Ratings are back and if the reaction on social media is any gauge, sailors are pretty happy about it. 

Within seconds of the news leaking Tuesday evening that Navy leaders were set to restore sailors' job titles, the positive reviews of the decisions began rolling in on social media, with some suggesting the move was a Christmas miracle.

"They need to make a kids movie on this about how Santa saved the ratings." commented Leanna Jacques, an aviation boatswain's mate, on the Navy Times Facebook post. Her comment was liked by more than 1,000 readers.

The Navy's top officer announced Wednesday morning that he was restoring ratings three months after stripping the centuries-old tradition, citing the backlash from the deck plates. He also noted that the push to broaden sailors' job opportunities, which was part and parcel with dumping ratings, would continue.

"We have learned from you, and so effective immediately, all rating names are restored," Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, wrote in a Navy message released Wednesday.

Over on the Navy page on the link sharing forum Reddit, sailors were happy that leadership listened to what sailors were saying.

"This is beyond shocking," redditor Captain_Pinstripes posted. "Did big Navy just listen to the masses? Did big Navy actually just say "We f***ed up'? ... Big Navy, if you're reading this: Thank you. This is what we want in leadership; people that listen to the folks below and weigh in our concerns."

Another redditor, artuno, posted that he was glad leaders were going to keep up the effort to expand job opportunities sailors beyond just the normal rating pipelines.

"No one is complaining about the cross-training, if anything it's something that's welcomed with open arms, as cross-rating can be a [pain] sometimes," artuno posted. "Better training and better employment opportunities for everyone is what we liked, but it could have been done without getting rid of the ratings."

And of course, with any big news story in 2016, memes flooded Facebook, Twitter and Reddit.

Here are some of our favorites:

In keeping with the season, this meme referencing the final scene in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" popped up frequently:

An internet meme circulating after news fo the restoration of ratings hit social media Tuesday night.

Photo Credit: via Facebook

Oprah's car giveaway was bound to make an appearance:

Photo Credit: Photo via command's Facebook page

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, whose push to make rates "gender neutral" by removing "man" from the title was the impetus for the change, took some ribbing. Here is a solid Scooby Doo reference.

Photo Credit: via Facebook

With the latest "Star Wars" film in theaters, Darth Vader made an appearance:

Photo Credit: via Facebook

Some sailors were cautiously optimistic about the good news:

Fry rates

While others were relishing the small things, like changing their email signatures back to their job title:

Photo Credit: Photo via command's Facebook page

Coast Guardsmen, some of whom have been digitally mocking the Navy's decision for weeks, got a couple of parting shots in, including this meme:

Photo Credit: via Facebook

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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