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Home/Rates/SN
Seaman sailor
SN

Seaman(SN Navy Rating)

Undesignated seaman apprentice working in deck or operations divisions while awaiting rating assignment.

PACT (Professional Apprenticeship Career Track) — Surface / Deck / Administrative. Seaman Apprentice (SN) is an undesignated Sailor working in deck, operations, or administrative divisions aboard ships while awaiting permanent rating assignment. This is the largest PACT track and feeds into the broadest set of ratings.

Overall

3.5/10
Burnout4.9
Lifestyle3.0
Civilian ROI1.0
Happiness5.0
Manning %3.4
$$$ Pay5.0

What is PACT?

The Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) is a program where Sailors enlist into the Navy without a guaranteed rating. After boot camp, they report to a surface ship as an undesignated Seaman — commonly standing helm watches, working lines and replenishment details, cleaning, chipping, and painting — while learning about the various rating paths available on board. At roughly the 18-to-24-month mark they can apply for a permanent rating through (a) the "A-School" path or (b) on-the-job strike path. See the striking for a rate article. PACT is riskier than a rated contract — conversion is not guaranteed.

Ratings SN can convert into

Common target ratings for SN Sailors (many more exist — this is the most diverse PACT track):

  • BM — Boatswain's Mate
  • YN — Yeoman
  • MA — Master-at-Arms
  • CS — Culinary Specialist
  • LS — Logistics Specialist
  • RS — Retail Services Specialist
  • QM — Quartermaster
  • OS — Operations Specialist
  • GM — Gunner's Mate
  • FC — Fire Controlman
  • HT — Hull Maintenance Technician

Plus many others — SN is the most common apprenticeship track and nearly any surface-fleet rating is a possible conversion target depending on ASVAB scores and community needs.

Quick Stats

Enlistment BonusNo active bonus
Civilian Sector Transferability$28k–$40k
Advancement OutlookAverage
Manning %98%
Initial Contract3 yr active
Medical Requirements
  • ✓Normal color perception

Security Clearance

No Clearance — Open to Permanent Residents

This rate does not require a security clearance and is open to lawful permanent residents (green card holders) as well as U.S. citizens.

ASVAB Requirements

AFQT Minimum

35

No rate-specific line-score combo applies to SN. Apprentice rates only need the Navy's minimum AFQT. Rate-specific ASVAB line scores come into play when you PACT-convert into a designated rating — those line-score requirements are set by the target rate, not the apprenticeship.

Calculate your score →

Remarks

Special Requirements for AN and SN: Must be eligible for Security Clearance. Permanent Resident Aliens may be classified into Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) Program only if security clearance eligible in all other aspects and will be expected to obtain US Citizenship while on active duty at the earliest opportunity. This applies ONLY to PACT Program.

Source: CNRC / ECM Rating List, 19 Jan 2026. Verify current guidance with your recruiter before signing.

Who This Is Best For

Best for undecided individuals who want shipboard experience before choosing a specialty. You'll gain exposure to deck and operations ratings, but advancement is slower until you strike a rate. Ideal for those who want to experience Navy life firsthand before committing to a career path.

+Pros

  • ✓Strong civilian career transition

–Cons

  • ✗Significant sea duty

Real Opinions

+Positive

✓

“I would recommend SN to anyone considering it. The training is solid and the community takes care of its own.”

r/navy|
✓

“Being an undesignated Sailor is not as nerve racking as a lot of people make it sound. We don't just sweep the decks, moor lines or chip and paint. It's more than that. One of the perks is the opportunity to get firsthand knowledge of most jobs the Navy offers.”

DVIDSHUB|

–Negative & Mixed

✗

“Being undesignated means you do whatever needs doing. You have little control over your day-to-day until you strike a rate.”

r/newtothenavy|
✗

“My biggest fear was that I'm 26 and I'm gonna be the lowest man on the totem pole — it's gonna suck. I heard horror stories where commands will keep you as long as they can because you're a body. There's definitely a hierarchy among sailors when you're undesignated.”

Military.com|

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Recruiter vs Reality

What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.

🫡 Recruiter says

“Going undesignated lets you try different jobs before committing to one!”

💀 Reality

Source: MyNavyRates research

Being undesignated means you will likely do the jobs nobody else wants until you strike a rate. You have less control over your career path and may wait months to get into A-school.

