Contract Question Aircrew Rescue Swimmer same as aircrew?

jzhaun · 08-13-2014, 06:56 AM

Aircrew is AW. It's not the same thing as AIRR. If you really want Aircrew you're probably going to need another DAR.

Haasino's our expert on aircrew, so you might want to check out his thread about it.

Haasino · 08-13-2014, 08:24 AM

AIRR is helo Aircrew and classified as a Naval Special Warfare program. Fixed-wing Aircrew is AIRC. Technically, since 2008, all Aircrew ratings have AW in them (AWO/AWF/AWV/AWR/AWS).

Both programs have to go through Naval Aircrew Candidate School, which involves moderately strenuous PT and intermediate water survival training... however AIRR then has to go through Rescue Swimmer School which, as you figured correctly, involves a great deal more swimming and PT.

There was a time shortly after I graduated NACCS that AIRR candidates who failed RSS (Failed, not Drop-On-Request) were reclassified as AWO... fixed-wing sensor operators. I don't know that this is still a policy though... and kinda doubt it given the reorganization Maritime Patrol is currently undergoing.

Tl;dr... you're looking for AIRC, not AIRR. While both are Aircrew, AIRR requires a great deal of swimming.

Rusk · 08-19-2014, 07:10 PM

They no longer assign airr drops to any aw jobs they get re rated or go undes depending on how they got dropped. I'm at naccs right now.

Diverdee90 · 08-21-2014, 09:14 AM

Haasino I have a question for you, my son is a senior in high school and going to MEPS on Tuesday to take the ASVAB and physical, and get his rating and all that and then be sworn in for DEP he wants to eventually become a pilot. His recruiter told him to become part of Aircrew, what rating should he be looking for when he chooses his rate? Thanks

LT Guppy · 08-21-2014, 02:11 PM

To be a pilot, he will have to become an officer at some point.
Being enlisted aircrew will get him some exposure to the community, but isn't a requirement to be selected as a pilot

Haasino · 08-21-2014, 09:25 PM

As Guppy mentioned, you have to be a commissioned officer in order to be a Naval Aviator (Pilot) or Naval Flight Officer (TACCO). This will require either STA-21, or obtaining a bachelor's degree while active duty and putting together a packet for Officer Candidate School. Having said that, however, boing an aircrewman can have advantages over other rates when applying and going before a selection board for NA/NFO because they're familiar with NATOPS, work closer with officers as part of a combat air crew than any other enlisted community, and are generally held to a much higher standard than many other communities which results in competitive packets.

As far as pursuing the enlisted route... the program he wants to ask for is the AIRC - Aircrew Program. It's a series of 4 series-ratings that mostly crew on land-based fixed-wing patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. If he's looking for a Naval Special Warfare program, there's also AIRR... that's Aviation Rescue Swimmer and covers helo crewmen on the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopter.

Diverdee90 · 08-22-2014, 07:34 AM

Thank you all very much for the info that helps

08-19-2014, 07:10 PM	#3
Rusk Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0	They no longer assign airr drops to any aw jobs they get re rated or go undes depending on how they got dropped. I'm at naccs right now. Last edited by Rusk; 08-21-2014 at 05:08 PM.

08-13-2014, 06:56 AM	#1
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 0	Aircrew is AW. It's not the same thing as AIRR. If you really want Aircrew you're probably going to need another DAR. Haasino's our expert on aircrew, so you might want to check out his thread about it.

08-13-2014, 08:24 AM	#2
Haasino Active Duty Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 0	AIRR is helo Aircrew and classified as a Naval Special Warfare program. Fixed-wing Aircrew is AIRC. Technically, since 2008, all Aircrew ratings have AW in them (AWO/AWF/AWV/AWR/AWS). Both programs have to go through Naval Aircrew Candidate School, which involves moderately strenuous PT and intermediate water survival training... however AIRR then has to go through Rescue Swimmer School which, as you figured correctly, involves a great deal more swimming and PT. There was a time shortly after I graduated NACCS that AIRR candidates who failed RSS (Failed, not Drop-On-Request) were reclassified as AWO... fixed-wing sensor operators. I don't know that this is still a policy though... and kinda doubt it given the reorganization Maritime Patrol is currently undergoing. Tl;dr... you're looking for AIRC, not AIRR. While both are Aircrew, AIRR requires a great deal of swimming.

08-21-2014, 09:14 AM	#4
Diverdee90 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	Haasino I have a question for you, my son is a senior in high school and going to MEPS on Tuesday to take the ASVAB and physical, and get his rating and all that and then be sworn in for DEP he wants to eventually become a pilot. His recruiter told him to become part of Aircrew, what rating should he be looking for when he chooses his rate? Thanks

08-21-2014, 02:11 PM	#5
LT Guppy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,858 Rep Power: 0	To be a pilot, he will have to become an officer at some point. Being enlisted aircrew will get him some exposure to the community, but isn't a requirement to be selected as a pilot

08-21-2014, 09:25 PM	#6
Haasino Active Duty Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 0	As Guppy mentioned, you have to be a commissioned officer in order to be a Naval Aviator (Pilot) or Naval Flight Officer (TACCO). This will require either STA-21, or obtaining a bachelor's degree while active duty and putting together a packet for Officer Candidate School. Having said that, however, boing an aircrewman can have advantages over other rates when applying and going before a selection board for NA/NFO because they're familiar with NATOPS, work closer with officers as part of a combat air crew than any other enlisted community, and are generally held to a much higher standard than many other communities which results in competitive packets. As far as pursuing the enlisted route... the program he wants to ask for is the AIRC - Aircrew Program. It's a series of 4 series-ratings that mostly crew on land-based fixed-wing patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. If he's looking for a Naval Special Warfare program, there's also AIRR... that's Aviation Rescue Swimmer and covers helo crewmen on the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopter.

08-22-2014, 07:34 AM	#7
Diverdee90 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	Thank you all very much for the info that helps