Navy Organization, Traditions and History

This section introduces you to how the Navy is organized, and how to best learn about history and traditions that might matter to you. You will learn more about the Navy the longer your Sailor continues to serve. You don’t have to learn everything all at once, or understand everything about your Sailor’s part of the Navy. The more curious you are, the more you will learn, and the better you will understand how your Sailor fits into it all.

Navy Mission

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train, and equip combat ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas.

• Did you know that the Navy ensures that commercial shipping lanes are kept open? More than 90% of US commerce travels by sea, so this is especially important.
• The Navy also deters pirates at sea—the movie Captain Phillips is based on the true story of Somali Pirates taking an American commercial ship hostage and the rescue operation mounted by the Navy.
• The Navy is comprised of many components that all work together towards this mission. Every element is crucial to success.

Core Values

All sailors are taught to learn and live the Navy’s Core Values:

• Honor
• Courage
• Commitment

Many Navy couples and families have found that these values permeate their relationships and make them stronger. Consider embracing them as part of your own family values.

Navy Structure

There is ONE U.S. Navy. It is comprised of four core components:

• Active Duty
• Reserve
• Civilian
• Families

Each provides unique contributions to the Navy Mission and all are important. At the end of 2018, the size of these components was:

• Active Duty: 330,000
• Ready Reserve: 100,495
• Civilian: 274,300

However, each component operates in its own unique way. They have their own processes, administrations, and benefits and privileges. Civilian component spouses, for example, are not eligible for Navy ID cards and therefore cannot access military bases unaccompanied and cannot access Commissaries or Exchanges alone. (This is an issue being addressed across the Navy). Reserve component sailors pay their own way to their reserve duty stations each month if traveling to a Reserve center. As you interact with Sailors and their spouses, remember that every service member matters and every family experience joys and challenges associated with their service.

Navy Communities

You may be more familiar with the idea of Navy Communities, such as Aviation, Submarines, and Surface (ships.) You might think of these communities in terms of their relationship to the sea (above, on, or under the sea…). Another way you may think about the Navy is in terms of location (Pacific, Atlantic, Europe.) There are many more communities, such as special forces, engineers, medical, chaplains, and others. The Navy Organization Chart is a top-level look at how the Navy is structured, and the Command Structure Chart is a next-level look at how a specific Command or unit is organized.

Navy Organization

Typical Command Structure

Ombudsman

The Ombudsman is a part of the wardroom, but outside of the chain of command. The Ombudsman is a volunteer and the appointed representative of the Commanding Officer (CO) that acts as the information link between the command leadership and the command families. As such they are an official command representative and point of contact for families.

The Ombudsman can disseminate information up and down the chain of command, both official Navy and command information. Ombudsmen can refer resources that may be instrumental in resolving issues before they require extensive command attention. They provide access to the appropriate level of the chain of command for necessary intervention, forwarding grievances or reasonable requests and is a primary point of contact for families during an emergency, crisis or disaster, all while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Get to know your Ombudsman as they are a single point of contact for various resources and information.

Navy Traditions

The Navy is an organization rich with tradition and customs. From the way we gather, celebrate, socialize, and support each other, many of the customs and traditions observed by the Navy are based on hundreds of years of tradition, both British and American. Some of these customs and traditions include Keel-Laying, Christening or Launching, Commissioning, Decommissioning, Change of Command, Change of Office, Chief Petty Officer Pinning, LDO and CWO Commissioning, Retirement which can be found in the Naval Services Familyline Guideline Series Social Customs and Traditions of the Sea Services. Some people find traditions and ceremonies intimidating at first, because it feels foreign. When we learn the history of the custom, it becomes meaningful and fun.

Understanding Dress Codes

Frequently, you will receive invitations to various social events, military and civilian. Accept, if at all possible, as this will give you an opportunity to meet new and interesting people. The attire for these invitations is usually specified and can range from informal to formal depending upon the time of day, time of year, and geographic location. One of the first things new spouses ask about these events is “What should I wear?” Use the following definitions for typical dress code instructions for Navy events as a start. Ask other spouses for advice if you aren’t sure.

Very Formal Occasions

This is very seldom worn except by flag officers or those in the diplomatic corps. When required, white tie is worn to evening dances, weddings, dinners, receptions, and on state occasions.

• Military – Formal dress uniform.
• Civilian – Gentlemen wear a tailcoat with matching trousers, a white waistcoat, wing collared shirt and white bow tie. Ladies wear very formal evening gowns.

Daytime Formal Occasions

For a formal daytime function such as a wedding, the following applies:

• Military – Seasonally appropriate Service Dress Uniform.
• Civilian – Gentlemen wear cutaways/morning coat. Ladies wear dresses or suits appropriate to the occasion as styles dictate.

Evening Formal Occasions

The attire specified for a formal evening function is “Black Tie.” This may be worn to formal events after 6:00 p.m. such as dinners, receptions, dances, weddings, or military balls.

• Military – Seasonally appropriate Dinner Dress Jacket Uniform.
• Civilian – Gentlemen wear dinner jackets or tuxedos. Ladies wear formal evening gowns.

