- Signalman (rank)
Signalman is a military rank similar to that of
Private (rank) , but is used within units that specialize in communication. SeeSignaller for more about the roles of Signalmen.United States Use
U.S. Navy
In the
U.S. Navy , "signalman" (usually nicknamed "Flags" or "Skivie Waver") was a job field combining both visual communications, and advanced lookout skills. While there was certainly a Signalman rating beforeWorld War II (the Signalman rating is one of the oldest in the Navy), a specialized Signalman rating was established shortly after the war. Then, Signalmen were identified by the symbol of two crossed semaphore flags on the left sleeve of the uniform, integrated with their rank insignia. Signalmen were responsible for transmitting, receiving, encoding, decoding, and distributing messages obtained via the visual transmission systems offlag semaphore , visualmorse code , andinternational flaghoist . The U.S. Navy disestablished the rating of Signalman in late 2003, reassigning visual communications duties to the Quartermaster rating. Signalmen were either absorbed into theQuartermaster rating, or allowed to switch to other job fields in the Navy. Many chose the Master-At-Arms field, which expanded dramatically to meet the needs of the Navy in theWar on Terror . [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=10500]Australian Usage
Australian Army
In the
Australian Army , a Signalman (or "sigs") is an Other Rank (OR) that specialises in varied forms ofcommunication . All signalmen are part of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Signalmen have a worn rank of Private.British Usage
British Army
The British Army used to use "Signalman" within
Royal Corps of Signals , but this was replaced by the rankSignaller . Fact|date=February 2007
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