🫡 Recruiter says

“Being undesignated builds character and makes you a better sailor.”

💀 Reality

Source: veteran feedback

Deck department work is physically demanding and thankless. Many undesignated sailors regret not picking a rate at MEPS. The experience builds resilience but at the cost of career progression and morale.

Page 1 of 6

😱

Horror Stories

Real stories people have shared about this rate. Swipe to browse.

💀

“Undesignated seamen are the Navy's manual labor force — chipping paint with needle guns for 12 hours in 100-degree heat, then cleaning bilges, then standing watch. You have no rate, no skill, no identity. Veterans call it the worst way to spend 4 years of your life.”

Source: reddit.com|

Story 1 of 6

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Training Pipeline — Total ~8 weeks (2 months)

8w
Boot Camp— 8 weeks
RTC Great Lakes, IL
Basic military training for all recruits
A-School— 0 weeks
Various
0% washoutDifficulty: 1.0/10
On-the-job training at first command
Fleet Assignment— 0 weeks
First duty station
Report to operational command

Calculate Your End Training Date and Holidays and Events You Will Miss During Training

Ship dates are approximate and based on the weekly RTC Great Lakes schedule. Confirm your exact date with your recruiter. Source: bootcamp.navy.mil

Advancement Outlook

E-2 to E-4 Advancement Outlook

Time to E-4: 30 months total

  • E-1 → E-2: 9 months at E-1. Automatic
  • E-2 → E-3: 9 months at E-2. Automatic
  • E-3 → E-4: 12 months at E-3. Automatic

E-4 is automatic — competitive advancement starts at E-5

How to advance faster to E-4

Your recruiter can process you in at E-2 or E-3 on day one if you qualify. Every rung skipped shortens the path to E-4 by months. Official transcripts / certificates required at enlistment.

  • E-2 →Easy
    2 years of JROTC completed. Easiest common path if your high school offers JROTC.
  • E-2 →Moderate
    24+ semester hours/ 36+ quarter hours of college credit (below the associate's threshold). Roughly one full year of college.

Bonuses — Click here to see your military pay

How to qualify & get paid

  1. Sign a contract for this rate at MEPS with the bonus(es) listed on your NAVCRUIT 1133/52 Enlistment Guarantee — eligibility is locked at signing.
  2. Ship to Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes inside the authorized window — EBSHP and EBPST are earned and paid at RTC graduation and cannot be recouped after.
  3. Complete A-school (and any required follow-on C-school or qualifying course) for your rating — EBSR is earned and paid at school graduation, except for the Special-Operations pipelines, which pay later (AIRR after FRS + first duty station; SO after SQT; SB after SWCC Charlie phase; EOD/ND after their respective A-schools).
  4. LRP is paid annually upon submission of a DD 2475; ~25% is withheld for federal taxes, and a W-2 is issued. LRP must be on your contract at accession — it cannot be added later via reclassification.

Important details & disqualifiers

  • •All bonuses on this page are Active Component (Active Duty) only. Reservists (SELRES) follow a separate CNRF incentive message — ask your recruiter.
  • •Future Sailors with Tier 3 education credentials (HiSET / GED / alternative) are NOT authorized any EB.
  • •AFQT score must be ≥ 31 for EBSHP and ≥ 50 for LRP.
  • •EBSR is the only EB type that can be partially recouped if you separate before completing the obligated service. EBSHP / EBPST cannot be recouped after RTC.
  • •Bonus payments are subject to federal income tax withholding.

Potential Civilian Post-Navy Outcomes

General Laborer

Transferability: 3/10

$28k–$40k

Post-Navy Salary Trajectory

Estimated civilian salary growth after separating from the Navy, based on industry data for this rating's skill set.

Year 1

$28K

Year 5

$34K

Year 10

$40K

10-year growth: +43%

Lifestyle3/10

Ship vs. Shore Split

72% / 28%

Sea Duty Tempo

High — 7.5/10

Physical Demand

medium — outdoor

Sea Duty Tempo measures how much of a career is spent in deployable billets — ships, submarines, deploying squadrons, and expeditionary units — and how often those units leave homeport. It is separate from physical demand: an administrative job aboard a deployed unit still deploys, and a hands-on maintenance job at a shore command does not.

