Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung or the lining of the abdominal cavity, poses a real and ongoing threat to veterans of military service, particularly those who served in the Navy aboard our nation’s warships. Although not all asbestos diseases are as devastating or as rare as mesothelioma, thousands of veterans are now dealing with health problems relating to exposure that occurred decades ago.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were prevalent aboard Navy ships of the World War II, Korean War and Viet Nam era, and most Navy veterans experienced varying degrees of exposure to these products in the course of carrying out their jobs.
The following table lists various Navy job classifications and the probability of exposure to asbestos for each. Not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop an asbestos-related disease, but knowledge of potential exposure as well as periodic testing for exposed individuals is important.
Note: Some Job Code designations may have changed and others have been added over time. This list is not all-inclusive.
| Job Code | Job Classification | Probability of Asbestos Exposure |
| AA | Airman Apprentice | Minimal |
| AB | Aviation Boatswain’s Mate | Probable |
| ABE | Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch & Recovery) |
Probable |
| ABH | Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Aircraft Handler) |
Probable |
| AC | Air Controlman | Minimal |
| ADJ | Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Jet Engine Mechanic) |
Probable |
| ADR | Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Reciprocating Engine Mechanic) |
Probable |
| AE (After 1948) |
Aviation Electrician’s Mate | Probable |
| AFCM | Aircraft Maintenanceman (Master Chief) |
Minimal |
| AG | Aerographer’s Mate | Minimal |
| AK | Aviation Storekeeper | Minimal |
| AM (Before 1948) |
Aviation Metalsmith | Probable |
| AM (After 1948) |
Aviation Structural Mechanic | Probable |
| AME | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) |
Probable |
| AMH | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulics) |
Probable |
| AMS | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structures) |
Probable |
| AN | Airman | Minimal |
| AO (After 1948) |
Aviation Ordnanceman | Minimal |
| AQ | Aviation Fire Control Technician | Highly Probable |
| AR (After 1948) |
Airman Recruit | Minimal |
| ARM | Aviation Radioman | Probable |
| AS (After 1965) |
Aviation Support Equipment Technician | Probable |
| AT | Aviation Electronics Technician | Probable |
| AW | Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator | Probable |
| AZ | Aviation Maintenance Administrationman | Minimal |
| BM | Boatswain’s Mate | Minimal |
| BR | Boilermaker | Highly Probable |
| BT | Boilerman | Highly Probable |
| BU | Builder | Probable |
| CD | Construction Driver | Probable |
| CE | Construction Electrician’s Mate | Probable |
| CM | Construction Mechanic | Minimal |
| CN | Constructionman | Probable |
| Cox | Coxswain | Minimal |
| CS | Commissaryman | Minimal |
| CT | Communications Technician | Minimal |
| CTR | Communications Technician (Collections Branch) |
Minimal |
| DC | Damage Controlman | Minimal |
| DK | Disbursing Clerk | Minimal |
| DP | Data Processing Technician | Minimal |
| DS | Data Systems Technician | Minimal |
| DT | Dental Technician | Minimal |
| EM | Electrician’s Mate | Probable |
| EN | Engineman | Probable |
| EO | Equipment Operator | Minimal |
| ET | Electronics Technician | Probable |
| F | Fireman | Highly Probable |
| FC | Fire Controlman | Highly Probable |
| FP | Pipefitter | Highly Probable |
| FT | Fire Control Technician | Highly Probable |
| FTG | Fire Control Technician (Gun Fire Control) |
Highly Probable |
| GM | Gunner’s Mate | Minimal |
| GSM | Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) |
Probable |
| HM | Hospital Corpsman | Minimal |
| HN | Hospitalman | Minimal |
| HT | Hull Maintenance Technician | Highly Probable |
| IC | Interior Communications Electrician | Probable |
| IM | Instrumentman | Highly Probable |
| LI | Lithographer | Minimal |
| M, ME | Metalsmith | Minimal |
| ML, MI | Molder | Probable |
| MM | Machinist’s Mate | Probable |
| MN | Mineman | Minimal |
| MoMM | Motor Machinist’s Mate | Probable |
| MR | Machinery Repairman | Minimal |
| MS | Mess Management Specialist | Minimal |
| MT | Missile Technician | Probable |
| MU (After 1948) |
Musician | Minimal |
| NC | Navy Counselor | Minimal |
| OM | Opticalman | Minimal |
| OS | Operations Specialist | Minimal |
| PC | Postal Clerk | Minimal |
| PhoM | Photographer’s Mate | Minimal |
| PhM | Pharmacist | Minimal |
| PN | Personnelman | Minimal |
| PrTr | Printer | Minimal |
| PT | Photographic Intelligenceman | Minimal |
| Ptr | Painter | Probable |
| QM | Quartermaster | Minimal |
| RD | Radarman | Minimal |
| RM | Radioman | Minimal |
| S | Seaman | Minimal |
| SC | Ship’s Cook | Minimal |
| SD | Steward | Minimal |
| SF | Shipfitter | Minimal |
| SFP | Shipfitter (Pipefitter) |
Minimal |
| SH | Ship’s Serviceman | Minimal |
| SK | Storekeeper | Minimal |
| SM | Signalman | Minimal |
| SO | Sonarman | Highly Probable |
| SoM | Soundman | Highly Probable |
| ST (After 1948) |
Sonar Technician | Highly Probable |
| STG | Sonar Technician (Surface) |
Highly Probable |
| STS | Sonar Technician (Submarine) |
Highly Probable |
| StM | Steward’s Mate | Minimal |
| SW | Steelworker | Probable |
| TA | Steward Apprentice | Minimal |
| TD | Tradesman | Minimal |
| TE | Teleman | Minimal |
| TM | Torpedoman’s Mate | Probable |
| TN | Stewardsman | Minimal |
| UT | Utilitiesman | Highly Probable |
| WT | Water Tender | Highly Probable |
| Y | Yeoman | Minimal |
