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AVIATION BOATSWAIN'S MATE (FUELS) (ABF)

The carrier aviation-fuels rating — JP-5 from the bunkers to the wing tank, on every CVN.

Rating Badge

Rating Code

ABF

Community

Naval Aviation

Paygrade Range

E-1 to E-9

ASVAB Minimum

VE+AR+MK+AS=185

A-School

Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL · ~5 weeks

Clearance

Standard

Obligation

4 years

OVERVIEW

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels), or ABF, is the U.S. Navy's carrier aviation-fuels rating. ABFs operate and maintain the entire JP-5 fueling system aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier — bunker storage, transfer pumps, filtration, helicopter in-flight refueling stations on amphibious ships, and the flight-deck refueling stations that service every aircraft launched. The "purple shirts" of the carrier flight deck are ABFs.

ABFs are organic to every aircraft carrier and to every amphibious assault ship (LHA/LHD). On smaller aviation-capable surface ships, the ABF mission falls to general BMs.

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 ~5 weeks at Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR+MK+AS=185 and an enlistment obligation of 4–6 years. ABFs 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 ABFs 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, ABF 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 ABFs DO

ABFs receive JP-5 from underway-replenishment oilers, store it in carrier bunkers, transfer it through a network of pumps and piping to flight-deck refueling stations, sample and filter it continuously to remove water and particulates, and pump it into Navy aircraft on the flight deck. ABFs also operate the Helicopter In-flight Refueling (HIFR) stations on aviation-capable surface ships and the JP-5 quality control laboratory aboard the carrier.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ABFs receive JP-5 from underway-replenishment oilers, store it in carrier bunkers, transfer it through a network of pumps and piping to flight-deck refueling stations, sample and filter it continuously to remove water and particulates, and pump it into Navy aircraft on the flight deck. ABFs also operate the Helicopter In-flight Refueling (HIFR) stations on aviation-capable surface ships and the JP-5 quality control laboratory aboard the carrier.
Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior ABFs as required by the chain of command.
Lead the ABF 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

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) was carved out of the post-WWII Aviation Boatswain's Mate rating in the late 1940s along with ABE and ABH. The "purple shirt" identification on the carrier flight deck has marked the ABF since the colored-shirt system was standardized.

Today ABFs operate one of the most quality-control-intensive fuel systems on Earth — JP-5 contamination is a flight-safety event, and ABFs run the constant filtration, sampling, and purification cycle that keeps it clean.

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 Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) (ABF) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern ABFs 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 ABFs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors at the Navy's only boot camp.
2. Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) A-School~5 weeks
Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL
Initial rating-skills training for ABF accessions.
3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
Aircraft carriers (CVN-68 Nimitz / CVN-78 Ford)
On-the-job training and qualifications in the ABF rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

E-1/E-3
Apprentice ABF
A-school at NAS Pensacola; first tour aboard a CVN or LHA/LHD fuels division.
E-4/E-6
Petty Officer ABF
Qualify as fuels-station operator, JP-5 quality-assurance representative, and pump-room supervisor.
E-7+
Chief ABF
V-4 Division Chief or Air Department Master Chief.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

Aircraft carriers (CVN-68 Nimitz / CVN-78 Ford)
Amphibious assault ships (LHA-6 / LHD-1)

EXAMPLE NECs

ABF-7011 Aviation Fuels Quality Assurance Representative

How to address

As an enlisted Sailor by paygrade and last name (e.g. "Petty Officer Smith" for E-4–E-6, "Chief Smith" for E-7+). The rating abbreviation "ABF" is appended to the paygrade in writing — e.g., ABF1 Smith for ABF Petty Officer First Class.

Prerequisites

U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB VE+AR+MK+AS=185
High school diploma or equivalent
Pass the Navy physical and medical screening

Common assignments

Aircraft carriers (CVN-68 Nimitz / CVN-78 Ford)
Amphibious assault ships (LHA-6 / LHD-1)

RELATED RATINGS

RELATED BASES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

On a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier flight deck, fuels personnel wear purple jerseys — known as "grapes" — to be identifiable from afar. The colored-shirt system has been standardized since World War II.

ABF A-school is at the Naval Air Technical Training Center on NAS Pensacola, FL.

JP-5 has a higher flash point (60°C/140°F) than commercial Jet A or military JP-8 to reduce shipboard fire risk. Every aviation-capable U.S. Navy ship stores and pumps JP-5 exclusively.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02

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