Does the Navy call career fields "MOS"s, like the Army, or something else?

Boats is spot on. I'd just like to expand upon it a little bit (and also Boats, I'm going to award you some NECs to expand upon the idea)

Rating is the first 2-3 letters in someone's title. As mentioned, when combined with either a number or a few more letters (their pay grade), they combine to form rate.

So, for example, we take the crusty old Boatswain's Mate above.

Boatswain's Mate (BM)=Rating.

1st Class Petty Officer (PO1)=Grade

BM1=Rate.

Rating basically correlates to the Field category for Army MOS (eg, 11-Infantry), the first two digits of a Marine MOS (eg 02-Intelligence), and the first two characters of an Air Force AFSC.

Additionally, you can earn a Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) to designate special skills and qualifications you have earned. NECs are four digit codes, which show extra-training you may have. Generally, you have to go to a school to earn an NEC, but it's possible to earn some of them through on-the-job training. You can earn multiple NECs (I believe up to 10, but I could be wrong about that). NECs really closely relate to the US Army's SQIs and ASIs, and the latter numbers on both USMC MOSes and AFSCs.

So, let's take BM1 again. We'll say he has learned (through schooling and OJT) how to drive tugs, assault craft (like landing craft), and LCACs (Landing Craft Air Cushions). These all equate to specific NECs-in this case, NECs 0161, 0164, and 0171, respectively. These will show a future command he goes to what skills he has besides being a general Boatswain's Mate.

Officers work a little different. You get a four-digit number which identifies your job. For example, I am an 1110-Officer Qualified in Surface Warfare. Before I got qualified, I was an 1160-Officer in Training for Surface Warfare Qualification.

Additionally, I can earn Advanced Qualification Designatorss (AQDs), which are three-digit alphabetical and/or numerical codes which indicatadditionallyly skills picked up. For example, when I qualified as an 1110 (by earning my Surface Warfare Officer qualification), I also earned the AQD of LA9 (Officer who has qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer). Redundant in this case, but the more you earn, the more career experience and specialization you have.

Hope this clears things up.

Mos Navy

Navy Mos

The correct term is "rating" (occupational specialty).

There are around 90 different "ratings" in the Navy.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id...

"Rate" equates to your paygrade(ie, Seaman is an E-3).

The Navy has given names to each of the enlisted paygrades/rates.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id...

The "BM1" that is part of my user name tells someone two things, what my "rating" is (Boatswain's Mate) and what my "rate" is (Petty Officer First Class/PO1), which is the name given by the Navy to the paygrade of E-6.

JFYI the term "rank" applies to officers only.

Rate

In the Navy, its called "rate". When someone asks you what your "rate" is, they are asking what do you do in the Navy, whats your specialty.

No the Navy calls it Rate. for instance:

Sailor A "Whats your rate?"

Sailor B "Im a Sonar Tech."

Fight the NWO!

V

Its called a Rate.

My rate is an IT.