QA personnel are of which rank?

• A. E-4 and above
• B. E-5 and above
• C. E-7 and above
• D. E-6 and above

Answer: (D)

QA personnel must meet a minimum rank that ensures they have enough hands-on maintenance experience and the authority to supervise and enforce quality standards. E-6, or Petty Officer First Class in Navy terms, typically brings both practical technical competence and supervisory experience needed to perform inspections, identify root causes of issues, document nonconformities, and coordinate corrective actions. This level of experience helps ensure inspections are thorough, safety requirements are met, and work is sign off appropriately. Lower ranks often haven’t accumulated the necessary supervisory authority or depth of maintenance knowledge to perform reliable QA duties. Higher ranks can also serve in QA, but the question asks for the minimum requirement, which is E-6 and above.