Master-at-Arms (United States Navy)
Stored: Master-at-Arms (United States Navy)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Master-at-Arms (MA) Rating is the U.S. Navy’s enlisted security and law enforcement specialty (NEC 90MA), with approximately 10,000 active-duty and reserve sailors serving as the Navy’s police force, protecting personnel, assets, and installations globally under the oversight of the Navy Security Force community within the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
Mission
The Master-at-Arms rating is tasked with maintaining discipline and safety within the Navy by providing security aboard ships and at shore installations, enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), conducting investigations, and leading anti-terrorism/force protection (ATFP) efforts. MAs safeguard high-value assets like aircraft carriers and support operational missions, ensuring a secure environment for Navy operations.
Parent organization
The MA rating functions under the United States Navy, within the Department of the Navy, managed by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) under the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), integrating security efforts across Navy commands.
Legislation
The MA rating lacks a specific founding law; it originated in 1797 with shipboard lanthorn bearers enforcing discipline, was officially named “Master-at-Arms” in 1839 by Commodore Isaac Chauncey, and evolved into a formal rating under Navy regulations by the mid-20th century.
Partners
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for felony-level investigations
- U.S. Coast Guard for maritime security collaboration
- Local and base law enforcement for joint operations
Number of employees
Approximately 10,000 MAs serve as of 2025, per Navy MyNavyHR estimates, including active-duty (NEC 90MA) and reserve personnel, with staffing levels adjusted to meet fleet and shore security demands.
Organization structure
The MA rating is embedded within Navy units, with centralized management:
Leader
The Master-at-Arms community is managed by the Navy Security Force Community Manager within BUPERS-0E, with no single commanding officer; senior enlisted Master Chiefs (e.g., MACS) lead at operational levels.
Divisions
Functional areas include:
- Afloat Operations for shipboard security and policing.
- Shore Operations for base security and gate guarding.
- Specialized Teams (e.g., K9, Security Reaction Team, Investigations) for advanced roles.
List of programs
- Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) Operations
- Military Working Dog (MWD) Program (700+ dogs)
- Security Reaction Team (SRT) Deployments
Last total enacted budget
The MA rating’s budget is not separately detailed; it’s funded within the Navy’s FY 2024 budget of $202.5 billion, covering personnel, training at Lackland AFB, and equipment like M9 pistols and M110 rifles, with no specific allocation published.
Staff
The 10,000 MAs are enlisted sailors (E-1 to E-9) trained at the Master-at-Arms “A” School in San Antonio, TX, specializing in law enforcement, small arms, and tactics; subsets include K9 handlers (700+), SRT members, and investigators, integrated into Navy commands.
Funding
Since its formalization, the MA rating has been supported by Navy appropriations under Title 10 U.S.C., with FY 2024’s $202.5 billion budget funding training, equipment upgrades (e.g., M110 rifles in 2025), and operational costs across the fleet.
Services provided
MAs secure over 70 Navy installations and 150 ships, enforce UCMJ (e.g., brig operations), conduct investigations (e.g., minor crimes), train sailors in ATFP, and deploy specialized units like K9 teams (detecting explosives) and SRTs (high-threat response), averaging thousands of security actions annually.
Regulations overseen
MAs operate under SECNAVINST 5580.1B (Navy Law Enforcement), enforcing Navy security policies and UCMJ, though they do not author regulations.
Headquarters address
701 South Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22204 (Navy Personnel Command)
History
The MA role began in 1797 with lanthorn bearers maintaining ship order, was officially titled Master-at-Arms in 1839 at Boston Navy Yard, and grew into a formal rating post-WWII. It adopted NEC 90MA in the 1970s, expanded post-9/11 with ATFP and SRT roles, and integrated K9 units (1942) and advanced weaponry (e.g., M110 rifles by 2025) to address modern security needs.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: