Navy Master-at-Arms (MA) — the Navy’s law enforcement and security rating, responsible for law enforcement, physical security, brig operations, and installation security — served both aboard naval vessels and at naval shore commands providing security and law enforcement functions. Ashore, MA ratings patrolled naval station security perimeters, manned entry control points, conducted law enforcement investigations, and operated brig facilities in and around naval station buildings constructed during WWII and the Cold War. The naval station security buildings, brig facilities, and administrative buildings where MA ratings performed their shore duty functions were constructed with Cold War-era military construction materials incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling products, and pipe insulation. Afloat, MA ratings stationed aboard aircraft carriers and large amphibious vessels maintained shipboard security and brig operations in the asbestos-containing interior construction of these naval vessels.

Shore Station Security Operations and Asbestos

MA ratings at naval stations worked in asbestos-containing facilities:

  • Naval station security building construction — the security and law enforcement office buildings, sentry shacks, security training facilities, and command facilities at naval stations where Master-at-Arms personnel were assigned used Cold War military construction with asbestos-containing building materials including asbestos floor tile, asbestos ceiling products, and asbestos pipe insulation in the mechanical systems. MA ratings assigned to naval station security departments accumulated asbestos background exposure from the Cold War-era security facility construction during their shore duty tours
  • Naval station brig and confinement facility construction — naval station brig facilities and confinement buildings where MA ratings performed brig custody and supervision duties were constructed during WWII and the Cold War using military construction materials with asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling materials, and pipe insulation in the brig facility construction. MA brig personnel accumulated asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing brig facility construction during brig duty assignments

Shipboard Law Enforcement Operations and Asbestos

MA ratings aboard ships worked in asbestos-containing ship spaces:

  • Shipboard brig and security spaces — the brig and security spaces aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and other large naval vessels incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials consistent with the ship’s overall interior construction, with MA ratings performing brig custody duties in these asbestos-containing shipboard spaces

VA Claims for Master-at-Arms Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure at naval stations and aboard Navy vessels. Master-at-Arms personnel who served at naval stations with Cold War-era security facility construction and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.