NAVAL AIRCREWMAN (HELICOPTER) (AWS)

OVERVIEW

Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) — AWS — flies as enlisted aircrew on the MH-60S Knighthawk Sea Combat helicopter, conducting search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval special warfare insertion, mine countermeasures support, and helicopter visit-board-search-and-seizure (HVBSS). AWS aircrewmen are the rescue swimmers and door gunners of HSC squadrons.

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 ~24 weeks (pipeline) at Naval Aircrewman Candidate School & Fleet Replacement Squadron, NAS Pensacola FL / NAS North Island CA, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR+MK+MC=210 and an enlistment obligation of 6–6 years. AWSs 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 AWSs 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, AWS 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 AWSs DO

AWSs operate as Sensor Operator and Crew Chief on the MH-60S, conduct rescue swimmer operations, manage the cabin during VERTREP and personnel transfer, operate the door-mounted M240 and GAU-21 machine guns, and serve as the helicopter's emergency egress and survival-equipment expert.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• AWSs operate as Sensor Operator and Crew Chief on the MH-60S, conduct rescue swimmer operations, manage the cabin during VERTREP and personnel transfer, operate the door-mounted M240 and GAU-21 machine guns, and serve as the helicopter's emergency egress and survival-equipment expert.
• Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior AWSs as required by the chain of command.
• Lead the AWS 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 Naval Aircrewman (AW) rating was established in 1971 and split into the modern five sub-ratings (AWS, AWF, AWR, AWO, AWV) in 2008 to align with platform-specific aircrew pipelines.

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 Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (AWS) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern AWSs 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 AWSs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 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. 2. Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) A-School~24 weeks (pipeline)
   Naval Aircrewman Candidate School & Fleet Replacement Squadron, NAS Pensacola FL / NAS North Island CA
   Initial rating-skills training for accessions
3. 3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
   MH-60S Knighthawk
   On-the-job training and qualifications in the AWS rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. E-1/E-3
   Apprentice AWS
   A-school in the aviation pipeline; first tour with a fleet unit.
2. E-4/E-6
   Petty Officer AWS
   Lead a Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) work-center, qualify in core watchstations and platform-specific tasks.
3. E-7+
   Chief Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter)
   Senior enlisted leader of the rating in the command; instructor, detailer, or department leading chief assignments.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

• MH-60S Knighthawk
• HSC (Helicopter Sea Combat) squadrons
• Aircraft carriers and big-deck amphibious ships

EXAMPLE NECs

• AWS-7821 MH-60S Aircrewman

RELATED RATINGS

• AWR · Naval Aviation
  Naval Aircrewman (Tactical-Helicopter)
• AWF · Naval Aviation
  Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical)
• PR · Naval Aviation
  Aircrew Survival Equipmentman

RELATED BASES

• Navy Base · CA
  Naval Air Station North Island
• Navy Base · FL
  Naval Air Station Jacksonville
• Navy Base · FL
  Naval Air Station Pensacola

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• Navy Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (navy.com)
• My Navy HR — Enlisted Community Management
• Navy COOL — Rating Detail