Summary
The Lead-MAJCOM for aircraft and mission set will determine the Special Mission Aviator (SMA) performance tasks as outlined in Master Training Tasks/Task Training Lists associated with Mission Design Series crew positions.
Mission types may include combat rescue, special operations, personnel recovery, mobility operations, nuclear security, domestic security, distinguished visitor transportation, firefighting, and geospatial intelligence collection.
Enabled by either rotary-wing, tiltrotor, or fixed-wing aircraft, the SMA performs a combination of legacy CEA duties including Flight Engineer, Loadmaster, Aerial Gunner, Sensor Operator, Combat Systems Officer, and other specialty skillsets.
The SMA can receive cargo/passenger load briefings, check the placement of cargo/passengers against aircraft limitations/restrictions, and determine the adequacy of cargo documentation.
Services aircraft with fuel, water, and hydraulics. Computes aircraft take-off and landing data/weight and balance. Demonstrates the use of aircrew flight equipment.
Performs aircrew functions and other mission-specific qualification duties, including personnel and equipment/cargo airdrop.
Performs in-flight refueling functions and activities. Monitors and operates complex aircraft instrumentation systems during flight, including engine and aircraft systems controls, panels, and indicators.
Employs airborne sensors to actively and/or passively acquire, track, and monitor airborne, maritime, and ground objectives. Operates and monitors various weapons systems.
Missions may require atypical aircraft configurations for penetration into hostile and denied territories undetected, utilizing night vision devices and terrain-following procedures. This may also involve other aircraft and operations on unprepared surfaces and runways.
To successfully operate in various mission and training environments, a SMA must possess a high degree of professionalism, discipline, attention to detail, knowledge, communication skills, and stress management.
Technical School
Days: 27
Locations: JBSA Lackland, Texas
Other Names
Aerial Gunner
Bonus
4-Year Bonus: None
6-Year Bonus: $5,000
Badge
Enlisted Aircrew Badge
Duty Identifier
CEA Duty Identifier
Clearance
Top Secret
Open Aptitude Category
Mechanical
AFSC Entry Requirements
Demographics
Males: 888
Females: 30
Total: 918
Community College of the Air Force Degree
Aviation Operations
CCAF Degree Plan
AFSC YouTube Videos
AFSC Reddit Posts
Duties and Responsibilities
Performs pre-flight, thru-flight, post-flight, and operational checks/inspection of aircraft electrical, propulsion, hydraulic, pneumatic, environmental, emergency and flight control systems in accordance with applicable flight manuals.
Computes and certifies aircraft performance/weight and balance data for takeoff, in-flight, cruise, and landing for mission execution. Configures aircraft in accordance with mission determination. Coordinates logistical support.
Operates and monitors engine and aircraft systems controls and indicators. Performs engine starts, and monitors run- up, flight operations, and engine shutdown.
Operates engine controls, aircraft systems, such as electric, communication, navigation, hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, air conditioning, pressurization, ventilation, and auxiliary power unit.
Observes aircraft systems, instrumentations, and warning indicators for malfunctions. Analyzes malfunctions, determines aircraft status/mission impact, and applies decisive actions in accordance with flight manuals, and applies risk mitigation to return systems within tolerable operation for mission success.
Maintains aircraft flight record and maintenance status forms, and records flight logs and reports. Performs non-scheduled minor aircraft maintenance, inspections, field repair, and servicing of fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid.
Operates and monitors in-flight refueling systems and operations. Performs flight testing and functional check flight following aircraft maintenance of aircraft system upgrades.
Manages/conducts/completes aircraft checklists for takeoff/landing, ground/air refueling operations, alternate insertion/extraction, military freefall, aerial gunnery, cargo loading, and aircraft malfunctions/emergency procedures.
Operates mission planning systems and software. Collaborates with crewmembers to generate mission plans through analysis and determination of fuel loads and mission requirements, plotting flight routes, considering airspeed, distance, method of navigation, altitudes, weather conditions, threats, and terrain.
Manages mission and advises crewmembers of ongoing mission status, aircraft capabilities, calculating time-on-target, changes to flight plans, and correcting deviations. Monitors the aircraft's altitude, airspeed, fuel consumption, weather/terrain-following radar information, and weapon/defensive systems status during all phases of flight.
Monitors adherence to, transmits and receives air traffic clearances, arrival/departure procedures, and joint force command and control mission directives. Performs inspections and operational checks of aircraft defensive systems according to flight manual procedures.
