MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 24, 2013) – Gunners Mate 3rd Class Amelia Sandoval, left, and Gunners Mate 2nd Class Samuel Ervin perform maintenance on a torpedo tube aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52). Barry, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz)
Just in case you didn’t know, there is a Change.org petition to halt the scrapping by Ray Mabus of the Navy’s longstanding rating system.
For 241 Years Navy personnel have been identified by their Job specialty, known as a “Rating”. The oldest rates such as Boatswain Mates, and Gunners Mate predate the founding of this country. Being known by your job title was a sense of pride. A sign of accomplishment. The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations just senselessly erased this tradition. One only has to visit Navy social media pages to see the disgust and outrage of current and former personnel. One by one current leadership continues to erode the very things that set the Navy apart from the other services. Mr. President, I and the others signing this petition request you use your authority to restore to our Sailors what they have earned.
Click here if you want to see, sign or share.
