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The United States Navy occupational rating of Boatswain's Mate (abbreviated as BM) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) to enlisted members who "strike" for the rating as a deck seaman. Boatswain's mates train, direct, and supervise personnel in ship's maintenance duties in all activities relating to marlinspike, deck, boat seamanship, painting, upkeep of ship's external structure, rigging, deck equipment, and boats.[1] Boatswain's Mates take charge of working parties; perform seamanship tasks; act as petty officer-in-charge of picketboats, self-propelled barges, tugs, and other yard and district craft.[1] They maintain discipline as master-at-arms and police petty officers.[1] They serve in, or take charge of, guncrews or damage control parties.[1] BM's also operate and maintain equipment used in loading and unloading cargo, ammunition, fuel, and general stores.[1] Boatswain's mates enjoy a normal path of advancement to Chief Warrant Officer and Limited Duty Officer.[1] Candidates must have normal color perception, and no speech impediment.[1] Candidates needn't meet any special citizenship or security requirements.[1] Boatswain's mates also summon the crew to work by a whistle known as a boatswain's call or boatswain's pipe.[2] On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to "call the stroke."[3] Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials.[3] So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navies.[3]
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U.S. Coast Guard
The most versatile member of the Coast Guard's operational team is the Boatswain's Mate (BM).[4] Boatswain's Mates are masters of seamanship.[4] BMs are capable of performing almost any task in connection with deck maintenance, small boat operations, navigation, and supervision of personnel assigned to a ship's deck force.[4] BMs have a general knowledge of ropes and cables, including different uses, stresses, strains and proper stowing.[4] BMs operate hoists, cranes, and winches to load cargo or set gangplanks, stand watch for security, navigation or communications.[4] Boatswain's Mates can be found in nearly every duty station available throughout the United States and various locations overseas.[4] They serve on every Coast Guard Cutter from harbor tugs to seagoing icebreakers.[4] Additionally, in many assignments act as a federal law enforcement officer.[4] BMs are Officers-In-Charge of many patrol boats, tugs, small craft and small shore units including search and rescue stations and aids to navigation teams.[4] BMs utilize their leadership and expertise to perform the missions of the Coast Guard, at sea and on shore.[4]
Leadership ability, physical strength, good hearing and vision and a high degree of manual dexterity.[4] School courses taken in algebra, geometry and shop are helpful.[4] Any experience handling small boats is extremely valuable.[4] Training for Boatswain's Mate is accomplished through 12-weeks of intensive training at Yorktown, VA or with on-the-job training through a striker program.[4] Upon completion of this training, BMs may go on to attend other advanced training such as Coxswain, Heavy Weather Coxswain, Aids to Navigation Basic and Advanced, Bouy Deck Supervisor, Law Enforcement including fisheries among others.[4] Related Civilian Jobs include Pier Superintendent, Tugboat Crewman, Heavy Equipment Operator, Marina Supervisor, Marina Operator, and Ship Pilot.[4]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bureau of Naval Personnel. Navy Enlisted Occupational Standards for Boatswains's Mate (BM). United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
- ^ USNI, 1992,345-353.
- ^ a b c Origin of Navy Terminology. Naval Historical Center. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p United States Coast Guard (2004-06-04). Boatswain's Mate (BM). Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
References
- United States Naval Institute [1902] (1996). The Bluejackets' Manual, 21st ed., Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-050-9.
See also
External links
- Enlisted Ratings and Jobs in the US Navy (Historical)
- NAVPERS 18068F Navy Enlisted Occupational Standards; also available as a PDF file
- Navy Ratings, Past and present
- Navy Speciality ratings & Emergency ratings
- Enlisted Rating Insignia
- Boatswain's Mate Job Description at the Royal Australian Navy
- Boatswain's Job Description at the Canadian Navy
- Boatswain's Mates and the Origins of the Chief Petty Officer
- Boatswains Mate "A" School (USCG)
