SMs stand watches on signal bridges and send/receive messages by flashing light, semaphore and flights. They prepare headings and addresses for out-going messages; process messages; encode and decode message headings; operate voice radio; maintain visual signal equipment; render passing honors to ships and boats; and display ensigns and personal flags during salutes and colors. They perform duties of lookouts; send and receive visual recognition signals; repair signal flags, pennants and ensigns; take bearings, recognize visual navigational aids and serve as navigator's assistants.
NOTE: The Navy phased this rating out, effective 1 September 2004. Sailors who were in this rating were re-trained into other ratings.
Comments
@Gene: RM's were always close, it was a natural marriage especially since we were in the OC Div together. I learned alot from the guys in Radio. Had an opportunity to perfect my morse code.
Loss is loss. so its naural for us to have some feelings about the phasing out of both ratings. Welcome to the Digital age. However, there are always moments when a ship has to go Silent, and infrared and flaghost during the day become an option. Of course, the QM's have the job now.
Sm1 RAmos
I know what you mean about the SM rate. I was a RM and had a good friend on the USS McKean DDR784 who
tried to teach me flags, but no luck. I could read FL ok but just never got the hang of the flags. My friend was
SM! Mercer...a red head with a tatoo for every westpac trip he took in over eight years then. . When I found
out that the RM rate had been changed to IT....I felt the same way you do about SM. No more code..
A lot of history lost there in both Rates....
I'm still learning how to let go of the phasing out of the Signalman rating. SM's are a loyal and dedicated bunch. A rating that allowed you to work alone when sending a flashing light msg or semophore msg and with others, when doing flaghoist signaling - on the Signalbridge. La Buena Vida