Navy AB Ratings: Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Jobs (2025)

This guide provides useful information for those who wish to join the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate during Fiscal Year 2025.

A Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (AB) is trained to handle, inspect, and maintain all types of aircraft aboard ships. They keep flight operations running, ensuring planes are fueled, equipped, and ready for launch at a moment’s notice.

What They Do

  • Fueling and handling aircraft before and after flights
  • Operating ground equipment used for aircraft movement
  • Inspecting and maintaining aircraft components (engines, fuselages, systems)
  • Cleaning and securing aircraft after operations
  • Performing general upkeep in aviation spaces

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Ratings

Navy ABH Rating_ Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Aircraft Handling - Featured 704X704

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Aircraft Handling (ABH)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mates—Aircraft Handling (ABH) directs the movement and spotting of aircraft on land and in the water; operate, maintain, and do organizational maintenance on ground-handling equipment used to move and hoist aircraft on land and in the water; supervise the securing of aircraft and equipment; perform crash rescue, firefighting, crash removal, and damage control; and do tasks related to launching and recovering aircraft.

Navy ABF Rating_ Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Fuels - Featured 704X704

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Fuels (ABF)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mates—Fuels (ABF) handle the operation, maintenance, and organizational upkeep of the aviation fuel and lubricating oil systems onboard CVNs, LHAs, LHDs, and LPDs; this includes refueling and lubrication service stations and pump rooms, their related piping systems, valves, pumps, tanks, and portable equipment.

Navy ABE Rating_ Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Launch and Recovery Equipment - Featured 704X704

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate—Launch and Recovery Equipment (ABE)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mates, Launching and Recovery Equipment (ABE) operate, maintain, and do repairs on steam catapults, barricades, arresting gear, and other related equipment on land and at sea. They also operate catapult hydraulic systems, retraction engines, water brakes, jet blast deflectors, deckedge and ICCS, and jet blast deflector control panels; arresting gear engines, sheave dampers, deck edge control station, and they also take care of aircraft by operating the equipment used to launch and land planes.

More Information

If you want more information about joining the Navy as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, the next logical step is to contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter.

Let us start figuring out how you can benefit from becoming an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate – or if it is even the right career move for you.

Hope you found this helpful to your career planning.

Ted Kingston
I’m a Navy veteran who used to serve as a Navy recruiter. This website is the most reliable source of information for all Enlisted Navy Sailor aspirants. In coordination with a network of current and former Navy recruiters, my goal is to make reliable information easily available to you so you can make informed career decisions.

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