Re: Quartermaster & Signalmen
In 2003 the Navy again disestablished the rate of signalman and it was absorbed again by the quartermaster rate. Existing signalmen were permitted to become quartermasters or other naval ratings. Many chose the newly-created rate of master-at-arms. Quartermaster rate always did require a knowledge of signalling in addition to being an assistant to the officer of the deck and the navigator, such as steering the ship and using navigation instruments such as sextants and charts--much more comprehensive than signalman.
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