text: It's a Boatswain's Mate. Below you'll find a link to the Navy's description. It's an enlisted rating, not an officer program. Usually as Seaman Apprentice. \n\nYou know in a movie when you hear a whistle (pipe)? That would be a Boatswain's Mate piping the officer aboard. And the other answer was correct, it's usually pronounced Bosun's Mate. \n\nThe second link I posted below sesm to have a lot of information from a former Boatswain's Mate.