No, you're not confused. You're trying to push your point.
You said in post #12 that operator doesn't apply, yet in post #25 you said " operations doesn't describe a person but operator does. " In one you said it doesn't, yet in the other you said it does, am I missing something?
For someone who portends to be such a wordsmith you seem to have a struggle with straightforward statements.
Yes, "operator" describes
a person but not necessarily
the person being discussed. I was showing you the distinction between meanings for "operations" and "operator."
An operator doesn't always work in an operations department, and not all people assigned to an operations department are operators.
In the Navy, most ratings specialists do more than just operate something.
As for radioman being changed to something like radio operations, it would make sense if you asked "what are you?" and they could say I'm in radio operations (which could be the new rating) first class(rate/pay grade).
No, it doesn't make sense. Saying where you are assigned is not the same as saying what you are.
When I was in Pensacola, I was a Journalist working in the Public Affairs Office of the Chief of Naval Education and Training. Suppose I met someone after hours on the jogging trail and we made introductions. The other person would ask, "What are you?" I would reply, "I'm a Journalist." That describes me. Then, the other person would ask, "Where are you assigned?" I would reply, "I'm with the PAO at CNET."
If I had first just said I'm assigned to the PAO at CNET, that doesn't tell anyone who I am. The PAO staff included line officers, aviation officers, a Yeoman, Photographer's Mates, Journalists, civil service employees, and various ratings who served as staff drivers.
Radioman doesn't fit everything either since you were a journalist did you ever use a radio or operate one?
I didn't use or operate a radio while I was Radioman or Journalist. During my brief tour as Radioman I worked in a base communications center preparing and handling incoming and outgoing message traffic. Most of it was done on computers.
Actual radio use is normally on ships and submarines, not land bases.
I realize that this is the military we are talking about which is part of the government and very little they do makes sense, but perhaps with the de gendering of the classes they can come up with new classifications that makes more sense.
If the civilians would leave the military alone we'd be fine.
Ratings don't need "de-gendering."
The group classifications make sense the way they are. The only reason they want to change them is for some perceived political correctness.
I wonder if anyone even polled the sailors to find out if they were offended by "man"?