[1] The U.S. Coast Guard replaced its previously named Food Service Specialist (FS) rating with Culinary Specialist on January 6, 2017 in order to "accurately reflect the culinary skills and professional expertise held by members of the rating".

Prior to World War 2, Commissarymen were known as non-rated Mess Attendants and Petty Officer Ships Cooks (SC), deadend jobs which ostensibly topped off at Petty Officer 1st Class, but rarely achieved, as sailors of African and Asian descent largely filled these roles.

[5][6] Commissarymen prepared meals for enlisted sailors in galleys on the ship and shore bases in the general mess.

[10] The Culinary Specialist rating now belongs to approximately 7,500 food service personnel who feed over 300,000 US Navy sailors worldwide.

[12] Culinary specialists operate and manage U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard messes and living quarters in addition to many other duties as follows: Navy and Coast Guard culinary specialists operate messes for the President of the United States in the White House and at Camp David.