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General Info: The Aviation Structural Mechanic - Structures (AMS), is responsible for maintenance on the aircraft fuselage(mainframe), wings, airfoils, and associated fixed and moveable surfaces and flight controls. Aircrew volunteers from this rating perform inflight duties in various types of aircraft. Aircrew volunteers should volunteer under the Aircrew Recruiting Program.

What They Do: The duties performed by AMSs include: removing, repairing and replacing aircraft fuselage, wings, fixed and movable surfaces, airfoils, regular seats, wheels and tires, controls and mechanisms; removing, installing and rigging aircraft flight control surfaces; fabricating and assembling metal components and making minor repairs to aircraft skin; installing rivets and metal fasteners; painting aircraft; fabricating repairs for composite components; performing non-destructive dye penetrant inspections (NDI); performing daily, preflight, postflight and other periodic aircraft inspections.

Detailed List of Required Duties

ASVAB Score Requirements: VE+AR+MK+AS=210 or VE+AR+MK+MC=210 and AR+2MK+GS=194

Other Requirements: Must have normal color perception. Must have normal hearing. Must have no speech impediment. Security Clearance (SECRET) Requirement. 60 month obligation. Must be U.S. citizen.

Notes: Visual acuity must be correctable to 20/20. When specified, uncorrected visual acuity must not be greater than that indicated (i.e. 20/100), and must be correctable to 20/20. Must be high school graduate. Must volunteer for duty involving aerial flight as crew member and be physically qualified and psychologically adapted for flight IAW Article 15-77 MANMED. Must be certified as a class II swimmer before completion of recruit training with potential to achieve class I swimmer during aircrew training. Rescue swimmer requirements are physically demanding therefore strong swimmers only. No history of drug abuse. Normal depth perception required for rescue swimmer.

Technical Training Information: Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of this rating through on-the-job training or formal Navy schooling. Operational training is available in this rating during later stages of career development.

"A" School Pensacola, Fl. 6-8 weeks

Basic Aviation Structural Mechanic course, basic aviation theory course, and skills required for specialized AMS rating Group instruction, classroom and shop. After completion of Core "A" school, AMSs may attend an additional two week organizational maintenance training school. AMSs may be assigned to aviation squadrons, aircraft carriers or to other Navy ships carrying aircraft, to Naval Air Stations or other aviation shore facilities in the United States or overseas. You will have opportunities to attend formal schoolhouse advanced technical training throughout your career. During a 20-year period, AMSs spend about 50 percent of their time assigned to fleet units and 50 percent to shore stations.

Working Environment: Aviation Structural Mechanics may be assigned to sea or shore duty any place in the world, so their working environment varies considerably. They may work in hangars or hangar decks, or outside on flight decks or flight lines at air stations. A high noise level is a normal part of their work environment. AMHs work closely with others, do mostly physical work and require little supervision. AMHs may also serve as flight engineers aboard certain aircraft.

Opportunity Rating:

Advancement (Promotion) Trends

College Credits for Training/Experience

Career Progression

Above Information Courtesy of United States Navy

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