The Navy had a series of marks mostly worn on the sleeves of jumpers. These were mostly worn midway between the wrist and elbow prior to 1944. In July 1944 the position of those marks which were specialty marks was changed to midway between the shoulder and elbow on either the right or left sleeve. From 1941-1944 the marks might be worn on the right sleeve if the wearer was a member of the seaman branch or lelf sleeve if a member of other branches. After 1944 members of the seaman branch might wear a mark on either arm. Some of these are pictured in other sections and are not repeated here.
Aircraft Gunner | 
Aviation General Utility | 
Airship Insignia |
The Air Gunner mark was established in 1943 and worn midway between the elbow and shoulder on the left sleeve of members of the seaman's branch and right sleeve for members of other branches. The Aviation General Utility distinguishing mark was worn by non-rated men in aviation units on the left sleeve midway between the wrist and elbow. The Airship insignia was worn midway between the right wrist and elbow.
Ex-Apprentice | 
Bombsight Mechanic | 
Ordnance Battalion | 
Expert Lookout |
The Ex-Apprentice Mark was worn on the front of the jumper below the neck openning and on coats midway between the wrist and elbow on the same side as the rating badge. The Bombsight Mechanic mark was worn midway between the left shoulder and elbow by men of the seaman branch and on the right side by others. Petty officers wore it below the rating badge. The Orbnance Battalion mark is an unapproved variataion with the letters OB within a lozenge. The approved version was only the letters OB similar to the CB mark and was worn on the left sleeve midway between the wrist and elbow.
Gun Pointer | 
Gun Pointer First Class | 
Seaman Gunner | 
Gun Captain |
The Gun Pointer mark was worn midway between the shoulder and elbow on the side opposite the rating badge. The Seaman Gunner and the Gun Captain marks were worn in the same position as a rating badge for non-rated men and below the rating badge for Petty Officers.
Armed Guard | 
Patrol Torpedo | 
Construction Battalion | 
Mine Assemblyman |
The Armed Guard and Patrol Torpedo marks were worn midway between the left wrist and elbow. The letters PT were replaced by the PT shoulder sleeve insignia in 1944. The CB mark was worn 1942-1944 midway between the left wrist and elbow. The Mine Assemblyman mark was worn midway between the wrist and elbow of the right sleeve for men of the seaman branch and left for men of the artificer branch.
Officers' Steward and Cook Third Class | 
Officers' Steward and Cook Second Class | 
Officers' Steward and Cook First Class |
There was also Chief Officer's Steward and Cook grade that was established in 1942 with four horizontal bars. These marks were worn in the same position as rating badges on the left sleeve.
Sharpshooter | 
Expert Rifleman |
The Rifle and Pistol Qualification Marks were worn on the right sleeve midway between the wrist and elbow. By regulation the horizonal lines of the square should be parallel to the edge of the cuff, but they were occasionally worn in practice at a 45 degree angle.
Navy E Award |
The Navy "E" Award was originally an award for excellence in gunnery. It was expanded to include awards in engineering and communications. Additional awards had one or more horizontal bars. In addition to the white or blue "E" the Navy had a red "E" that was worn by men recommended by the commanding officer of the ship winning the annual engineering competition or for those communications units having duties relating to engineering activities aboard the ship.
Other marks were used but are not illustrated here. They include:
