Ratings come, ratings go, based on need. I remember all the tears when the
ALs had to start earning their money.

"Charlie Wolf" wrote in message
...
Well - in keeping with the recently posted NG charter for this joint,
I offer this up:

Do group members here think this is a good idea?? My days as an AW
(S-3A's & B's) concentrated on sub-hunting and aviation acoustic
analysis, ISAR RADR, MAD, et al. But merging the rating with mechs
and metal smiths seems to me is kinda broad-based.

What are the rating exams going to look like?

In my day, we had AW's in the following specialties:
- acoustic
- non-acoustic
- helo

This article would leave one thinking that the AW rating will now have
numerous sub-specialties; none of which are related to any of the
others, except that they all have gold wings and draw ACIP.

What is the current status of aviation ASW in the fleet today?

Is it even done anymore - even by P-3's?

When was the last time any AW's actually analysed any "grams"?

If there's anybody out there who is closer to the community than I am,
it would be interesting to hear from you.
Regards,


The following was in the latest Navy Times:

Career aircrew sailors merged into AW rating

By Mark D. Faram
Times staff writer


Navy officials approved the merger of all career aircrew sailors into
the Aviation Warfare Systems Operator rating May 2.
As a result, nearly 1,000 career helicopter enlisted aircrew sailors
currently in one of nine aviation maintenance ratings will be
automatically converted to AW by the end of December, unless they ask
not to.

The move will only involve those with one of six helicopter Naval
Enlisted Classifications.

It will have no effect on fixed wing enlisted aircrew . yet. That
could change in the next year, with a proposal being worked to merge
those sailors into the community.

"We need to have a professional enlisted aircrew cadre as the Navy
transitions into the multi-mission helicopters of the future," said
Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate (AW/NAC) Brad Hoel.

The merger grew from the Navy's decision to consolidate its helicopter
fleet from seven different aircraft to just two versions of the MH-60.

"With the work anticipated for the helo aircrew of the future, it was
just too much to expect these sailors to perform the warfare missions
while flying and then ask them to be maintainers as well," Hoel said.

With the shift to the MH-60 Romeo and Sierra airframes, Navy
helicopters will spend more time on war-fighting missions than hauling
supplies and mail.

Sierras are already in the fleet. The first few Romeos were delivered
to the Navy this year, and are expected to deploy aboard carriers by
2008.

The creation of a rating to handle all of the onboard aircrew duties
of the two airframes will mean better career progression and a greater
variety of billets for enlisted fliers.

Hoel said an advisory panel of senior enlisted aircrew will meet May
17 to begin the process of merging the fixed wing NECs into the
community as well.

"It wasn't part of the original plan, but now it only makes sense to
look at consolidating the entire community into a single rating," Hoel
said.

Training pipeline expanded

During the rating transition, those flying in jobs that are more
logistical than warfare-related won't be expected to cross-train.

"If they're in a fleet support squadron delivering supplies and mail,
this won't really do more than just change their title and rating
badge," Hoel said.

Still, the training pipeline is being expanded to handle more students
expected in the future.

The first advancement exam for the combined rating will be the January
2006 chief's test. Hoel said advancement tests have been rewritten to
reflect more of the aircrew portions of the rating.

The merger started in March, when career aircrew E-8s and E-9s were
converted to AW. Chiefs will convert in September, and the rest will
make the switch in December.

Sailors will be automatically converted to AW unless they opt out in
writing by July 31.

"If they don't want to convert, they must submit a form 1306 before
the deadline in July," Hoel said.

Those opting out of the switch will be taken out of the aircrew
program and get their next orders from the detailer in their current
source rating, he said.

"If they are in a critical specialty, they could be allowed to finish
their current assignment as aircrew and then revert to their source
rating after that," he said.

Also, anyone opting out will be allowed to continue wearing their gold
aircrew wings, Hoel said, although they will no longer be eligible for
career aircrew billets or enlisted aviation continuation pay.

Who's affected
The merger of helicopter aircrewmen into the Aviation Warfare Systems
Operator rating will affect sailors holding career aircrew Naval
Enlisted Classifications of 8205, 8211, 8207, 8215, 8225, 8226.

Sailors holding those NECs come from the nine aviation maintenance
"source ratings" previously designated as prerequisites for career
aircrew duty. Those ratings a

. Aviation machinist's mate.

. Aviation electrician's mate.

. Aviation ordnanceman.

. Aviation electronics technician.

. Aviation structural mechanic.

. Aviation structural mechanic (safety equipment).

. Aircrew survival equipmentman.

. Two compression ratings: aircraft maintenanceman and avionics
technician; E-9 aircrew in these ratings were converted to AW in
March.

More information is available in NavAdmin 092/05 at
http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLib...ils/092_05.htm.
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