Naval Aircrewman (AWO/AWF/AWV/AWS/AWR)

Naval aircrewman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Aviation Warfare Systems Operator ) Naval aircrewman Naval aircrewman rating insignia Issued by: United States Navy Type Enlisted rating Abbreviation AW Specialty Aviation The naval aircrewman rate (known as aviation warfare systems operator or AW prior to 2008) is a crew rating of the US Navy. It was previously designated as aviation anti-submarine warfare operator. However under the CNO-directed "Helicopter Master Plan", all 78XX, and 94XX aircrewmen were re-designated as 'aviation warfare systems operator'. Many technologically advanced navies have a similar trade. Naval aircrew wings, typically earned by AWs upon completion of on-the-job training. Contents 1 Training 1.1 Schools 1.1.1 Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) 1.1.2 AW “A” School 1.1.3 AW “A” School 1.1.4 Survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) 1.1.5 Fleet Replacement Aircrew Training (FRAC) 2 Position summaries 2.1 Loadmaster 2.2 Naval aircrewman (operator) 2.3 Naval aircrewman (operator) 2.4 Naval aircrewman (operator) 2.5 Naval aircrewman (tactical helicopter) 2.6 Previous platforms 3 Roots of the rating 4 See also 5 References Training All AWs must attain a minimum amount of education and training in several fields of science, technology, and aviation at several different schools. The educational “pipeline” averages 18 months to two years in length. The following list describes most of those schools. Aviation warfare systems operators monitor the acoustic station during the flight of a P-3C Orion Schools Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) NACCS of NAS Pensacola , Florida, introduces to and evaluates the student in basic flight physiology and water survival. Low-pressure hypobaric chamber sessions, night vision evaluations, multi-station spatial disorientation device (also known as the "spin and puke") sessions and aircraft emergency water egress device sessions are part of the training. Advanced first aid and CPR and a very aggressive physical regimen including running up to 8-10 miles, swimming a mile at a time, etc. are part of the curriculum. AW “A” School Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) provides the student a basic introduction to all the fields the student must be well versed in to operate in their prospective platform. Active and passive electronic warfare, active and passive sonar. Reading sonargrams, magnetic anomaly detection equipment, physics, wave propagation, oceanography, meteorology and working with classified information are included in this phase of training. AW “A” School AW "A" School provides prospective aircrewmen with the basic knowledge necessary to excel within the helicopter sea combat, patrol squadron, and helicopter mine countermeasures communities. Students will learn the basics of naval special warfare support, combat search and rescue, airborne mine countermeasures, and oceanography. Upon successful completion, students can expect to transfer to MH-60S (HSC) FRAC or MH-53E (HM) FRAC. Survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) This course is designed to provide Level "C" Code of Conduct training to pilots, flight officers, intelligence officers, aircrew, and other designated high risk of capture personnel as directed by respective TYCOMs/MCCDC in accordance with DOD Instruction 1300.21 and the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) executive agent instruction. Training encompasses those basic skills necessary for worldwide survival, facilitating search and rescue efforts, evading capture by hostile forces, resistance to interrogation, exploitation and indoctrination, and escape from detention by enemy forces in accordance with DOD Instruction 1300.21. It is based on and reinforces the values expressed in the code of conduct while maintaining an appropriate balance of sound educational methodology and realistic/stressful training scenarios. Participation in SERE training requires certification of a current physical examination (within 1 year for aircrew) and completion of a medical screening form within 14 days of training by competent medical authority (i.e. flight surgeon, IDC). Students must report for training with medical and dental records or they will be dis-enrolled from the course. SERE training is physically demanding, therefore, students must comply with their own service's body fat standards and have successfully passed their most recent physical readiness test. Fleet Replacement Aircrew Training (FRAC) This phase of training immerses the student much further into training for their specific platform (aircraft or operations centers) and specialty (acoustic or non-acoustic). Typically, the student will report to an East Coast or West Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) to conduct training (Note that all MH-53E FRS training is conducted on the East Coast at Naval Station Norfolk). Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) and tactics are also introduced. After completion