AIRMAN (AN)
The U.S. Navy naval aviation airman rating — AN.
OVERVIEW
Airman (AN) is the U.S. Navy's general-detail aviation apprentice rating for non-rated Sailors at paygrades E-1 through E-3 working in the aviation community while striking for a designated aviation rating (AT, AE, AM, AO, AD, AS, AZ, ABE/F/H, AC, AG, PR, AW). Airmen wear the green color group and are assigned to aviation squadrons, AIMD, and naval air stations during their apprentice tour.
The aviation community covers Sailors who maintain, operate, and support U.S. Navy aircraft — fixed-wing fighters, maritime patrol, helicopters, and unmanned platforms — both on aircraft carriers and at shore-based naval air stations. The community follows the Aviation Maintenance Officer (AMO) construct and emphasizes Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) qualifications.
A-school for the rating runs On-the-job training; A-school after rating designation at Airman Apprenticeship Training, NAS Pensacola FL (no formal A-school until rating designation), where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score Varies by target rating and an enlistment obligation of 4–6 years. ANs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior ANs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.
Across the active force, AN Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.
WHAT ANs DO
Airmen perform on-the-job training in their assigned squadron or shore activity, support designated petty officers in aviation maintenance, ordnance, fueling, and flight operations, and prepare for striker-board designation into one of the aviation-community designated ratings.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Airmen perform on-the-job training in their assigned squadron or shore activity, support designated petty officers in aviation maintenance, ordnance, fueling, and flight operations, and prepare for striker-board designation into one of the aviation-community designated ratings.
- Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior ANs as required by the chain of command.
- Lead the AN work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
- Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.
HISTORY
The Airman apprentice rating was formalized in the 1948 enlisted-rating restructuring that created the modern color-group apprentice tracks (Airman, Seaman, Fireman, Constructionman, Hospitalman) as the entry-point classifications for non-designated Sailors.
The aviation rating structure traces to 1921 when the Bureau of Aeronautics was established and the Navy formalized aviation enlisted ratings to support the rapid growth of carrier aviation between the world wars. Successive consolidations through the 1948 enlisted-rating reorganization and the modern Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) shaped the current pipeline.
Today the Airman (AN) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern ANs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.
The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring ANs remain central to the warfighting mission.
TRAINING PIPELINE
- 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeksNaval Station Great Lakes, ILInitial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors.
- 2. Airman PipelineOn-the-job training; A-school after rating designationAirman Apprenticeship Training, NAS Pensacola FL (no formal A-school until rating designation)Apprentice/striker training in the aviation accession pipeline before sub-rating designation.
TYPICAL CAREER PATH
- E-1/E-3AirmanEntry tier; airman accession track in the aviation community.
- E-4Designated Petty Officer (sub-rating)Designation into a target rating with full A-/C-school qualification.
- E-7+Chief Petty Officer (sub-rating)Senior enlisted leader of the designated rating in the command.
TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS
- Naval aviation squadrons
- Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments (AIMD)
- Naval air stations and naval air facilities
EXAMPLE NECs
- No NECs assigned at apprentice paygrades; NECs accrue after rating designation
- U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB Varies by target rating
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Pass the Navy physical and medical screening
- Naval aviation squadrons
- Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments (AIMD)
- Naval air stations and naval air facilities