Aviation isn’t forgiving. Metal bends, rivets loosen, and hydraulics fail—sometimes at 30,000 feet.
The Navy Reserve Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) is the one who makes sure that doesn’t happen.
They don’t just patch up aircraft; they reinforce them, making sure every panel, fastener, and hydraulic system holds up under pressure.
This is hands-on work with real consequences. One bad weld, one overlooked crack, and an F/A-18 or an MH-60 could be grounded—or worse.
That’s why AMs are trained to spot weaknesses before they become failures, keeping naval aircraft mission-ready, whether on a carrier deck or a Reserve squadron back home.
If you want a job that mixes aviation, engineering, and no-room-for-error precision, the AM rating is where it’s at.
Let’s break it down.
What is an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM)?
An Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) keeps Navy aircraft in fighting shape. They work on the skeletal and muscular systems of planes and helicopters—airframes, hydraulics, flight controls. If it moves, flexes, or takes damage and needs fixing, AMs ensure it holds together under pressure.
There are two main specialties:
- Structures: Metalwork, composite repair, welding—essentially the sheet metal surgeons of naval aviation.
- Hydraulics: Landing gear, brakes, arresting gear—everything that makes an aircraft physically responsive.
Their job isn’t just maintenance. It’s prevention—anticipating stress points before they fail, ensuring aircraft can take off, maneuver, and land safely.
Whether on a flight deck, in a hangar, or forward deployed, AMs are the insurance policy against mechanical failure.
Difference Between Active Duty and Reserve AMs
Commitment Requirements
Active duty AMs are full-time—stationed on aircraft carriers, naval air stations, or forward-deployed units worldwide. Reserve AMs serve part-time, committing to:
- Drill weekends (one weekend per month)
- Annual training (two weeks per year)
- Mobilization (if called to active duty)
How Reserve AMs Support Active-Duty Squadrons
Reserve AMs backfill maintenance crews, support fleet readiness, and deploy when needed.
Many bring experience from civilian aviation jobs, adding a depth of technical expertise that strengthens the force.
They’re often called in during maintenance surges, extended deployments, or stateside operations.
Balancing Military Service with a Civilian Career
For many, the Reserve route is about options—serving while keeping a civilian career in aerospace, manufacturing, or aviation maintenance. The skills translate.
Military experience can lead to FAA certifications, higher-paying jobs, and career advancement outside the Navy.
Active duty or Reserve, the job is the same: keep the aircraft mission-ready. The difference is in how you serve.
Roles and Responsibilities
Core Duties
A Navy aircraft is a contradiction. It’s built to withstand brutal forces—catapult launches, high-speed maneuvers, carrier landings—but it’s also delicate. Metal fatigues. Rivets loosen. Hydraulics leak.
And when that happens, an Aviation Structural Mechanic steps in. They don’t just fix aircraft; they keep them from falling apart in the first place.
A Reserve AM might spend one weekend repairing a wing panel at a stateside air station, then find themselves months later on an aircraft carrier, patching up a jet that took battle damage.
The job is hands-on, relentless, and never quite the same.
Core tasks include:
- Airframe repairs – Fuselages crack. Flight controls warp. AMs reinforce, rebuild, and get aircraft back in the air.
- Hydraulics maintenance – If it moves—flaps, landing gear, arresting hooks—it’s hydraulically powered. If it leaks, AMs find and fix the problem.
- Metalwork and fabrication – Sometimes you don’t have the right part. Sometimes you have to make it. AMs cut, shape, and weld sheet metal to restore damaged structures.
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDI) – Finding cracks and weaknesses before they become catastrophic failures.
- Corrosion control – Salt, humidity, and heat wear aircraft down. AMs fight back with treatments, coatings, and constant inspections.
Work Environments
This job happens anywhere aircraft need to be fixed—which is everywhere.
- Hangars and air stations – Controlled conditions, scheduled maintenance, time to do the job right.
- Aircraft carriers – Noisy, chaotic, and unpredictable. One moment you’re waiting for a part; the next, you’re racing to repair a jet between launches.
- Deployed locations – Heat, dust, minimal equipment. Out here, it’s about getting the aircraft airworthy, not pretty.
It’s physical work—loud, hot, and sometimes dangerous. But if an aircraft takes off safely because of something you fixed, you’ll know exactly why it’s worth it.
Opportunities to Serve as Naval Aircrew
Some AMs don’t just work on aircraft; they fly in them. Those who volunteer for Naval Aircrew roles take on responsibilities beyond the hangar, including:
- Operating and maintaining in-flight systems.
- Assisting with cargo, passengers, and mission support.
- Earning flight pay for serving as part of the crew.
It’s a different kind of risk, a different kind of responsibility. But for those who want to do more than turn wrenches, it’s an option worth considering.
Training and Qualifications
Entry Requirements
Not everyone gets to work on multi-million-dollar aircraft. The Navy needs people who can think on their feet, solve mechanical problems, and keep jets in the air.
To get there, candidates have to meet a few key requirements.
- ASVAB Score – A minimum Mechanical Maintenance (MM) score of 47 is required. No shortcuts. If you can’t think mechanically, you can’t do the job.
- Physical and Medical Standards – Strong vision, solid hearing, and overall physical fitness. Color blindness? That’s a problem—spotting corrosion or stress fractures often comes down to subtle color shifts.
- Security Clearance – Some aircraft have systems the Navy doesn’t want just anyone working on. Background checks may be part of the deal.
Boot Camp
Before learning aircraft maintenance, every sailor goes through Navy Boot Camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, IL—an eight-week introduction to military life.
It’s not about fixing planes yet. It’s about proving you can handle the pressure.
- Discipline and physical training – Long days, fast decisions, no excuses.
- Naval customs and courtesies – Knowing who to salute, when to speak, and how to follow orders.
- Basic seamanship and firefighting – Because on a ship, damage control is everyone’s job.
- Weapons training – Every sailor is trained in basic marksmanship and firearm safety.
Graduation means earning the title of U.S. Navy Sailor. The real work starts after that.
Class “A” School Training
Aircraft maintenance begins at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, FL.
- Duration: About 9 weeks—not much time, considering what’s at stake.
- Coursework: Basic aviation maintenance, hydraulics, structural repair, and safety procedures. By the end, AMs can identify problems, use the right tools, and start turning wrenches on real aircraft.
Advanced Technical Training
For those who specialize, there’s more training ahead:
- “C” Schools – Focused on specific aircraft platforms. A jet mechanic isn’t the same as a helicopter mechanic, and the Navy makes sure you learn the right airframe.
- Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) Certification – Spotting cracks and material failures before they become major problems.
- Corrosion Control & Composite Material Repair – Aircraft take a beating, especially at sea. AMs learn how to keep them from rotting away.
Difference Between Reserve and Active-Duty Training
Reserve AMs take a different path than their active-duty counterparts. Instead of going straight from school to the fleet, they train during drill weekends and annual training.
The same skills, just learned over time.
For those who want more hands-on experience, there’s Temporary Active Duty Training (ADT)—short-term active-duty assignments that put Reservists in fleet squadrons to sharpen their skills.
Regardless of how they train, the expectation is the same: know the aircraft, fix the aircraft, keep the Navy flying.
Career Progression and Advancement Opportunities
Typical Career Path from E-1 to E-9
Nobody joins the Navy as an expert. Every Aviation Structural Mechanic starts as an apprentice, learning the basics—how to read maintenance manuals, how to troubleshoot a hydraulic leak, how to work under pressure when a jet needs to be back in the air now.
But experience builds fast, and for those who push themselves, rank and responsibility follow.
E-1 to E-3: Learning the Trade
At this stage—Airman Recruit (E-1), Airman Apprentice (E-2), and Airman (E-3)—you’re mostly watching, listening, and doing the hands-on grunt work.
You’re learning what right looks like and what happens when things go wrong.
Advancement to E-4 means proving you know your way around an aircraft and passing the Navy-wide advancement exam.
E-4 to E-6: The Skilled Technician
Once you hit Petty Officer Third Class (E-4), Second Class (E-5), and First Class (E-6), you’re no longer just fixing aircraft—you’re leading teams.
Junior sailors start looking to you for answers. You’re expected to troubleshoot complex problems, train the next wave of AMs, and make sure maintenance gets done right the first time.
Promotions depend on experience, exam scores, and evaluations.
E-7 to E-9: The Leaders
Making Chief Petty Officer (E-7) changes everything. Chiefs don’t just turn wrenches—they set the tone, train sailors, and solve problems before they happen.
It’s not about how fast you can fix a hydraulic line anymore; it’s about whether your team is ready to handle it without you.
Beyond that:
- Senior Chief (E-8) – You’re running entire maintenance divisions now. Less hands-on work, more leadership and strategy.
- Master Chief (E-9) – The highest enlisted rank. You’re shaping policy, mentoring officers, and making sure the next generation of AMs is ready to take over.
Senior AMs hold roles like:
- Leading Petty Officer (LPO) – The first real leadership position, where you’re in charge of getting the work done on time and done right.
- Maintenance Control Chief – Overseeing all aircraft repairs, making sure pilots have what they need to fly.
- Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) – The top enlisted voice in a squadron, working directly with officers to manage operations and take care of the enlisted force.
The path from apprentice to Master Chief is there. But it’s earned, not given.
Commissioning Opportunities for AMs
For those who want to trade in their enlisted rank for officer bars, there are options.
Limited Duty Officer (LDO) & Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Programs
- LDOs move up from the enlisted ranks and become technical officers—leaders who bring deep expertise to aviation maintenance, logistics, and operations.
- CWOs stay specialists. Instead of becoming generalist officers, they focus entirely on their technical field, making them the Navy’s go-to experts in aviation maintenance.
Both programs allow experienced AMs to become officers without starting over.
Pay, Bonuses, and Incentives
Drill Pay and Active-Duty Opportunities
The Navy Reserve doesn’t pay you to stand around. Every drill weekend, every training session, every deployment—it all comes with a paycheck.
- Drill Pay – You get paid for every drill weekend (two days of training per month). How much? That depends on rank and time in service. An E-5 with four years earns around $329 per weekend. Move up in rank, and the paycheck grows.
- Annual Training (AT) and Active Duty for Training (ADT) – Reservists complete at least two weeks of training each year. During that time, you’re on full active-duty pay, same as your active-duty counterparts. If you take on extra active-duty orders, the pay continues.
Enlistment and Retention Bonuses (FY25 Incentives)
The Navy wants skilled mechanics, and they’re willing to pay for them. Right now, bonuses include:
- New Accession Training (NAT) Enlistment Bonus – Sign a six-year contract, and you could see up to $20,000 just for enlisting.
- Prior Service Affiliation Bonus – If you’re coming off active duty (or from another service branch) and sign a three-year Reserve contract, you may qualify for another $20,000.
- Flight Pay – If you earn Naval Aircrew qualifications, you get extra pay every month just for flying.
Education Benefits
Serving in the Navy Reserve doesn’t just put money in your pocket—it also pays for your education.
- Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) – Helps pay for tuition while you serve. No need to deploy, no long-term commitments—just financial help for school.
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability – With enough qualifying service, you can pass your GI Bill benefits to your spouse or kids.
Whether it’s cash in hand or tuition covered, the Navy Reserve pays you back for your time.
Civilian Career Benefits and Certifications
How AM Experience Translates to Civilian Aviation Jobs
A Navy aircraft doesn’t care if you’re tired, cold, or working under a deadline. It needs to fly, and it needs to fly safely.
