History - TRADEVMAN
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TRADEVMAN is an acronym and TD an abbrevation for Training Devices Man. It was a military occupational speciality in the United States Navy prior to being disbanded in the mid 1980's. It was called a RATING. A RATE specified Rate plus RANK(pay-grade), substitute TRADEVMAN in the following if you wish, thus,:
Chief TRADEVMAN = Chief Training Devices Man = TDC = Chief Petty Officer = E7.
TDCM = Master Chief Training Devices Man = Master Chief Petty Officer = E9.
TDCS = Senior Chief Training Devices Man = Senior Chief Petty Officer = E8.
TDC = Chief Training Devices Man = Chief Petty Officer = E7.
TD1 = Training Devices Man First Class = Petty Officer First Class = E6.
TD2 = Training Devices Man Second Class = Petty Officer Second Class = E5.
TD3 = Training Devices Man Third Class = Petty Officer Third Class = E4.
TDAN = Training Devices Man Airman = TDAN = Airman = E3.
TDAA = Training Devices Man Apprentice = TDAA = Airman Apprentice = E2.
TDAR = Training Devices Man Recruit = TDAR = Airman Recruit = E1.
In the 1950's - 1960's at the E-4 and E-5 grade we had TD(I) and TD(R) for Instructor and Repair respectively.
Our rate was originally in the 1940's called SAD - SPT - SPLT - SPG - SPX:
SAD = Special Artificer (Special Devices)
My Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary defines:
artificer n.
1. One who constructs with skill.
2. Mil. A skilled mechanic.
3. An inventor.
RATE Abbreviation:
Source: Charles A. Malin, draft of Abbreviations Used for Navy Enlisted Ratings. Washington, DC: Bureau of Naval Personnel (Pers-A31), 1970. 5 January 2000
Abbreviations = www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq78-2.htm
SA - Special Artificer (before 1948)
SA - Seaman Apprentice (after 1948)
SAD - Special Artificer (Special Devices)
SAD(MG) - Special Artificer (Special Devices) (Machine Gun Trainer)
Sp(A) - Specialist (Physical Training Instructor)
Sp(G) - Specialist (Aviation Free Gunnery Instructor)
Sp(G)(N) - Specialist (Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Instructor)
Sp(T) - Specialist (Teacher)
Sp(T)(LT) - Specialist (Link Trainer Instructor)
Sp(X) - Specialist (not elsewhere classified)
Sp(X)(VA) - Specialist (Visual Training Aids)
TD - Tradevman
TDI - Tradevman (Instructor) (Non-Aviation)
TDR - Tradevman (Repairman) (Non-Aviation)
TDU - Tradevman (Instructor) (Aviation)
TDV - Tradevman (Repairman) (Aviation)
RATE Acronym:
Source: Charles A. Malin, draft of Compilation of Enlisted Ratings and Apprenticeships, U.S. Navy, 1775 to 1969. Washington, DC: Bureau of Naval Personnel (Pers-A31), 1970. 19 May 1999.
Specialists (G) Aviation Free Gunnery Instructors - Established 1942-1943; included in Tradevman 1948.
Specialists (T) (LT) Link Trainer Instructors - Established 1942-1943; included in Tradevman 1948.
TRADEVMAN - Established 1948.
The 1948 date Establishment - Realignment - Reorganization ?more to come?
A generic, we were the people who "ran" the Link Trainers.
Also, on major shore Aviation establishments (bases) we were the operators of the Film Library and Physiological Training Devices. However, some of us also served with the Surface and Sub-Surface elements of the Navy, usually in support of Ships Systems Training Devices - Ships Gun Fire Control Trainers - Weapons System Trainers - Submarine Diving Trainers - Steam Propulsion Trainers - Guided Missle Trainers, on and on etc... As you view our member pages within a couple of years, hopefully, it is believed you will find more specific details about many of these training devices.
Most of the following information is borrowed - copied - PLAGERIZED from the TRADEVMAN 3 & 2 Rate Training Manual and Nonresident Career Course, NAVEDTRA 10376-D, Revised 1975, published by the Naval Education and Training Support Command. The then Stock Ordering No. 0502-LP-051-8810 from the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
TRADEVMEN install, repair, modify and maintain audio/visual training aids, including instructional films, slides, and recordings; perform organizational and intermediate level maintenance on training devices: operate and perform organizational maintenance on equipmet used in conjunction with training devices and ancillary equipment to train and maintain the proficency of individuals and/or teams; assist in the development, operation, and/or improvement of training programs of supported activities; and construct, devise, or obtain training aids.
TRADEVMAN personnel were subject to a wide range of duty assignments in many geographical locations. On average, less than 10% of our personnel were assigned to "sea going - shipboard duty." Specific job responsibilities at any one duty station varied in nature and complexity: the TD may have been required to perform any of a number of functions - instructor, operator, maintenance, and administration. This diversity in tasks and responsibilities required a knowledge of records, reports, publications, manuals, etc.. all of which were essential to the administration and operation of the activity. Regardless of her/his position within a particular organization, the TD was required to possess skills to compile, record, and submit reports to various activities or command levels in compliance with the then existing directives.
Our early 1960's era Training Device Statistical Data (TDSD) System Collection Logs and Records was among the very young entries into the field of Computerized Maintenance - Manpower - Material - Management, todays CMS equivalent. You should have seen some of the stacks of "punched cards" we generated from a division with multiple (many) devices. It has been alleged we were a "guinea pig - test bed experiment" because of our close knit community, many standarized procedures, and similar equipment. We were there on or near the leading edge of the so-called "computer revolution."
In the United States Navy, the first step in developing and adapting special training methods and devices was initiated by the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer). This step was effected in April 1941 when Rear Admiral J.H. Towers, then Chief of BuAer, issued a memorandum creating a special device desk in the Engineering Division. The purpose and function of this desk to which (then) Commander Luis de Florez was assigned, were to supervise experiments and developments of special training devices for primary training, navigation, gunnery training, etc. No funds were set aside for this new unit of BuAer and little progress was made until June, at which time this activity was transferred to the Training Division of BuAer. At that time, funds were set aside for preliminary work.
In 1943, Special Devices became a division of Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer), and later by executive order was transferred to the Office of Research and Invention, now called the Office of Naval Research. In April 1956, the Special Devices Center became the U.S. Naval Training Device Center, located in Port Washington, New York (on Long Island). The change signified the growing acceptance of training devices by operating forces as well as shore establishments and provided a more descriptive title for the Center's mission.
It was once again transferred in 1968, this time to come under the Chief of Naval Material. As of 01 July 1972, and as it now exists, its title is the Naval Training Equipment Center (NTEC or NavTraEquipCen) and is located at the Naval Training Center, Orlando, Florida (circa 1975 info).
circa date info update
NTEC is now NAVAIR TSD (Training Systems Division),
(Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, FL)
a NAVAIR PMA 205 unit.
See: www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm
See: www.ntsc.navy.mil
UpDate - additional information to be added as contributed.
Members input to History is desired to make it a Group - Team Page
If you did not cut your teeth on this one, you missed something:
1-CA-1 Pocket Reference Maintenance Booklet Front Cover
Courtesy of Donald Cardwell
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Revised - Updated: 15 September 2005