Ceremonial Occasions

For occasions of state, ceremonies, and solemnities, parades and reviews, military personnel participating wear the specified ceremonial uniform.

• Military guests – Seasonally appropriate Service Dress Uniform.
• Civilian – Gentlemen generally wear dark business suits. Ladies wear dresses or business suits appropriate to the occasion, as styles dictate.

Informal Occasions

Business and informal occasions in the afternoon such as luncheons, receptions, or dinners will call for “Informal Attire” or “Civilian Informal.”

• Military – Seasonally appropriate Service Uniform.
• Civilian – Gentlemen wear dark business suits. Ladies wear afternoon dresses or business suits; or for evening events, dressy dresses, business suits, or long skirts appropriate to the occasion, as current styles dictate.

Casual Occasions

Nowadays, casual functions may include dinner parties, picnics, barbecues, sporting events, etc.

• Gentlemen – “Casual attire” may range from an open collar shirt or sweater to a sports coat.
• Ladies – Attire may range from slacks to appropriate length dress shorts to casual skirts. (Shorts and jeans are inappropriate unless specifically indicated by the host/ hostess.)

Note: In many areas of the country, dress requirements can vary for the “casual” social occasions. For example, in one part of the country, “casual” may mean shorts and sandals, and in another area, it may mean dressy slacks or skirts. When in doubt, inquire as to the local custom or ask your host/hostess.

Aloha Attire

When you live on an island, you may receive an invitation that calls for “aloha attire.” There are several types of aloha attire, including aloha casual, aloha formal, and aloha crisp.

• Casual – Shorts & nice T-Shirt or golf shirt
• Aloha Wear – Nice clothes, Aloha Shirt/Sundress
• Casual Dress – Simple dress, nice slacks, nice shorts and sandals
• Semi-Formal – Short Dress, Dinner jacket for men
• Aloha Crisp
  • Women – Sundress, skirt or pants w/dressy sandals
  • Men – Aloha shirt or open collared shirt with dress pants. (can be a nice Aloha shirt)
• Formal – Ball Gown or Tuxedo for men

When in doubt, call your host or someone who has been to a similar function to ask what is appropriate to wear.

A Guide to Social Customs, Etiquette, and Ceremonies

The Social Customs Guidelines created by NSFL, by spouse-for spouse, includes information on the following topics, including when to put your hand over your heart, what to wear on a ship (pants and flat shoes), and what all of the various events that you will see are all about. Some of the topics reviewed in this invaluable resource include:

Best Resources

The most comprehensive guide to Navy History and Traditions is Social Customs and Traditions of the Sea Services, from the NSFL Guidelines series. It is available free online.

NSFL’s Sea Legs also includes useful information about customs and traditions.

Military Time

As the US Navy are also part of our military structure, they also observe a twenty-four hour time format and use this in all aspects of their duties. The twenty-four hour format is the same time that we are used to, yet instead of using “o’clock, am, or pm” they use the term “hours”. The Navy also continues counting the hours past 12 o’clock noon, instead of calling the next hour 1 o’clock, such as 1300 hours.

1:00 pm	1300 hours
Colon denotes hours from minutes, followed by am/pm to denote time of day.	No colon; “hours” replaces am/pm or ommitted; hours continue until 00
9:00 am	0900
11:38 am	1138 hours
2:14 pm	1414
7:24 pm	1924
11:00 pm	2300 hours
12:15 am	0015 hours

Ranks and Rates

Within the US Navy the military specialty of a Sailor is called a “rating”, whereas in other services they call this a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS). The Rates and ratings only extend through the enlisted ranks such as Hospital Man 3rd Class (HM3), Mass Communications Chief (MCC). Once a Sailor attains a rank of an officer, they no longer have a rating rather they are called by their rank; Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant, Commander, etc.

Navy Enlisted Rates and Insignias

Paygrade	Rate	Abbreviation	Upper Sleeve	Collar and Cap
E-1	Seaman Recruit	SR	None	None
E-2	Seaman Apprentice	SA		None
E-3	Seaman	SN		None
E-4	Petty Officer Third Class	PO3
E-5	Petty Officer Second Class	PO2
E-6	Petty Officer First Class	PO1
E-7	Chief Petty Officer	CPO
E-8	Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO
E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO
E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	MCPON

Navy Warrant Officer Ranks and Insignias

Navy Officer Ranks and Insignias

Ratings

Spouse Tips for Success

Remember that you will learn as you go. No one expects you to understand the entire Navy. Don’t be shy about asking questions about things you want to know. While rules of etiquette are important to follow, always keep in mind that no rules will replace a warm heart, a friendly smile, and the sincere desire to share in the fellowship and camaraderie of the sea services. Remember that other spouses are your best resource. Want advice? Ask a spouse!

Navy Jargon and Acronyms

Navy jargon and acronyms can, and will confuse you. As there are many acronyms, some which are the same acronyms for varying communities can mean very different things, so if someone uses an acronym that you are not aware of, ask them what it means.

To see a list of common Navy terms and acronyms, see our glossary. More jargon and acronyms can be found in the NSFL Sea Legs publication.

If you have not read our other modules, go back and read through them or follow the link below to continue onto our next module.