When Jack Kerwin became the first Coast Guard E-9, what was his rating?

When Jack Kerwin became the first Coast Guard E-9, what was his rating?

• A. Yeoman
• B. Boatswain's Mate
• C. Gunner's Mate
• D. Machinist's Mate

Answer: (A)

Understanding the path to the highest enlisted rank in the Coast Guard hinges on the role of the rating. Yeoman is the administrative rating, handling letters, records, personnel processes, and other clerical duties that keep a unit’s personnel side organized. Because these responsibilities are universal across ships and shore commands, senior Yeomen were often the ones who progressed through leadership positions and reached the top enlisted pay grade earlier in Coast Guard history. Jack Kerwin reaching E-9 in the Yeoman rating fits that historical pattern, reflecting how administrative leadership roles were often the first to attain the highest enlisted rank. The other ratings describe specialized technical fields—Boatswain’s Mate on deck, Gunner’s Mate with weapons, Machinist’s Mate with machinery—where advancement to the top rank generally tracks through lengthy technical service and billets, making the Yeoman path the earliest milestone for the Coast Guard’s E-9.

Understanding the path to the highest enlisted rank in the Coast Guard hinges on the role of the rating. Yeoman is the administrative rating, handling letters, records, personnel processes, and other clerical duties that keep a unit’s personnel side organized. Because these responsibilities are universal across ships and shore commands, senior Yeomen were often the ones who progressed through leadership positions and reached the top enlisted pay grade earlier in Coast Guard history. Jack Kerwin reaching E-9 in the Yeoman rating fits that historical pattern, reflecting how administrative leadership roles were often the first to attain the highest enlisted rank. The other ratings describe specialized technical fields—Boatswain’s Mate on deck, Gunner’s Mate with weapons, Machinist’s Mate with machinery—where advancement to the top rank generally tracks through lengthy technical service and billets, making the Yeoman path the earliest milestone for the Coast Guard’s E-9.