Aircrew Rescue Swimmer & Navy Diver

SO OTHERS MAY LIVE

When disaster strikes, Aviation Rescue Swimmers dont hesitate-they jump. Into raging seas, hurricane winds, and combat zones, they go where others wont- to bring people back alive.

As part of the worlds most elite Special Operations force, Navy AIRRs execute life-or-death rescues in the most extreme conditions. Whether pulling survivors from sinking ships, saving downed pilots, or braving towering waves, they live by one mission: so others may live.

That motto isnt just a phrase-its a promise. And they prove it every time they leap into the unknown.

Enlisted None

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AVIATION RESCUE SWIMMER: CAREER DETAILS & REQUIREMENTS

Responsibilities

Aviation Rescue Swimmers are tasked with entering treacherous conditions to assist with rescue missions, humanitarian assistance, and operational support. One day you may be evacuating families on the other side of the globe amidst a catastrophic storm, and the next day rescuing the crew of a ship off the Pacific coast or saving a mountain climber hanging from an inaccessible cliff.

Depending on your role, duties may include:

Coordinating with pilots as an Air crewman aboard helicopters
Saving the crew of downed aircraft, people aboard stranded or capsized vessels at sea, or hikers and mountain climbers in danger
Rescuing civilians during natural disasters in collaboration with other forces such as the Coast Guard
Delivering aid and supplies to other countries in humanitarian operations
Providing support to Naval Special Warfare Operations
Conducting surveillance in anti-submarine warfare and drug interdiction operations
Operate radar, Forward Looking Infrared sensors, missile systems and door guns in anti-surface operations
Transporting troops and cargo to and from ships

In this role, you will specialize as a Naval Air crewman Helicopter (AWS) or a Naval Air crewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR).

Naval Air crewman Helicopter (AWS)

AWSs operate various aircraft systems to support a range of mission types including:

Surface Warfare
Search and Rescue
Combat Search and Rescue
Naval Special Warfare
Airborne Mine Countermeasure
Logistics

Naval Air crewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR)

AWRs operate various aircraft systems to support a range of mission types including:

Anti-Submarine
Recon & Intelligence
Anti-Surface Ship
Search and Rescue
Combat Search and Rescue
Naval Special Warfare Fire Support

Work Environment

As an AIRR, you will operate in almost every type of extreme environment and may be assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) or Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons (HSM) sea or shore duty in any part of the world. You could be assigned to squadrons at Naval Air Stations and may deploy aboard aircraft carriers, surface combat ships and support ships.

Training & Advancement

Aviation Rescue Swimmers must be prepared to operate in any challenging environment. Its why two years of training in advanced swimming and lifesaving techniques, helicopter mission equipment and helicopter weapons systems are required before you report to your first squadron. Throughout training, candidates are continually tested mentally and physically as they advance to more rigorous and challenging scenarios.

Upon completion of initial training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes (known as Boot Camp), those pursuing an Air crewman role undergo the following training pipeline:

Aviation Rescue Swimmer School Prep Course

(2 weeks) in Pensacola, FL.

Aircrew Candidate School

(4 weeks) in Pensacola, FL, to learn Naval Aviation fundamentals, intermediate water survival, aviation physiology and advanced water survival.

Rescue Swimmer School

(6 weeks) in Pensacola, FL, to learn search and rescue techniques.

Class "A" Technical School

(8-14 weeks) in Pensacola, FL, learning one of the Aircrew Ratings (AWF, AWO, AWS, AWR, AWV).

SERE School

(2 weeks) in North Island, CA, or Portsmouth, NH, to train in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) techniques.

Fleet Replacement Squadrons

(28-52 weeks) location dependent on aircrew rating in one of five locations (Jacksonville,…