I don't know about this move. There is a lot of pride in identifying with a certain rating.
And as specialized as the Navy is, they might just see a decrease in professionalism and
subject matter knowledge.
Our subject matter specialist knowledge fell off greatly when QM and RD were eliminated.
That JRR we had took Boatswain's Mates out of Command Centers, folks who were boat
coxswains and patrol boat XPO's. That is the boiler plate level of Surface SAR with SAR
Stations and patrol boats. They were replaced with OS's (Operations Specialists), many
of whom had never actually performed the duties of a boat or PB crew.
I have lost my mind. If found, please give it a snack and return it?
"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same of others"...John Wayne in "The Shootist"
A Deplorable!