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Navy Petty Officer First ClassE-6 Noncommissioned Officer, U.S. Navy |
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Navy Ranks » Petty Officer First Class Rank • PO1 Pay • PO1 Rank History • Promotion Information
History of the Navy Petty Officer First Class Rank
A Petty Officer First Class is a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade E-6.
"Petty" actually comes from the Anglo-Saxon "petit" (small). The title "Petty Officer" has been in use for at least 300 years, and has always referred to ranks above Seaman but below Warrant Officers, Midshipmen, and Lieutenants.
Want to learn more? Read about the Navy's Petty Officer First Class rank on Military-Ranks.org.
History of the Navy
The Navy traces its heritage back to the Revolutionary War, when Congress funded the construction of several warships to repel the British Empire. Nowadays, much of the Navy's mission is to defend international "freedom of the seas." The Navy considers itself to be more technology-centric than the Army, but more traditional than the Air Force. Surface ships patrol the seas, conducting diplomatic relations with all nations of the world, while also enforcing the law against pirates and drug smugglers. Aircraft Carriers are the most powerful individual assets in America's arsenal, with a single unit being able move and be a major player in an armed conflict. Submarines conduct clandestine intelligence-gathering operations. SEALs are internationally reknown for counter-terrorism and irregular warfare in every possible environment. All Sailors are both warfighters and technical specialists.