So a few tidbits of info from how this whole debacle happened in the first place.
SECNAV Mabus directs the Navy and Marine Corps to remove the word "man" from their ratings/specialties in order to make them unoffensive.
Marine Corps moves forward, says this is unnecessary work, removes "man" from almost all specialties.
CNO directs previous MCPON to address the SECNAV's directive. MCPON creates a 12 person focus group, consisting of 2 Fleet CMCs and 10 officers, O-5 and O-6, to come up with a solution. (the number and composition may be off, going on memory).
MCPON tells focus group that nothing is off-limits. Focus group comes up with 4 solutions, most radical of which is drop all ratings.
MCPON/CNO present to SECNAV, MCPON/CNO say they recommend the nuclear option, SECNAV gives the green light.
MCPON retires, passes this hand-grenade off to his relief, the current MCPON. Not sure if there was a reach-around or not.
Announcement made on a Thursday afternoon, entire fleet, including Chief's Messes and Wardrooms, caught completely flatfooted and off-guard. Announcement also includes the fact that there is no plan forward, as of yet, for things like advancement exams, rating badges, etc, just that ratings are gone immediately.
Giant $hitstorm erupts on social media and across the fleet. Every stop the MCPON/CNO/SECNAV make since September, this is the primary point of discussion. Early December, CNO, who was the DNR (Director of Naval Reactors) before being tabbed as CNO, says that they underestimated the negative response. MOTO.
Today, Christmas comes early, ratings are reinstated immediately.
The End (for now)
