U.S. Navy Style Guide
Version 17-4
March 22, 2017 Page 9
maritime security operations - lowercase when spelled out, uppercase acronym (MSO).
maritime strategy - lowercase
Mark - Do not use "MK" when referring to the word "Mark" in weapons or equipment.
• He worked on a Mark 50 torpedo.
master chief petty officer - Refers to Navy or Coast Guard personnel in pay grade E-9.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy - Lowercase when referenced after an individual's name or when
used alone. Use last name on second reference.
men - Do not use "men" if referring to a group of persons made up of men and women or a group of
individuals whose genders are unknown. Use Sailors or Marines if the group is military or service
members if several services are represented.
MIA - Missing in Action. MIA is acceptable on first reference.
midshipman - On first reference: Midshipman 1st Class John P. Jones (or 2nd Class, 3rd Class, 4th Class,
if known). On subsequent reference(s): Jones.
• Note: military abbreviation is MIDN 1/C (or 2/C, 3/C, 4/C, respectively); 1/C are in their senior
year of school (USNA or Navy ROTC), 2/C are juniors, 3/C are sophomores, 4/C are freshmen.
"Midshipman" is singular; "midshipmen" is plural; term applies to both male and female.
military titles/job titles - Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's
name on first reference. In subsequent references use only the last name. Use rate and rank for Navy
and Coast Guard enlisted personnel. Do not use warfare designators unless relevant to the subject.
• Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 3
rd
Class John Smith fuels an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the
flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Sosa is part of a five-person
team.
• Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson participates in a panel discussion with fellow
sea service chiefs. Richardson is attending the conference as the Navy’s representative.
Do not capitalize a title when used after a name.
• Cmdr. John Paul Jones, commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser USS Arleigh Burke
(DDG 51), holds an all-hands call.
• Kelly E. Fletcher, principal deputy chief information officer for the office of the Secretary of the
Navy, attends a media training session at the Navy Office of Information.
Visit here for a list of rates.
military units - Use numerals for unit designations. See "aircraft," "fleets" and "ships."