[citation needed] On 20 May 1958 the upright star reemerged as a nod to the Historical MA Rating whose duty was to provide good order and discipline aboard ships over the enlisted crews.

When two senior pay grades were established in 1958, a single (E-8) or double (E-9) upright star (two points down) was placed above the anchor for all collar devices and rating badges.

At that time they were charged with keeping the swords, pistols, carbines and muskets in good working order as well as ensuring that the bandoliers were filled with fresh powder before combat.

Besides being chiefs of police at sea, the “ship’s corporals”, as they were called in the British Navy, they had to be qualified in close order fighting under arms and able to train seamen in hand-to-hand combat.

[4] The Master-at-Arms rating officially started after the American Revolutionary War on board the ships of the United States' early navy.

Its name was changed in 1948 to shore patrolman, and it took on some of the official functions of the current Master-at-Arms rating, only to be disestablished on 23 January 1953 by the Secretary of the Navy as a result of the RSRB[clarification needed] recommendations of June 1952.

This conversion package was unique in that it required a letter of endorsement from rated master-at-arms in the community who observed the sailor first-hand in the performance of their assigned NSF duties.

But the majority of Navy MAAs, especially those assigned to ships, still performed archaic duties such as berthing inspections, restricted barracks supervision, linen issue, and seabag locker management.

In the mid and late 1980s, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, in agreement with the Chief of Naval Operations, began removing Marine Corps enlisted personnel from gate guard duties at the naval installations they were assigned to in order to place greater emphasis on the nuclear weapons security role, with Navy enlisted personnel assuming gate guard and perimeter security duties.

With the end of the Cold War, Marine Detachments were also removed from aircraft carriers in the early 1990s, the four Iowa-class battleships having been concurrently decommissioned at the same time.

It was also during this period, for the first and only time, that Master-at-Arms were considered a source rating for U.S. Navy SEAL and were allowed to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training.

These sailors, who receive minimal training in force protection tactics, techniques and procedures, temporarily fill these billets for a duration of six months to a year.

During drug interdiction operations on naval vessels, U.S. Navy personnel are augmented by the U.S. Coast Guard's Law Enforcement Detachment under Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.)

This can be in areas such as expeditionary warfare, special operations support, independent duty, GWOT individual augmentee, protective service detail assigned to a high-ranking official, or corrections.

As the primary law enforcement organization on a naval installation, Master-at-Arms may perform their duties operating a patrol vehicle or Harbor Security Boat (HSB); standing watch (or post) at a gate, pier or flight line as a fixed or roving sentry; conducting traffic enforcement; conducting interviews or interrogations; collecting evidence or securing a crime scene.

Like any other law enforcement agency, there are also administrative duties performed by Master-at-Arms such as personnel management, training, inspections, records keeping, etc.

Personnel in the Master-at-Arms rating can also expect to see duties on board a variety of naval warships such as an aircraft carriers' security force department; on a cruiser, destroyer, or aviation squadron as an independent duty Master-at-Arms; on board a naval installation in the United States or in overseas locations such as Bahrain and Diego Garcia, assigned to the security force or police departments; forward deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa on a GWOT IA assignment; or assigned to an expeditionary or naval special warfare unit.

Eventually, commands locally purchased and issued metal badges to Masters-at-Arms, similar to civilian law enforcement agencies.

This, however, caused for badge inconsistencies throughout the Navy in terms of the size, color and description, when compared to the uniformity of the other services' military police force.

The ship's corporal was then authorized to wear a standard rating badge for petty officer 2nd class with the star as the specialty mark.

This action was prompted by the recent terrorists' attacks against the U.S. and the increased awareness among military official that the Navy's force protection posture was in need of revision.

Today, the Center for Security Forces provides specific training, sustainment and serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the area of Navy antiterrorism, physical security, law enforcement, small arms weapons training, expeditionary warfare, code of conduct, and the Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) in those respective areas.

MAs receive formal and specialized training managed by the staff and personnel assigned to the Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR).

[19] MAs graduating from "A" School will also possess basic knowledge in interview and interrogation techniques, report writing, use of force and rules of engagement doctrine, and military law.

Upon completion of the applicable "C" School(s), a Master-at-Arms receives a Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) Code which is entered into their Electronic Training Jacket (ETJ).

Typically, a rated Master-at-Arms will at a minimum maintain qualifications in the following weapons to perform their basic duties: In a naval unit task organized with a Naval Security Force (NSF) department or detachment, Masters-at-Arms report to the commanding officer of the command, and are led by a security officer, in maintaining good order and discipline, enforcing rules and regulations, and protecting life and property.

They may also be led by a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employee who possess the necessary skills, training and/or experience to perform those duties.