Watch Standing

Assigned to division watch bill (varies by command)

Watch standing is a 24-hour duty rotation where sailors take turns manning critical positions aboard the ship or at their command. The rotation determines how frequently you stand watch and how much rest time you get between shifts.

Watch qualifications vary by command and platform. Expect to qualify within 90 days of reporting.

OPNAVINST 3120.32DUSNI ProceedingsNavy Watch Standing Manual
🎓

Step-by-Step Strategy Guide to Getting an Associate's Degree After Boot Camp — For Free

Most sailors don't know they already have 9 or more general education college credits just from graduating boot camp.

Based on your rate, you may have more.

You can earn an associate's degree for free in 12-30 months without spending a dime.

Strategy Guide & Boot Camp College Credit Calculator →
Not the rate for you? See other ratings side by side →

Talk to a Sailor

Community Poll

If you could go back, would you pick SN again?

Related Reading

Guides on picking a rate, ASVAB, bonuses, promotion, and life after the Navy.

Getting Started

How do you choose the right Navy rate for you?

Choosing a Navy rate means weighing your ASVAB scores, lifestyle preferences, civilian career goals, and willingness to deploy or go to sea. Start by identifying which ratings you qualify for, then narrow the list by what matters most to you.

Getting Started

What is the ASVAB and what scores do you need?

The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test that determines which Navy ratings you qualify for. Your sub-test scores combine into line scores, and each rating has minimum line-score requirements. Higher scores open more options.

Career & Pay

Which Navy rates have the biggest enlistment bonuses in 2026?

Active Component (Active Duty) only. Per the CNRC GENADMIN dated 24 July 2026, the biggest source-rate bonus is $40,000 — Nuclear Field on FY26 ship dates ($75,000 EB cap). Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB) follows at $35,000, then EOD and SEAL (SO) at $30,000, and Aviation Rescue Swimmer (AIRR) and Cryptologic Technician Maintenance (CTM) at $25,000. Special Operations Future Sailors who clear the elevated PST standards add a flat $20,000 EBPST. Most rates cap at $50,000 total EB. The Loan Repayment Program adds up to $65,000 on top, separately. Reserve component (SELRES) bonuses are governed by a different message and are not covered here.

Career & Pay

How does promotion work in the Navy?

Navy advancement depends on exam scores, evaluations, time in rate, and available quotas. Some ratings promote over 50% of eligible sailors while others promote less than 5%. Your rate choice directly affects how fast you can advance.

Career & Pay

Which Navy jobs set you up best for a civilian career?

Information warfare ratings (IT, CTN, IS) and medical ratings (HM) offer the strongest civilian career pipelines. Security clearances, technical certifications, and hands-on experience make these sailors highly competitive in the private sector.

Browse all articles →

Real Opinions

+Positive

✓

“I would recommend SN to anyone considering it. The training is solid and the community takes care of its own.”

r/navy|
✓

“Being an undesignated Sailor is not as nerve racking as a lot of people make it sound. We don't just sweep the decks, moor lines or chip and paint. It's more than that. One of the perks is the opportunity to get firsthand knowledge of most jobs the Navy offers.”

DVIDSHUB|

–Negative & Mixed

✗

“Being undesignated means you do whatever needs doing. You have little control over your day-to-day until you strike a rate.”

r/newtothenavy|
✗

“My biggest fear was that I'm 26 and I'm gonna be the lowest man on the totem pole — it's gonna suck. I heard horror stories where commands will keep you as long as they can because you're a body. There's definitely a hierarchy among sailors when you're undesignated.”

Military.com|

Page 1 of 3

Share your opinion about SN

0 chars
Select one:

Recruiter vs Reality

What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.

🫡 Recruiter says

“Going undesignated lets you try different jobs before committing to one!”

💀 Reality

Source: MyNavyRates research

Being undesignated means you will likely do the jobs nobody else wants until you strike a rate. You have less control over your career path and may wait months to get into A-school.

🫡 Recruiter says

“Being undesignated builds character and makes you a better sailor.”

💀 Reality

Source: veteran feedback

Deck department work is physically demanding and thankless. Many undesignated sailors regret not picking a rate at MEPS. The experience builds resilience but at the cost of career progression and morale.

Page 1 of 6

😱

Horror Stories

Real stories people have shared about this rate. Swipe to browse.