Aviation Structural Mechanics learn fast because there’s no other choice. That kind of experience doesn’t just disappear when you leave the Navy—it makes you a prime candidate for civilian aviation jobs.
Airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and maintenance facilities all want people who can diagnose problems, work under pressure, and keep aircraft in the air.
The skills you develop as an AM translate directly into careers in commercial aviation, aerospace manufacturing, and aircraft maintenance.
If you want to keep working on aircraft after the military, you already have a head start.
FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
In the civilian world, the gold standard for aircraft mechanics is the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification.
Normally, getting this license requires years of technical school or on-the-job training—but as an AM, you’ve already done most of it.
The FAA recognizes military aviation experience, which means you may qualify to take the certification exams without extra schooling.
An A&P license opens doors. With it, you can work for commercial airlines, private aviation companies, aerospace manufacturers, or even start your own maintenance business.
Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) Program
The Navy knows the value of its training, and it’s willing to pay for civilian certifications to help you get hired. That’s where the Navy COOL program comes in.
Certifications the Navy Will Pay For:
- A&P License – Covers the cost of exams so you can get FAA certified without spending thousands out of pocket.
- Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) Level II – Trains you to use advanced testing methods to detect cracks and stress damage—critical in both military and civilian aviation.
- OSHA Safety Training – Makes you more competitive in industrial and aviation maintenance jobs.
Tuition Assistance for Degrees
Maybe you want to go beyond certifications. The Navy COOL program also helps fund associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in aviation-related fields.
Whether you’re aiming for a leadership role in aerospace or want to study engineering, the funding is there.
Your time as an AM doesn’t just prepare you for a civilian job—it gives you an advantage.
Whether you’re looking for certifications, a degree, or a career in aviation, the Navy has already set you up for success.
Life as a Navy Reserve Aviation Structural Mechanic
Work-Life Balance in the Reserves
Being a Navy Reserve AM isn’t a full-time job, but it’s not something you just clock in and out of, either. It’s a balancing act—between a civilian career, military duty, and everything else life throws at you.
For most Reservists, the schedule is predictable: one weekend a month, two weeks a year. That means you can hold a full-time civilian job while still serving.
But unlike active duty, where the Navy is your life, the Reserve is something you weave into it.
One weekend, you’re working on military aircraft at a Navy air station. The next, you’re back at your civilian job, applying the same skills in a different setting.
Flexibility is built in. If life gets complicated—work commitments, family emergencies—the Navy offers options to reschedule drill weekends or make up training days.
But when duty calls, the expectation is the same: show up, be ready, get the job done.
Opportunities for Deployment
Being a Reservist means you’re part-time—until you’re not.
Reserve AMs can be activated for deployments when the Navy needs extra manpower. Sometimes that means supporting overseas operations.
Other times, it’s responding to domestic missions, like humanitarian aid or disaster relief.
How often does this happen? It depends. Some Reservists go years without activation. Others find themselves deployed within months.
If you sign up thinking you’ll never wear a deployment patch, you’re in the wrong mindset. The Reserve exists to back up the active-duty force when needed.
Networking and Camaraderie
The Navy isn’t just a job—it’s a community. And in the Reserve, that community runs deep.
AMs look out for each other, whether it’s mentorship from senior sailors or swapping career advice between drill weekends.
Some connections last a lifetime, helping Reservists land civilian jobs, get promotions, or find opportunities they wouldn’t have on their own.
For those looking to grow as leaders, programs like Sailor 360 offer professional development outside of technical training.
Leadership, teamwork, problem-solving—those skills matter just as much as turning wrenches.
At the end of the day, being a Reserve AM is more than just a paycheck or a second career. It’s about serving when it counts, staying ready, and being part of something bigger than yourself.
How to Join the Navy Reserve as an AM
Step-by-Step Guide to Enlisting
Joining the Navy Reserve as an Aviation Structural Mechanic isn’t complicated, but it’s not automatic either.
You have to qualify, make the right choices, and show up ready.
Here’s how it happens:
- Start with a Recruiter – No online form is going to get you enlisted. You need to sit down with a Navy Reserve recruiter. They’ll explain contract options, check your eligibility, and walk you through what to expect. If you’ve served before, they’ll figure out what prior experience carries over.
- Pass the Medical and Background Screening – The Navy needs people who can handle the job. That means good vision, good hearing, and a clean enough background. Some medical issues and past offenses are disqualifiers, but recruiters know when waivers are possible. Lying isn’t an option—they’ll find out.
- Go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) – This is where things get real. You’ll go through a full medical exam, take the ASVAB (if you haven’t already), and—if you qualify—officially select AM as your rating. This is also where you swear in. Once you take that oath, you’re in.
- Boot Camp at Great Lakes, IL – No matter how much aircraft knowledge you have, you don’t touch a Navy plane until you’ve gone through eight weeks of Boot Camp. It’s part physical training, part military discipline, part learning how to function in the Navy. After graduation, then the real training starts.
- A-School in Pensacola, FL – This is where you learn how to do the job. Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) teaches AMs the basics—hydraulics, structural repairs, corrosion control. It’s fast-paced, and the better you do here, the smoother your career starts.
After A-School, Reserve sailors go home and start drilling with their unit. That’s where the real hands-on experience begins.
Tips for Success in Training and Beyond
Get the ASVAB Right
Aviation Structural Mechanics need a decent Mechanical Maintenance (MM) score on the ASVAB.
Struggle with mechanical reasoning? Start studying now.
ASVAB prep books and online practice tests can make the difference between qualifying and not.
Show Up in Shape
Boot Camp isn’t the time to start working out—it’s the time to show you can handle it. You’ll be running, doing push-ups, and moving fast every day.
If you show up out of shape, you’re in for a rough time.
Find Good Mentors
The best thing you can do? Listen to the people who’ve done this before. Whether it’s an instructor at A-School or an experienced AM in your Reserve unit, they know the job.
Ask questions, learn everything you can, and take their advice seriously.
Becoming a Navy Reserve AM isn’t just about getting through training.
It’s about setting yourself up for success—from the moment you walk into the recruiter’s office to the day you start working on aircraft.
Is the Navy Reserve AM Rating Right for You?
Who Should Consider This Career Path?
Not everyone is cut out for aviation maintenance. Some people want a clean office job.
Others want something hands-on—something that challenges them to fix complex systems under pressure.
If that sounds like you, the Navy Reserve AM rating might be the right fit.
This career makes sense for:
- People who like working with their hands – If you enjoy taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and putting them back together, this job is all of that—on aircraft that cost millions of dollars.
- Problem-solvers – Aircraft don’t come with a “fix me” light. AMs diagnose structural and hydraulic issues, sometimes in high-pressure environments, and make sure jets are safe to fly.
- Those who want part-time military service with full-time career benefits – The Reserve lets you serve one weekend a month, two weeks a year, while still holding a civilian job. You get military pay, retirement benefits, and access to education programs—without making the Navy your full-time career.
Next Steps
If this sounds like the right fit, here’s what to do next:
- Talk to a Recruiter – The Navy Reserve offers different contract options and bonuses, including enlistment incentives for certain roles. A recruiter can break down what’s available.
- Prepare for Training – Boot Camp, A-School, and on-the-job training will test your physical and technical skills. Start studying for the ASVAB Mechanical Maintenance (MM) section now and get in shape before Boot Camp.
- Think Beyond Enlistment – The Navy Reserve isn’t just about serving; it’s about what comes next. Take advantage of FAA certifications, tuition assistance, and civilian career connections to set yourself up for long-term success.
If you want a career that blends technical skill, military service, and civilian opportunity, the Navy Reserve AM path is worth considering.
You might also be interested in other Navy Reserve enlisted jobs, such as:
