left sleeve of service dress uniforms. Seaman sits above Seaman apprentice (E-2) (two stripes) and below Petty officer third class (E-4), the first rank with an eagle and chevron. On the khaki service uniform, E-2 and E-3 sailors wear small metal collar devices instead of the sleeve mark, and on the garrison cap they wear no insignia. Navy.com describes seamen as applying their technical training in operational environments.

Also searched as: E-3 navy, SN.

Seaman, fireman, airman

Three stripes are E-3 whatever their colour. The regulations give white stripes on blue uniforms (navy blue on white) for seamen and hospitalmen, red for firemen, light blue for constructionmen and emerald green for airmen, so a sailor with three red stripes is a fireman, the same pay grade as a seaman.

Three stripes or three chevrons

The stripes are straight and slanted. A petty officer’s chevrons point down and sit under a spread eagle, as they have since the Navy recognised three classes of petty officer in the 1880s.