Navy Culinary Specialists — CS rating, formerly designated Mess Management Specialist (MS) before the 2003 rating redesignation — operated shipboard galleys, ship’s mess decks, officers’ messes, and shore station dining facilities. CS and MS ratings were assigned to all major combatant classes, aircraft carriers, amphibious vessels, submarines, and auxiliary ships, as well as to naval station dining facilities ashore. Galley spaces and mess decks aboard WWII-era and Cold War-era ships used asbestos-containing construction materials throughout — from the deck tile underfoot to the overhead insulation above the cooking equipment — creating daily asbestos exposure for CS and MS ratings during the decades these ships were in service.

Shipboard Galley Construction and Asbestos

Navy galley compartments incorporated asbestos throughout their construction:

  • Galley deck tile — the galley and mess deck compartment flooring on WWII-era and Cold War ships used asbestos-containing vinyl floor tile consistent with Navy shipboard construction specifications of the period. CS and MS ratings working extended hours in galley spaces walked on and stood on asbestos-containing deck tile throughout their shipboard duty assignments. When tile cracked, chipped, or showed wear — as was common in the high-traffic galley and mess deck spaces — it released asbestos fiber into the galley work environment
  • Galley overhead insulation — shipboard galley compartments aboard older vessels used asbestos-containing thermal and acoustic insulation in the overhead construction above the cooking equipment and food preparation areas. CS ratings working in the galley space were in proximity to this asbestos-containing overhead insulation throughout their galley duty hours
  • Steam galley equipment insulation — the steam-jacketed cooking equipment, steam trays, and hot press cooking equipment in Navy shipboard galleys used asbestos-containing insulation on the steam supply connections and steam equipment surfaces. CS ratings handling galley equipment maintenance and cleaning operations worked in proximity to the asbestos-insulated steam cooking equipment throughout the cooking equipment service life

Mess Deck and Berthing Space Proximity Asbestos

CS ratings moving through the ship accumulated additional asbestos exposure from adjacent spaces:

  • Mess deck bulkhead and overhead construction — the enlisted mess deck compartments on WWII-era and Cold War-era ships used asbestos-containing construction materials in the bulkhead linings, overhead insulation, and deck tile throughout the mess deck spaces. CS ratings serving food and maintaining the mess deck worked in these asbestos-containing spaces daily during underway operations
  • Potato locker and food storage spaces — the food storage compartments and provision storerooms supporting ship’s galley operations used the same asbestos-containing construction materials as other shipboard enclosed spaces

Shore Dining Facility Asbestos

CS ratings assigned to shore station dining facilities accumulated exposure from facility construction:

  • Naval station galley buildings — the enlisted dining facilities at naval stations used WWII-era and postwar military construction with asbestos floor tile, asbestos ceiling products, and asbestos pipe insulation in the galley building mechanical systems

VA Claims for CS and MS Rating Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy ships and in naval station facilities. Culinary Specialists and Mess Management Specialists who served aboard ships with WWII-era or Cold War construction and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.