💀

“Undesignated seamen are the Navy's manual labor force — chipping paint with needle guns for 12 hours in 100-degree heat, then cleaning bilges, then standing watch. You have no rate, no skill, no identity. Veterans call it the worst way to spend 4 years of your life.”

Source: reddit.com|

Story 1 of 6

Share a horror story about SN

0 chars

Career Progression Milestones

Estimated timeline based on current advancement rates. Actual timing varies by individual performance and Navy needs.

2 mo
1 mo
1yr 11mo
1yr 6mo
Training Complete— 2 mo
Pipeline finished (~2 mo) — Various
First Duty Station— 3 mo
Likely sea duty assignment
C-School / Advanced Training— 2yr 2mo
1 follow-on school available
Shore Duty Rotation— 3yr 8mo
First shore rotation opportunity
  • E-2 →Moderate
    Civil Air Patrol Billy Mitchell Award. Achievable with consistent cadet participation, but requires testing and leadership time.
  • E-2 →Moderate
    Sea Cadet Corps — reaching the Sea Cadet E-2 rate (join by age 17).
  • E-2 to E-3 →Moderate
    Boot camp leadership roles — roles don't auto-pin rank. Advancement comes from earning Honor Recruit or Hall of Fame at graduation (one award only, not stacked).
    • Honor Recruit up to E-2 — effectively the #1 ranked recruit in your division (~60-80 recruits), one Sailor per division per cycle. Selection is based on cumulative performance across all three academic exams, Physical Readiness Test (PRT) scores, uniform and personnel inspections, military bearing, and peer/Recruit Division Commander (RDC) evaluations. Roles that typically compete at this level:
      • Assistant LPO (ALPO) — deputy to the LPO.
      • Master-at-Arms (MAA) — barracks cleanliness, standards, and discipline.
      • Yeoman (YN) — division admin, paperwork, and tracking.
      • Educational Petty Officer (EPO) — study groups, test prep, and academic remediation.
      • Religious Petty Officer (RPO) — coordinates chapel and religious services.
      • Athletic Petty Officer (APO) — leads PT and fitness assessments.
      • Mail Petty Officer — handles mail distribution and tracking.
      • Section Leaders — squad-level leaders below the division-wide roles.
    • Hall of Fame up to E-3 — the most elite recognition at Recruit Training Command (RTC), awarded Navy-wide rather than per division. Requires exceptional performance in every training metric: top-tier scores on all three academic exams (typically 90%+), "Outstanding" on the final Physical Readiness Test (PRT), near-perfect uniform and personnel inspections, held a division leadership role with strong performance, and zero remediation, infractions, or negative marks across the full training cycle. Senior leadership roles positioned to compete:
      • Leading Petty Officer (LPO) — runs day-to-day ops inside the division.
      • Assistant RCPO (ARCPO) — backs up the RCPO and steps in when needed.
      • Recruit Chief Petty Officer (RCPO) — senior recruit in the division, overall accountability to the RDCs. Highest visibility for meritorious advancement.
  • E-3 →Moderate
    3 years of JROTC completed (any service branch). Straightforward if your high school has the program — three school years of enrollment.
  • E-3 →Hard
    Eagle Scout (BSA) or Gold Award (GSUSA) — the highest youth scouting awards. Typically takes years of participation and a capstone service project.
  • E-3 →Hard
    Associate's degree (or 48+ semester hours / 72+ quarter hours of college credit, 100-level or higher from an accredited institution). Two years of full-time college.
  • E-3 →Hard
    Civil Air Patrol Earhart Award. Uncommon — only a small fraction of CAP cadets reach this level.
  • E-3 →Hard
    Sea Cadet Corps — reaching the Sea Cadet E-3 rate (join by age 16).

    • Ceiling is E-3 at accession — stacking qualifications doesn't push you to E-4 out of the gate.

