These words are descriptive of all Sailors, Seaman Recruit to Admiral. The above creed reflects a refinement recently proposed by a working group, the Recruit Training, Naval Training Requirements Review (NTTR) board and approved by the CNO. The change involved some minor wordsmithing to line three to make the Creed inclusive of all who serve in our great Navy. Seaman, Petty Officers, Chiefs, and Officers of all ranks. We are all Sailors first and foremost and in addition to being Sailors, we can attain many other proud designations - Boatswain's Mates, Yeoman, Quartermasters, Radioman, Naval Officers, SWOs, Submariners, Aviators, Medical Officers, Nurses, Chaplains and many more - but we are all Sailors.

The most prideful moment in an enlisted Sailors life is when he or she becomes, in addition to a Sailor, a Chief Petty Officer - able to enter the CPO Mess without knocking - and really belonging to the mess.

THANKS TO FORMER SECRETARY OF THE NAVY JOHN DALTON, THE WORD SAILOR, WHEN BEING USED TO DESCRIBE ANY MEMBER (OFFICER OR ENLISTED) OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE IS ALWAYS CAPITALIZED (JUST AS MARINE IS WHEN BEING USED TO DESCRIBE ANY MEMBER (ENLISTED OR OFFICER) OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS.

Above commentary used by permission: http://goatlocker.exis.net/screed.htm