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Military Career: Air Crew Members

 

Overview

The military uses aircraft of all types and sizes to conduct combat and intelligence missions, rescue personnel, transport troops and equipment, and perform long-range bombing missions. Air crew members operate equipment on board aircraft during operations. They normally specialize by type of aircraft, such as bomber, intelligence, transport, or search and rescue.

What They Do

Air crew members in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate aircraft communication and radar equipment
  • Operate and maintain aircraft defensive gunnery systems
  • Operate helicopter hoists to lift equipment and personnel from land and sea
  • Operate and maintain aircraft in-flight refueling systems

Branches of the Military

Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include mathematics and mechanics. Helpful attributes include:

  • Ability to work as a team member
  • Ability to work under stress
  • Interest in flying

Training Provided

Job training consists of 7 to 9 weeks of classroom instruction, including practical experience in aircraft systems operation and maintenance. Further training occurs on the job through actual flying time. There are additional courses covering air crew survival, scuba diving, parachuting, aircraft maneuvering, and combat crew training. Course content varies by specialty and may include:

  • Operation of aircraft gunnery systems
  • Operation of aircraft in-flight refueling systems
  • Cargo, munitions, and fuel load planning
  • Rescue and recovery operations

Physical Demands

Air crew members must be in excellent physical condition and pass a special physical exam in order to qualify for flight duty. They must be mentally sound and have normal hearing.

Work Environment

Air crew members work inside all sizes and types of aircraft based on land or aboard ships. They fly in all types of weather and in both hot and cold climates.

Civilian Counterparts

There are no direct civilian equivalents to military air crew members. However, some of the skills gained in the military could be useful in civilian government and private agencies that provide emergency medical services. Also, weight and load computation skills are useful for civilian air transport operations.

Opportunities

The services have about 5,000 air crew members. Each year, they need new air crew members due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After receiving their "air crew qualified" rating, air crew members are assigned to a flying unit. They may work on one of many types of aircraft under direction of the aircraft commander. With experience, they may supervise and train other enlisted air crew members. They have the opportunity to become air crew chiefs, combat crew chiefs, or supervisors of rescue and recovery units.


Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Washington D.C.