What is the difference between a rate and a rating?

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Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a rate and a rating?

Explanation:
In Navy terms, the rating is the job you perform—the field or specialty you train for. The rate is the level you hold within that rating, which indicates your rank and pay grade in that specific field. For example, Boatswain’s Mate is a rating; a sailor with that rating at Second Class is the rate, meaning they’re at the E-5 pay grade within the Boatswain’s Mate specialty. Rates progress within the same rating from Third Class (E-4) to Second Class (E-5) to First Class (E-6), and so on. So the rating stays the same while the rate changes as you advance.

In Navy terms, the rating is the job you perform—the field or specialty you train for. The rate is the level you hold within that rating, which indicates your rank and pay grade in that specific field. For example, Boatswain’s Mate is a rating; a sailor with that rating at Second Class is the rate, meaning they’re at the E-5 pay grade within the Boatswain’s Mate specialty. Rates progress within the same rating from Third Class (E-4) to Second Class (E-5) to First Class (E-6), and so on. So the rating stays the same while the rate changes as you advance.