Quartermaster	QM
	Quartermasters assist the navigator and officer of the deck (OOD), steer the ship, take radar bearings and ranges, make depth soundings and celestial observations, plot courses and command small craft.

Quartermasters (QM's) stand watch as assistants to officers of the deck and the navigator; serve as helmsman and perform ship control, navigation and bridge watch duties. QMs procure, correct, use and stow navigational and oceanographic publications and oceanographic charts. They maintain navigational instruments and keep correct navigational time; render "honors and ceremonies" in accordance with national observance and foreign customs; send and receive visual messages; and serve as petty officers in charge of tugs, self-propelled barges and other yard and district craft.

The duties performed by QMs include:

• conduct weather observations;
• determine compass and gyro error;
• compute tide and tidal current data;
• keep logs and records; determine their ship's position by visual and electronic means;
• compute times of sunrise and sunset;
• follow the nautical rules-of-the-road to prevent collisions at sea.

Working Environment

Quartermasters usually work in a clean, air-conditioned electronic equipment space or the ship’s bridge/pilot house, and frequently perform their work as part of a team, but may work on individual projects. Their work is mostly mental analysis and problem solving. USN QMs are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, FTS QMs are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations.

Qualifications

Quartermasters must be U.S. citizens and be able to meet all security clearance requirements. A good working knowledge of arithmetic, the capability for understanding modern computing devices, the ability to speak and write well and function as a member of an integrated team, do detailed work and keep accurate records, some physical strength and good manual dexterity are important qualifications.

Advancement

Enlistees enter the Navy as E-1s (seaman recruits). Advancement to E-2 (seaman apprentice may be achieved after nine months of successful naval service, with advancement to E-3 (seaman) after an additional nine months. Re-enlistment bonuses for eligible personnel are paid at the time of re-enlistment. All bonuses are in addition to Navy salary and allowances for food and housing.

Working Environment

Quartermasters usually work in a clean, air-conditioned electronic equipment space or the ship’s bridge/pilot house, and frequently perform their work as part of a team, but may work on individual projects. Their work is mostly mental analysis and problem solving. USN QMs are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, FTS QMs are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations.

Opportunities

Because of the skills and expertise needed by the Quartermaster as well as the level of trust and responsibility given them early on, acceptance is limited to highly motivated and qualified applicants. About 2,000 men and women work in the QM rating. Graduates of QM "A" School will be assigned to ships in the United States or overseas.

QM - Navigation Administrator

Navigation Administrators provide navigation expertise to shipboard personnel; select and use appropriate nautical charts; advise during unusual navigational conditions in accordance with fleet directives; extract and record maintenance data from appropriate navigation publications; compute positions, courses, and distances and navigate to and from a hypothetical point; determine ship's permanent chart and publication allowance; correct and update ship's charts and publications; calculate error in magnetic and gyrocompass systems; use all charted visual aids to navigation; plot lines of position; use tide and current data; select anchorages; apply the rules of the road; and plan and conduct navigation briefs. Adjust and align sextants and stadimeters; interpret weather charts; plot probable path and location of storm centers; prepare a great circle track using gnomonic projection charts; maintain the ship's equipment configuration accounting system; prepare weekly schedules of preventive maintenance and ensures that they are implemented; prepare oceanographic reports such as wave observation log, ship's ice log, adjusted track log; supervise and train personnel in navigation, watch standing, and use and care of navigational charts, tables, and publications. Prepare quarterly schedules of preventive maintenance; requisition equipment; interview, select, and evaluate personnel for the navigation department; plan emergency drills for navigation department personnel; conduct briefings for navigation department personnel.

QM - Navigation Manager

Navigation Managers provide navigation expertise to shipboard personnel; select and use appropriate nautical charts; advise during unusual navigational conditions in accordance with fleet directives; select anchorages; employ appropriate electronic navigation systems including satellite navigation (SATNAV) and Electronic Charting Display Information System - Navy (ECDIS-N); evaluate personnel for the navigation department; plan emergency drills for navigation department personnel; conduct briefings for navigation department personnel.

QM - Navigation Specialist

Navigation Specialist stands watches as assistant to the officer of the deck and to the Navigator; serves as ship's helmsman; performs ship control, navigation, and bridge watch duties; serves as a weather observer. Uses and updates sailing directions, light lists, coastal pilots, and related publications and navigation charts; uses basic course plotting instruments, lead line, depth sounder, and compass; identifies aids to navigation; handles plain language radio communications and visual communications; maintains the compass record book and weather observation sheet. Uses Coast Guard publications concerning nautical rules of the road; selects charts for voyage planning; determines danger angles and danger bearings; determines ship's position by celestial observations; recognizes the significance of dew point, relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind force and direction, cloud formation, and sea state in general weather forecasting; supervises bridge personnel; inventories installed equipment and spare parts; orders repair parts and tools; uses computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.

Note: Quartermaster QM now exists as Electronics Technician (Navigation) ETV on submarines.

110122-N-7488A-394 PORT KLANG, Malaysia (Jan. 22, 2011) Quartermaster Seaman Jameel Shaheer stands a lookout watch as the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) pulls into Port Klang Malaysia. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are on a deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa A. Arzola/Released)

110205-N-YB753-039 ARABIAN SEA (Feb. 5, 2011) Senior Chief Quartermaster James Fox and Quartermaster 3rd Class Adam Tricker post the Battle Effectiveness Award (Battle "E") onto the starboard side awards stack of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Morales/Released)

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