Enlisted Combat Aviation Advisor

What does an Enlisted Combat Aviation Advisor do?

This classification identifier facilitates functional management, force development; planning, programming, budgeting, execution; and assignment of enlisted Combat Aviation Advisors (CAA). This special duty description covers enlisted CAAs that are fully qualified team members able to serve in a Unit Type Code (UTC) as part of an Operational Aviation Detachment (OAD). CAAs are special operations airmen assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). NOTE: An OAD is a 16-person team composed of airman from multiple occupations to include special mission aviators, loadmasters, sensor operators, SERE Specialists, communications, security forces, aircrew flight equipment, maintenance, intelligence, medics, and Tactical Air Control Party.

Duties and responsibilities

• Performs special operations activities by/with/through foreign aviation forces in support of combatant commander’s regional objectives.
• CAAs, organized into OADs, assess, train, advise, and assist foreign aviation forces in tactical and operational-level airpower integration and operationalization.
• CAAs can mission plan, execute, and recover in a variety of scenarios with little to no assistance, accomplishing this within legislative and military guidance.
• CAA OAD teams generally deploy and operate alone in hostile, uncertain, and denied environments.
• Through AFFOR, TSOC, SCO, and MAJCOM staff, CAAs coordinate plans and synchronize activities to provide CCDRs a resource optimized approach to achieving objectives by working with and through partner aviation security forces.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: Foreign Internal Defense, Security Force Assistance, Unconventional Warfare; demonstrated intercultural competency.

• Member must be fully qualified 5 or 7 level in one of the following AFSCs: 1A2, 1A8, 1A9, 1T0, 3P0, 1P0, 2A5, 2A6, 1N0, 1N1, 1N7, 1U0, 1Z3, 2T2, 3D0, 3D1, 4N0, 1C4

Education. Not used.

Training. Completion of the following are mandatory for award of this SDI:

• Combat Aviation Advisor Mission Qualification Course (CAAMQC) and associated pipeline consisting of:
• Initial Skills Training
• Initial language training and/or demonstrated language proficiency IAW USSOCOM D350-08 (ILR 1/1/1)
• AFSC-specific training to include flight training for aircrew. May involve specialized non-USAF aircraft training and qualification.

Experience. CMR completion IAW AFSOCMAN10-4301v1.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• CAA Application submission screened by CAA Cell.
• Must meet requirements listed in AFSOCMAN10-4301v1, CAA Training.
• Must possess skills and knowledge to complete tasks listed in USSOCOM M350-35, SOFBIS SFA Training Standards
• Specialty may require routine access to Top Secret material. For award and retention of SDI, completion, and favorable adjudication of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) or Top-Secret Periodic Reinvestigation according to current USAF and DoD policy, if indicated
• For retention, must maintain language proficiency (ILR 1/1/1)
• For retention, must maintain currency in CAA AFSC-specific MTTL
• Must be E-5 or above

Utilization Note:

• Award of this SDI is only authorized when an airman has completed award requirements. When the member is qualified as an 8LX, the SDI is awarded and will remain in the secondary, third, or fourth position IAW AFMAN 36-2100, unless the member is disqualified from the SDI then it will not remain as an awarded AFSC. Do not alter primary, control, or duty AFSCs with this SDI.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $63,080–$128,020 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Intelligence Analysts: $86,280
• Political Scientists: $128,020
• Public Relations Specialists: $67,440
• Training and Development Specialists: $63,080