Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM): Definitive Guide (2025)

This guide provides helpful information for those looking into joining the Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) during the Fiscal Year 2025.

Few people can say that they have worked on every part of a fighter jet. You are one of them because you are an Aviation Structural Mechanic. Keep a close eye on every system and piece of equipment in every Navy aircraft, from helicopters to the new F-35C Lightning II.

Everything, from the landing gear to the ejection system, needs to be checked every day and fixed right away. These skills can be used in the civilian world as well, and there are jobs available at every aviation organization, including NASA.

Job Description

Aviation Structural Mechanics (AM) are Navy enlisted Sailors who take care of an aircraft’s airframe and structural parts, flight surfaces and controls, hydraulic and pneumatic control and actuating systems and mechanisms, landing gear systems, and other utility systems.

Primary Responsibilities

Aviation Structural Mechanics make and fix metal and non-metal parts of aircraft. They keep planes in shape by repairing everything from fuselages to flight controls. Work is hands-on, physical, and can be anywhere—from a hangar to the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

They handle:

• Aircraft structures—wings, panels, tail booms, doors, seats (except ejection seats).
• Hydraulic systems—main, auxiliary, and emergency power.
• Landing gear—wheels, tires, brakes, and emergency gear.
• Pneumatic systems—hoists, winches, tail and wing folding systems, arresting gear.
• Routine inspections—daily, special, hourly, and conditional checks.

Where They Work

AMs go wherever the Navy needs them—land or sea. That means one tour you’re in a hangar and the next you’re on the flight deck of a carrier.

Expect:

• Loud environments—jets don’t whisper.
• Physical work—you’ll be moving, lifting, fixing.
• A tight-knit team—work isn’t solo. You rely on your crew.

Day-to-Day Work

As an AM Sailor, you might:

• Fix and maintain onboard systems—hydraulic pumps, auxiliary power units.
• Take care of landing gear, brakes, and pneumatics—big machines need strong parts.
• Inspect pressure tanks and emergency air bottles—no cutting corners on safety.
• Replace and repair hydraulic components—if it moves, you’ll be involved.
• Work on aircraft fuselage, wings, seats, wheels, and control mechanisms—keeping it all together.
• Install flight control surfaces—flaps, rudders, everything that makes planes fly.
• Fabricate and assemble metal parts—sometimes you have to build what you need.
• Perform preflight, post-flight, and routine checks—planes don’t take off without sign-offs.
• Choose to work as aircrew—on turbojets, helicopters, or propeller planes.

Different Roles

Aviation Structural Mechanic – Intermediate Level

• Oversees maintenance operations for:
  • Metallic & Non-Metallic Components
  • Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems
  • Tires, Wheels, Utility Systems, & Flight Controls
  • Corrosion Prevention on aircraft parts & equipment
• Performs Non-Destructive Inspections and welding

Aviation Structural Mechanic – Organizational Level

• Handles maintenance processes for:
  • Metallic & Non-Metallic Fuel Cell Components
  • Hydraulic, Pneumatic, & Utility Systems
  • Landing Gear & Flight Controls
• Focuses on corrosion prevention for Naval Aircraft

Rank Structure

Note: At the E-9 level, Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) merges with Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AD) under the title Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman (AFCM) to consolidate leadership across aviation maintenance ratings.

Salary and Benefits

Salary for the First 6 Years

Monthly pay for Navy enlisted Sailors (E-1 to E-6) in the first six years is laid out in the January  2025 Active Duty Pay chart:

Extra Pays and Allowances

Housing Allowance (BAH):
For members living off-base. Covers rent, based on rank, location, and if they have dependents.

Subsistence Allowance (BAS):
Enlisted get $465.77 monthly for food.

Hazard Duty Pay:
For dangerous jobs. Pays $150-$250 per month, depending on the job.

Sea Pay:
For those assigned to ships or deployed units. Depends on rank and time at sea, from $50 to $750 a month.

Special and Incentive Pays:
Bonuses for certain roles, like air traffic control or unique skills. These can be a few hundred to thousands per year.

Source: Figures are from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Benefits

• Healthcare: Active-duty personnel are eligible for free complete medical and dental treatment. Tricare programs are inexpensive for families to use.
• Housing Accomodation: Depending on location, rank, and family size, free on-base accommodation or a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) for off-base living are available.
• Food: Monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for food costs is known as the “food allowance.”
• Blended Retirement System (BRS): Conventional pensions are no longer available to active-duty personnel. Rather:
  • Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Up to 5% in government matching and automatic contributions.
  • Retirement Pay: After 20 years of service, you’re eligible for monthly payments according on the BRS formula, which combines TSP savings with a calculated pension.
• Education:
  • Availability of tuition assistance programs that pay for all or part of college tuition.
  • Support for higher education under the post-9/11 GI Bill.
  • Navy College Program to support education while on service.
• Life Insurance: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides coverage up to $500,000.
• Vacation: ten or more federal holidays plus thirty days of paid vacation each year.
• Extra Benefits:
  • Exchanges and commissaries provide tax-free purchasing.
  • Discounted travel via military resorts, access to fitness centers, and leisure amenities.

Training and Career Opportunities

Initial Training

After completing Boot Camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, you’ll report for specialized training, including:

• Class “A” Technical School(9 weeks, Pensacola, FL)
  • Covers: Basic aviation structural mechanics, aviation theory, and essential technical skills
  • Training Methods: Group instruction, classroom, and hands-on shop training

First Assignments

Once training is complete, you may be stationed at:

• Aviation squadrons
• Aircraft carriers
• Naval air stations
• Other aviation shore facilities in the U.S. or overseas

Each time you move to a new unit with different equipment, you will return to school for specialized training to stay up to date.

Advanced Training

• After “A” school, AMs attend either:
  • One-week Intermediate Level maintenance school
  • Three-week Organizational Level maintenance school
• Further “C” school training may be available later in your career
• Officer roles may be an option for those with leadership aspirations and a college degree

Post-Service Opportunities

The hands-on technical skills gained in this role translate directly to civilian careers in:

• Airlines & airports
• Aircraft manufacturing
• Aviation maintenance & structural repair

Career Overview

During a 20-year career, AMs typically spend:

• 50% of their time in fleet units (deployments, shipboard aviation, squadron operations)
• 50% at shore stations (repair facilities, training commands, support roles)

Qualifications to Join

To become an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM), you must meet the following qualifications:

Basic Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
• Security Clearance: Eligibility required

Skills & Traits

• Mechanical Aptitude – Comfortable using tools and equipment
• Attention to Detail – Ability to perform precise, repetitive work
• Record Keeping – Must be able to maintain accurate logs and documentation
• Teamwork – Works closely with others in high-pressure environments
• Physical Fitness – Requires strength, stamina, and manual dexterity

Physical Standards

• Normal color perception required (no exceptions)
• Normal hearing required (no exceptions)
• Good hand coordination
• Visual acuity must be correctable to 20/20 (Uncorrected vision must not exceed 20/100)

ASVAB Requirements (Waivers considered case-by-case)

• VE+AR+MK+AS = 210
• OR VE+AR+MK+MC = 210

General Qualifications

May vary depending on whether you:

• Are currently serving
• Have prior service experience
• Are enlisting for the first time

The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2025, 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 Structural Mechanic (AM), contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.

You may also be interested in the following related Navy Enlisted jobs:

• Aviation Structural Mechanic—Safety Equipment
• Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE)