I did some research in the past few weeks and spoke to someone in the Aircrew rating today. The Commander for the Chicago District is in "dry" aircrew, just like I am, and gave me some nice insight. Also there was another person who is an officer my recruiter put me in touch with who is also on aircrew.
I knew a little bit about my rating when I enlisted, but lately I have been a bit unsure and confused about exactly what I am going to be doing.
What I knew in the first place was that my rank is an AN which stands for an E3 Airman, I am in the non-rescue swimmer aircrew (AIRC), Aircrew and the aviation field in general are considered an advanced field, I will receive flight pay in addition to my regular pay, I will be eligible for an advanced paygrade after I complete A School, that I will be training for multiple ratings (jobs) while at Aircrew Candidate School and be given a wish list of rates to choose from, then I go to A School (my technical training) for my specific rating, and where I am stationed depends on the rate I get. Also, I was told that if I am deployed it will be on an aircraft carrier. The rates I will be training for are AWV, AWF, AWO, AWR, and AWS, although I had no clue what each does.
Things That I Learned:
Well, I found out that the difference between my rate and my rank is I start off as an AN, which is an E3 in the aviation field, and I become an AW (stands for Aircrew) once I graduate from Basic Training. In Basic, I have to earn my rank as does everyone else and will be treated as an equal with the E1's until I earn my rank.
Aircrew is not the same thing as an undesignated airman.
Only 3% of recruits going into the Navy qualify for Aircrew.
Aircrew is all about comaraderie and the slogan is "work hard, play hard." It is an intense, challenging, and fast-paced field.
Everyone in aviation knows what aircrew does and what it takes to do it, and there is a high respect for it.
Aircrewman work on board an in-flight aircraft. We are there to tend to technical and mechanical operations on the aircraft to assist the pilot of the aircraft, and so they don't have to worry about anything but flying.
The different rates stand for:
AWV--Aircrewman Avionics, "members of a fixed wing integrated tactical aircrew aboard maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and command and control aircraft; knowledgeable of all avionics systems, safety equipment, emergency procedures, and aircraft equipment; perform primary in-flight and ground duties as aircraft in-flight technicians, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) specialists, and airborne communicators who maintain and operate aircraft systems; pilot and maintain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV); operate aerial photographic equipment; and perform aircrew administration, flight and ground training, ordnance handling duties, joint special warfare operations, and Communications Material Security (CMS) handling." (www.bupers.navy.mil)
AWF-- Aircrewman Mechanical, "members of a fixed wing integrated tactical crew aboard C-2, C-9, C-12, C-20, C-37, C-40, C-130, E-6, and P-3 aircraft; perform primary in-flight and ground duties as aircraft Flight Engineer/Crew Chief, Loadmaster, Reel Operator, and Aircrew Readiness Manager; perform aircraft maintenance, weight and balance (W&B) calculations, and aircraft systems rigging, Aircrew administration, Flight/Ground training, cargo movement, Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), passenger transport, small arms, and Joint Special Warfare operations; contribute directly to operations for the purposes of attaining and maintaining the squadron’s aircrew qualifications and certifications; and knowledgeable of all aircraft systems, passenger and cargo handling, safety procedures and equipment, federal and military regulations for passenger transport, emergency procedures, and aircraft equipment." (www.bupers.navy.mil)
AWO-- Aircrewman Operator, members who "produce intelligence products for aircrews in support of operations and tactical missions worldwide; detect, analyze, classify, and track surface and subsurface contacts; operate an advanced sonar system utilizing sonobouys, radar, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), Identification Friend or Foe/Selective Identification Feature (IFF/SIF), and Infrared Detector (IR); perform aircrew duties that support mission planning, classified material handling, and training; and handle ordnance, inspect acoustic station equipment, and operate mission equipment such as: advanced imaging multi-spectral sensors, radar for safety of flight, and hand-held cameras." (www.bupers.navy.mil)
AWR--Aircrewman Romeo/Tactical Helicopter, members who "detect, analyze, classify, and track sub-surface contacts; perform sonar and sonobuoy operations, help coordinate tactical communications relay; conduct weapons delivery in support of tactical missions; contribute directly to aircrew operations and Naval Special Warfare (NSW) missions, to include: Search and Rescue (SAR), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Night Vision Device (NVD) operations, navigation, passenger and cargo transport, Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), crew-served weapons employment; perform observer duties for safety of flight; and contribute directly to aircrew operations, training, and administration." (www.bupers.navy.mil)
AWS--Aircrewman Sierra/Helicopter, "members of multi-mission helicopter integrated tactical crews; perform Search And Rescue (SAR) operations, Airborne Mine Countermeasure (AMCM) operations utilizing sonar, magnetic, mechanical, and acoustic mine sweeping systems and logistics support; perform aircrew operations administration, flight and ground training, internal and external cargo movement, Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), passenger transport, aerial gunnery, small arms handling, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) insertion and extraction operations, Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), and Night Vision Device (NVD) operations; and conduct observer duties for safety of flight." (www.bupers.navy.mil)
In Aircrew Candidate School they will teach me about different types of aircraft, systems operations, basic information that I need to know, how aircraft lands, mechanic work, the basics on checking oil and fuel levels, supervising refueling, making sure things are "locked and secured," and survival techniques.
How well I do in A School determines what rate I get and what is available to me. I was told that I want to make sure to have a nice even spread because the top person or 2 in my class at A School gets top pick of the rate they receive and are trained for as well as where I am stationed. The Navy will try to work with me and get me what is on my wish list, if at all possible.
Upon completion of A School, I go to Replenishment Air Group, which is now called Flight Replacement Squadron. This is learning how to make weapons operate. Once I complete this school, I receive my aircrewman wings for my uniform.
Only "wet" aircrew ends up on helicopters, and that consists of the rescue swimmer group because they have to jump off the aircraft to save people since they are the only ones trained in that sort of thing.
If I end up with a rate that works on and with smaller aircraft such as EA6B, Viking, and E2 Hawkeye, I will be most likely stationed on an aircraft carrier because these types of aircraft take off from a ship. I would be working in the back of the aircraft making sure everything operates smoothly. The deployments could be as long as 6 months at a time including stopping at various ports.
On the other hand, I could work on a long-range jet, i.e., P3 or a newer version that I think is called a P10, which is like a larger version of a commercial jet that carries weaponry or other cargo. This kind of aircraft usually takes off from a land-based air field. I would be stationed at an air field either in the U.S. or overseas. My missions would be anywhere from 18-24 hours at a time, and then I would go back to my "home" base and be able to sleep in my own rack (bed).
After I learned all of this new information, I was no longer confused and became more confident with my new-found knowledge. Aircrew is going to open all kinds of doors for me as far as the opportunities it will present, not only in training but also with the possibility for advancement and promotion to officer once I have submitted my packet for the Seaman to Admiral program.
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