In the 1920s American submarines were in their infancy and the men who manned them lived in a different environment from that known today. The 1930s saw the emergence of the trans-oceanic American submarine and with it an increase in equipment complexity.

In those days enlisted promotions were slow and even the lower rates carried with them a certain prestige. Although Seaman Apprentice was a rate in the fleet it was rare to find one on submarines. The entrance level rate was normally Seaman Second Class and Seaman First Class. The petty officer series were those of today with Chief Petty Officer being the highest rate on submarines. Running parallel to the seaman rates were fireman rates.

Pay wasn't much; just $21.00 per month for an Apprentice Seaman or Fireman. The pay rate was set by congress and applied to all services. Pay was reduced if an enlisted man were married. His pay was reduced by $28.00, but the Navy added $22.00 to the reduced amount for a monthly family allotment of $50.00. The commanding officer had to approve marriages when doubt was raised as to the ability of the enlisted man to provide for a wife.

By World War Two the pay for Seaman Apprentice had jumped to $50.00 per month ($136.00 for chief) and submarine pay brought another fifty percent. Added to that was twenty percent for sea pay. The average World War Two submariner made a bundle. This was all good money to be spent on Hotel Street. One must remember that at the time a pack of cigarettes cost six cents and beer ranged from ten to twenty-five cents a bottle.

During the war submarine promotions were accelerated. It was not unusual for chiefs not to rate a hash mark. Certain rates were so critical that a newly recruited enlisted man could start service at an advanced rate. The Navy expanded the Warrant Officer rate and introduced the concept of the Limited Duty Officer. These ranks were designed to promote and recruit specially talented personnel.

The petty officer's insignia, a profile eagle commonly referred to as a crow was worn on both the right and left arms. The uniform's right upper arm was reserved for the basic navy rates of Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Gunner's Mate, Torpedoman and others, while on the left arm were the ancillary rates of Machinist's Mate, Yeoman, Engineman, Radioman and the like. Right arm rates were considered superior to left arm rates for reasons that escape the modern submariner.

Shoulder stripes were another by-gone insignia. They were white for seaman and red for fireman. The same stripes were worn on the cuffs. The present chevrons of the petty officers were originally intended for the wave uniform, but the chevrons were later ordered for all uniforms and the shoulder/cuff stripes were eliminated. Each diagonal red stripe worn on the lower left arm signified four years of service. The hash marks continue to this day with gold hash marks replacing red ones when twelve years of service is reached.

Submariners were the only sailors allowed to wear a blue turtle neck jumper in place of the neckerchief. This unusual attire was reserved for the cold climates and disappeared after the Second World War.

Enlisted men's dolphins were originally smaller and worn on the lower sleeve. They were only made from cloth, although officers wore metal gold dolphins. Silver, metal dolphins for enlisted men were authorized toward the end of the war. At the time only the submarine dolphins and aviator wings were well-recognized specialized insignias. Other insignia included that of divers and officers in command status.

Once dolphins were earned by qualifying on a submarine the designation, "Qualified in Submarines" was entered into the enlisted man's record. However, the designation could be revoked. Some were lost by reason of psychological unsuitability to submarine life. Others were lost by unsatisfactory conduct on a submarine in the opinion of the commanding officer. Still others were lost by a submariner's voluntary request to be disqualified and transferred to a surface vessel. Qualification in submarines applied only to the specific type of submarine. Although the designation remained in the service record it was necessary for the enlisted man to requalify if transferred to a submarine of a different type.

While rate and rank structure have evolved over the years and pay rates have more than kept pace with the increased cost of living the basic paths of promotion have persisted. As new equipment has been introduced to submarines operational and maintenance rates have accompanied the equipment. This has resulted in rate trends which have augered both good and bad for submarine crews. While the requirements for the designation qualified in submarines have undergone substantial change the basic need for competence in submarine technology has kept the standards high. Those wearing dolphins earned on nuclear powered submarines carry as much respect as those of the by-gone era of diesel submarines.