Identifies and counters air defense systems such as: radar, infrared, and optically guided surface-to-air missiles, antiaircraft artillery; operates radar jamming, chaff/flares, and directs aircraft evasive maneuvers to deceive/defeat potential threats.
Inspects and operates airborne communications, various sensor systems, radar, computers, Electronic Protection, and Electronic Warfare systems. Determines optimum airborne equipment settings based on computer-generated console situation and tabular displays.
Inspects and operates aircraft secure radios and sensor systems according to flight manual procedures. Loads classified operating parameters/cryptologic keys, troubleshoots, and operates radar frequency countermeasure systems, infrared countermeasure systems,
over the horizon threat/survivor advisory systems, missile warning systems, forward-looking infrared radar, satellite/frequency- hopping/secured communications systems and complex add-on mission systems that provide encrypted communications, full motion video and situational awareness suites.
Performs pre-flight visual inspections and operational checks of aircraft cargo/airdrop systems in accordance with applicable flight manuals.
Develops the cargo loading plan, considering the quantity, weight and configuration of the load, floor capacity, emergency jettison requirements, and proper location in the cargo compartment to achieve optimum center of gravity throughout the flight, reviews load plans and cargo documentation.
Determines and verifies passenger, cargo, fuel, and emergency and special equipment distribution and weight.
Loads cargo/vehicles/personnel, ensures restraint/security is provided to prevent shifting in flight and conducts air and ground infiltration and exfiltration operations to include aerial delivery of personnel and equipment and cargo sling operations.
Computes the proper positioning of the aircraft to drop cargo or personnel, considering conditions at the drop zone and parachute aerodynamics to determine release point in mission planning and in-flight.
Conducts cargo and personnel airdrops according to directives. Attaches extraction parachutes to cargo and platforms. Inspects cargo and platforms, extraction systems and connects static lines.
Checks tie downs, parachutes, containers, suspension systems, and extraction systems to ensure proper cargo extraction or release. Operates aircraft airdrop systems and supervises cargo and paratroopers exiting the aircraft.
Receives and signs receipts for and stows in-flight meals. Ensures availability of fleet service equipment and passenger comfort items.
Completes required aircraft forms documentation and border clearance requirements. Serves as the pilot's liaison interfacing with passengers, military support agencies
Performs pre-flight visual inspections and operational checks of aircraft weapons systems in accordance with applicable flight manuals. Performs in-flight maintenance of airborne weapons systems and associated equipment.
Applies decisive actions to restore malfunctioning systems to operational condition. Loads, operates, and positions crew-served weapons and ammunition types for a variety of aircraft.
Performs hot armament procedures, loading armament and pyrotechnics. Uses extensive knowledge of ballistic characteristics to ensure maximum economy of force and target effectiveness.
Performs pre-flight visual inspections and operational checks of alternate insertion/extraction, hoist, cargo sling and fire-fighting systems in accordance with flight manual procedures.
Acts as a day or night scanner, advising the crew of threats and obstacles during approach, landing, and hovering flight.
Clears path and directs the aircraft position changes to ensure safe landing/insertion/extraction over water, unprepared surfaces, confined urban areas, firefighting, aerial gunnery, and on ships underway.
Conducts/operates alternate insertion/extraction equipment to include fast rope, rope ladder, rappel systems and rescue hoist. Acts as a safetyman for personnel deployment and recovery operations with rappel, fast rope, rope ladder, boat-drop, and paradrop.
Specialty Qualifications
- Combat rescue, special operations, personnel recovery, mobility operations, nuclear security, domestic security, distinguished visitor transportation, firefighting, and geospatial intelligence collection.
- Aircraft systems to include electrical, communication systems, navigation, mechanical, hydraulic, flight control, pneumatic, fire suppression, environmental, and cabin pressurization.
- Using and interpreting diagrams and schematics.
- Flight theory and fixed/rotary-wing aerodynamics.
- In-flight maintenance.
- Aircrew flight equipment and oxygen use.
- Aircraft emergency procedures.
- Aircraft performance charts, loading charts, technical publications.
- Flight instructions/directives/procedures.
- Types, capacities, and configuration of transport aircraft
- Secure communications use (UHF, VHF, SATCOM, IFF).
- Cargo restraint techniques.
- Full motion video systems.
- Employment and care of ammunition and ammunition systems.
- Principles of weapons employment and ballistic factors
- Weapon malfunction analysis and repair; explosives safety.
- Methods of air navigation and air traffic procedures, airway routes and structures, oceanic routes, and use of navigational aids.
- Weather/atmospheric conditions.
- Terrain following/weather radar.
- Night vision devices.
- Parachute operations and airdrop operations procedures.
- Hot refueling and aerial refueling.
- Active and passive collection sensors.
- Forward looking infrared systems.
- Advanced countermeasures and threat detection systems.
For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or general educational development equivalency with course(s) in mechanics, mathematics, physics, computer principles, speech, and English is desired.
Completion of the following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- 1A113. Completion of Career Enlisted Aviator Preparatory School.
- Cross training students with no prior aviation service entering shreds B, C, F, and G should complete Career Enlisted Aviator Rotary-Wing Fundamentals Course (CEARF).
- 1A133. Completion of Initial Qualification Training for the assigned aircraft/crew-position and Initial Qualification Course and accompanying Certificate of Aircrew Qualification AF Form 8 in Mission Design Series.
The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- 1A153. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A133.
- Aircraft and performance weight and balance computations, aircraft records maintenance, and aircraft systems maintenance and inspections.
- Cargo restraint techniques.
- Communications.
- Current flying directives.
- Interpreting diagrams, loading charts, and applicable technical publications.
- border agency clearance requirements and publications.
- Operation of cargo loading equipment.
- Cargo and personnel airdrop techniques and equipment.
- Inspecting, operating, and troubleshooting aircraft and airborne sensor detection systems and weapons systems.
- Performing scanning duties.
- Using NVGs.
- Emergency equipment and in-flight emergency procedures.
- Certify and maintain Mission Ready (MR) and/or Combat Mission Ready (CMR) status.
- Experience and understanding in aviation organizational functions and shops to include Training, Tactics, Scheduling, and Evaluations.
- Special Missions Aviation activities.
- Types, capacities, and configuration of transport aircraft.
- Airdrop techniques.
- Weight and balance factors.
- Arithmetic.
- Emergency equipment and in-flight emergency. procedures.
- Personal equipment and oxygen use.
- Communications.
- Current flying directives.
- Interpreting diagrams, loading charts, and applicable technical publications.
- Border agency clearance requirements and forms.
- Cargo restraint techniques.
- Inspecting, operating, and troubleshooting airborne weapons systems.
- Performing scanner duties, NVG applications, ensuring safe and effective weapon employment, aircrew training and evaluation, and the accomplishment of all necessary reports and forms.
- Physical qualification for aircrew duty according to DAFMAN 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standard, Class III medical standards.
- Normal depth perception as defined in DAFMAN 48-123.
- Qualification for aviation service according to AFI 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Aviation Badges.
- Must maintain eligibility to deploy and mobilize worldwide.
- Height in accordance with DAFMAN 48-123 and as directed in the current Medical Standards Directory Section T.
- Specialty requires routine access to Tier 5 (T5) information, systems, or similar classified environments.
- Completion of a current T5 Investigation IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program.
- Must maintain local network access IAW AFMANs 17-1201, User Responsibilities and Guidance for Information Systems and 17-1301, Computer Security
- Must not be downgraded to Non-Mission Ready/Non-Combat Mission Ready (NMR/NCMR), or Unqualified (UQ) Status more than four periods in a Ready Aircrew Program cycle due to events under the aircrew member’s control.
Civilian Career Options
High Salary: $160,970
Low Salary: $43,570
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors: $53,610
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: $66,440
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: $160,970
- Aviation Inspectors: $78,400
- Avionics Technicians: $67,840
- Broadcast Technicians: $43,570
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment: $70,200
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $70,240
- Flight Attendants: $59,050
- Intelligence Analysts: $86,940
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists: $107,210
- Remote Sensing Technicians: $52,460
- Transportation Inspectors: $78,400
***This information was retrieved from Veterans Job Matcher at CareerOneStop (www.careeronestop.org), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Shreadouts
- 1A1X3A - AC-130J Gunner
- 1A1X3B - CV-22 Flight Engineer
- 1A1X3C - UH-1N/TH-1H Flight Engineer
- 1A1X3D - HC-130J Loadmaster
- 1A1X3E - MC-130J Loadmaster
- 1A1X3F - HH-60 Flight Engineer
- 1A1X3G - MH-139 Flight Engineer
- 1A1X3H - C-146 Loadmaster