Last Updated on November 16, 2023
This guide provides helpful information for those looking into joining the Navy as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE) during Fiscal Year 2024.
Navy planes have some of the most complicated electrical systems in the world, and as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, it is your job to know every single wire like the back of your hand.
Navy pilots and aircrew depend on you to get the wiring just right, whether you are fixing the wiring behind the landing gear or putting in the newest electrical panels in the cockpit.
If you are ready to learn, we are ready to teach you.
Job Description
Aviation Electrician’s Mates (AE) are Navy enlisted Sailors who maintain the aircraft’s electrical and instrument systems, including the hydraulic, landing gear, flight control, utility, and power plant engines, as well as the aircraft’s batteries, interior and exterior lighting, automatic flight control and stabilization systems, aircraft compass systems, and attitude reference systems.
Aviation Electronic, Electrical, and Computer systems professionals repair a wide range of aircraft electrical and electronic systems using some of the most advanced electronics equipment in the world.
Repair jobs can range from troubleshooting an F/A18 Hornet’s computer-controlled weapon system aboard an aircraft carrier’s flight deck to swapping circuit cards or tracing electrical wiring diagrams in an air-conditioned shop.
Most of these specialists have been trained in computers to support innovative equipment or in power generators and power distribution systems to assist aircraft electrical systems.
These Sailors are required to complete a general training course in basic electronics, following which they are evaluated to determine whether they should receive the Aviation Electrician (AE) rating or the Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) rating.
Whether assigned to AE or AT, the Sailor will troubleshoot and repairing a variety of advanced electronic systems, including digital computers; fiber optics; infrared detection; radar systems; electricity generation systems; laser electronics; navigation systems; communications equipment; electrical power distribution; pressure indication systems; electric transformers and circuits; testing aircraft instruments and systems; and electric transformers and circuits.
In this field, AEs will have jobs at sea and on land all over the world. At different times, they could work at an aircraft squadron on land or on an aircraft carrier. They could be inside or outside, in a shop or an office, at a clean lab bench or in a garage-like setting. They work closely with other people, need little supervision, and do technical mental and physical work.
Specific Responsibilities
AE Sailors oversee maintaining, testing, troubleshooting, and fixing complex electrical and electronic systems and instruments by using the latest test equipment and procedures. You may work on the following kinds of systems:
- Generators, transformers, and power distribution
- Lighting inside and outside
- Batteries, hydraulics, landing gear, and flight controls make up an airplane.
- Control, stabilization, attitude, and compass systems that work automatically
- Navigation systems for planes and ships
- Power plant engines
- Systems for showing and warning
- Computers with digital parts and fiber optics
- Using infrared and radar
- Laser electronics
- Communications equipment
- Transformers and circuits for electric power
- Motors
Different Roles
Aviation Electrician’s Mate Intermediate Level Technician
Intermediate-level Aviation Electrician’s Mate Technicians talk to Production Control and Quality Assurance work centers and follow the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP).
They maintain and check a wide range of equipment, such as electrical and electronic parts, batteries, inertial navigation units, test sets and electronic module test consoles, aircraft instruments, generators and generator power distribution equipment, and night vision goggles.
Technicians are also in charge of troubleshooting systems. They use critical thinking and deductive reasoning to figure out what electrical and electronic circuit schematics mean.
Aviation Electrician’s Mate Organizational Level Technician
Technicians at the Aviation Electrician’s Mate Organizational Level talk to Maintenance Control and Quality Assurance work centers and follow the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP).
They check, fix, troubleshoot, and maintain a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment, such as aircraft electrical systems, aircraft instrumentation equipment, equipment related to aircraft power plants, and equipment related to aircraft airframes.
Technicians also troubleshoot systems by using critical thinking and deductive reasoning to figure out what electrical and electronic circuit schematics mean.
Training and Promotion Opportunities
When you are done with basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, also known as “boot camp,” you will go to Class “A” Technical School (14 weeks) in Pensacola, Florida, for training in aviation theory and technical knowledge, aviation electrical systems, and electronics theory. This course involves group instruction.
Depending on your assignment, you may need to get more training. Before reporting on operational activities, AEs can expect to get specialized training on specific aircraft or equipment that is important to their job.
After you finish training, they may send you to naval air stations, squadrons, aircraft carriers, or other aviation facilities in the United States or abroad. As an AE, you can expect that about 60% of your jobs will be at sea and 40% at shore stations.
Promotions happen often, but they are competitive and based on how well you do your job.
Advanced Training
In the later stages of your career as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, you may also get more training. If you want to become a better leader and have a college degree, you may take on an Officer role, which gives you the chance to lead and train other people.
Qualifications to Join
To become an Enlisted Sailor or an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, you need a high school diploma or something comparable. To get a security clearance, you must also be a U.S. citizen.
If you want to be an AE, you should be interested in aviation and working with aircraft, as well as electrical and computer systems. You should be good at math, writing, and speaking, and you should be able to use tools, equipment, and machines to do precise work.
For the AE rate, you must go through a tough academic program in electronics, so you must be able to study well.
AEs need to be resourceful and be able to work well with other people and contribute to a team. You should also be in good shape and be able to hear and see colors normally.
The vision must be correctable to 20/20. Uncorrected visual acuity must not be more than that specified (i.e., 20/100) and must be correctable to 20/20 when required.
Whether you are currently serving, have served before, or have never served before can change the general requirements.
ASVAB Requirement
Applicants must score the minimum ASVAB score below to qualify to join the Navy as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate.
- AR+MK+MC+VE= 210; or
- VE+AR+MK+AO=210
The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2024, per the Navy Personnel Command. This information is not readily available to the public. So, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter for the most current requirements to join the Navy as an enlisted Sailor.
More Information
If you wish to learn more about becoming an Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE), contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.
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