Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy . In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy , followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman , and followed by the Petty Officer ranks . In the United States it means the lowest three enlisted rates of the U . S . Navy , followed by the higher Petty Officer ranks . A " seaman " is the equivalent of a private in the U . S . Army when it comes to their pay , benefits , and approximate level of duty and responsibility . The term " seaman " is also a general - purpose for a man or a woman who works anywhere on board a modern ship , including in the engine spaces , which is the very opposite of sailing . Furthermore , " seaman " is a short form for the status of an " able - bodied seaman " , either in the navies or in the merchant marines . An able - bodied seaman is one who is fully - trained and qualified to work on the decks and superstructure of modern ships , even during foul weather , whereas less - qualified sailors are restricted to remaining within the ship during times of foul weather - lest they be swept overboard by the stormy seas or by the high winds . In the United Kingdom . In the Royal Navy , hold the rank titles of either Ordinary Seaman ( commonly Ordinary Rate ) or Able Seaman ( commonly Able Rate ) . In the United States of America . Seaman is the third enlisted rank from the bottom in the U . S . Navy , U . S . Coast Guard , and other navies and coast guards . For the U . S . Navy and the U . S . Coast Guard the rank and pay just above that of a Seaman Apprentice and below those of a Petty Officer Third Class . This naval rank was formerly called the Seaman First Class . The actual title for an E - 3 in the U . S . Navy varies based on the subset of the Navy to which the sailor , seaman , submarine r , aviator , hospitalman , nurse , etc . , has been assigned . Likewise , the color of his / her group rate mark also depends on his section of the navy . No such stripes are worn on the working uniforms - coveralls , utility wear , flight suits , hospital and clinic garb , diving suits , etc . In October 2005 , the dental technician rating was merged into the hospital corpsman rating , eliminating the " dentalman " title . Those who once held the rank of " dentalman " have instead become " hospitalmen " . Sailors who have completed the requirements to be assigned a rating and have been accepted by the Bureau of Naval Personnel as holding that rating ( a process called " striking " ) are called Designated Strikers , and are called by their full rate and rating in formal communications ( i . e . , Machinist ' s Mate Fireman , as opposed to simply Fireman ) , though the rating is often left off in informal communications . Those who have not officially been assigned to a rating are officially referred to as " undesignated " or " non - rates . " As with the Navy , the actual title for a E - 3 in the U . S . Coast Guard varies based on their community . However , the smaller size of the Coast Guard limits the E - 3s to only three options : seaman ( white stripes ) , fireman ( red stripes ) , and airman ( green stripes ) . The Coast Guard does not possess its own medical corps , dental corps , pharmacy corps , or legal corps , but rather , it either draws the necessary services and experts from the U . S . Navy , U . S . Air Force , or U . S . Army , or it contracts for services by civilians . Likewise , the U . S . Marine Corps does not possess its own trained experts in these areas , but rather , it generally uses the corps of experts from the U . S . Navy , or else from the other two American Armed Forces ( whichever one is available in the region ) that have own corps of experts : e . g . medical , dental , legal , or nursing .