    Ways to accelerate E-4 after you're in

    • HardPACT (undesignated enlistment) — a contract-level designation locked in at MEPS with the Navy Classifier. You enlist as Seaman (SN) under the Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks program, ship to the fleet without a rate, and strike for one later through your command. Essentially the Navy's "pick a rate later" placeholder. Many sailors later regret going PACT — strike selection rates are low, your rate choice is constrained by what the fleet needs, and deckplate work can drag on much longer than expected. Usually a worse deal than waiting in DEP for the rate you actually want.How you strike out of PACT — the Striker program: the post-enlistment process of earning a rate designation at your command (not chosen at MEPS). Your chain of command evaluates performance and on-the-job qualifications, then submits a strike package to Navy Personnel Command (NPC) for approval. Requires a cooperative command and strong performance on your part. The same Striker mechanism also covers the rarer case of a sailor already in one rate who wants to convert to another.Rates you can strike into as SN:
      • BM — Boatswain's Mate
      • CS — Culinary Specialist
      • GM — Gunner's Mate
      • IS — Intelligence Specialist
      • LS — Logistics Specialist
      • MA — Master-at-Arms
      • MN — Mineman
      • OS — Operations Specialist
      • PS — Personnel Specialist
      • QM — Quartermaster
      • RP — Religious Program Specialist
      • SH — Ship's Serviceman
      • STG — Sonar Technician (Surface)
      • YN — Yeoman
      Read the full PACT vs. designated guide →
    • Very HardMeritorious Advancement Program (MAP) — Command-nominated promotion that skips the exam entirely. Each command gets a small seasonal quota of MAP slots and hands them to the top performers based on evaluation ranking. Fastest path on paper, but you're competing directly with every other sailor at your command.

    Rules can change — verify current criteria with your recruiter and in the latest Navy Recruiting Manual (COMNAVCRUITCOM) before signing any paperwork that assumes a specific entry paygrade.

    E-5 and E-6 Advancement Outlook

    Average★☆☆☆

    0 of 4 factors working in your favor · 1 working against you

    • ▼

      Manning

      98% — Overmanned (E-5/E-6)

      Community is at or above authorized strength. Limited BBA billet gaps — expect more competition and slower promotion.

      Source: Navy Personnel Command FY25 manning snapshot

    • ●

      Enlistment bonus

      No

      No active enlistment bonus for this rate. Most ratings do not offer one in any given fiscal year, so this is a neutral signal on its own.
    • ●

      Overall Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Outlook

      No current SRB
      This rating is not paying a Selective Reenlistment Bonus right now. No retention-pressure signal. Data pulled from the quarterly SRB NAVADMIN.
    • ●

      Billet-Based Advancement eligibility

      Legacy exam cycles

      This rating has not been integrated into Billet-Based Advancement yet. Advancement still runs through the traditional exam and Final Multiple Score (FMS) system — your exam score is one of the main factors in how you promote.

    Sources: Manning NAVADMIN · SRB NAVADMIN · Billet-Based Advancement Handbook (NAVADMIN 255/24, updated via NAVADMIN 112/25). How to interpret these factors →

  • •EB-for-High-School (EBHS) is currently NOT authorized in the July 2026 GENADMIN — distinct from earlier cycles when it was offered.
  • •Funding: NDAA 2026 authorizes contracts through 31 December 2026; appropriations cover obligations through 30 September 2026; max-EB authority extends through 10 January 2027 — all subject to congressional reauthorization of 37 USC § 331.

    • No initial enlistment bonus for this rate per the current CNRC GENADMIN. Career Sailors may still qualify for a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) — see the Reenlistment section below.

    Life on Watch — Sea Stories

    “I was standing lookout on the bow at 0200 in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Pitch black, no moon, just me and the sound of the hull cutting through the water. Then I looked down and the entire ocean was glowing — bioluminescent plankton lit up by our bow wave. It looked like we were sailing through liquid stars. I called the bridge and said 'You need to see this.' The OOD came out and just stared. For ten minutes we watched the ship draw a glowing trail across the ocean. That was the moment I understood why people join the Navy. Then I went back to scanning for surface contacts.”

    Veteran account (composite)

    Story 1 of 4

    Common Duty Stations

    Naval Station Great LakesShore
    Family Friendly

    6.8/10

    Schools + spouse jobs

    Base Housing Wait

    4 months

    Avg waitlist for on-base

    Cost of Living

    98

    100 = national avg

    Naval Station NorfolkSea
    Family Friendly

    6.9/10

    Schools + spouse jobs

    Base Housing Wait

    10 months

    Avg waitlist for on-base

    Cost of Living

    95

    100 = national avg

    Naval Base San DiegoSea
    Family Friendly

    7.9/10

    Schools + spouse jobs

    Base Housing Wait

    14 months

    Avg waitlist for on-base

    Cost of Living

    135

    100 = national avg

    View all stations →

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