AMEAviation Structural Mechanic – Equipment(AME Navy Rating)
Maintains and repairs aviation life support equipment, ejection seats, and environmental systems on Navy aircraft.
Overall
Quick Stats
- ✓Vision: Corrects to 20/20
- ✓Normal color perception
- ✓Normal hearing
Security Clearance
Secret~$3K–$15K civilian sector value
Requires a National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). Processing typically takes 1–3 months and is initiated early in your training pipeline.
ASVAB Requirements
AFQT Minimum
31
Line-score options — meet any one
Who This Is Best For
Best for meticulous, safety-obsessed individuals who want a specialized niche where attention to detail literally saves lives. If you take pride in perfect work and want skills few others possess, this rate offers a unique position within naval aviation with strong transfer potential to aerospace safety engineering.
+Pros
- ✓Strong civilian career transition
–Cons
Real Opinions
+Positive
“I would recommend AME to anyone considering it. The training is solid and the community takes care of its own.”
“Great hands-on training working with hydraulics, pneumatics, and aircraft structures. AME gives you real mechanical skills that transfer directly to civilian aerospace jobs. The feeling of fixing something that keeps pilots safe is genuinely rewarding.”
–Negative & Mixed
“Like any rate, AME has its downsides. Long hours, time away from family, and Navy bureaucracy are real.”
“The work is physically demanding — you're crawling into tight spaces, working with hazardous materials like composites and solvents, and standing on your feet for 12+ hours during deployment. The chemical exposure concerns are real and leadership doesn't always prioritize proper PPE.”
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0 charsRecruiter vs Reality
What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.
🫡 Recruiter says
“The AME rate offers great training and career advancement opportunities!”
💀 Reality
Source: MyNavyRates researchTraining and advancement are available but vary by command and manning. Ask specific questions about sea/shore rotation, typical duty stations, and advancement rates for AME.
🫡 Recruiter says
“AME is one of the safest aviation rates.”
💀 Reality
Source: sailor forumsAME works in shop environments rather than the flight deck, which is safer. But the pressure of maintaining life-critical equipment creates its own stress.
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Horror Stories
Real stories people have shared about this rate. Swipe to browse.
“At an air show, a 7-year-old climbed into an S-3 Viking with its ejection seat not disarmed. The seat fired, launching the child through the canopy. He died two days later. 21 bystanders injured. The Navy had failed to safe the seat — the exact thing AMEs are trained to prevent every day.”
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Guides on picking a rate, ASVAB, bonuses, promotion, and life after the Navy.
Getting Started
How do you choose the right Navy rate for you?
Choosing a Navy rate means weighing your ASVAB scores, lifestyle preferences, civilian career goals, and willingness to deploy or go to sea. Start by identifying which ratings you qualify for, then narrow the list by what matters most to you.
Getting Started
What is the ASVAB and what scores do you need?
The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test that determines which Navy ratings you qualify for. Your sub-test scores combine into line scores, and each rating has minimum line-score requirements. Higher scores open more options.
Career & Pay
Which Navy rates have the biggest enlistment bonuses in 2026?
Active Component (Active Duty) only. Per the CNRC GENADMIN dated 24 July 2026, the biggest source-rate bonus is $40,000 — Nuclear Field on FY26 ship dates ($75,000 EB cap). Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB) follows at $35,000, then EOD and SEAL (SO) at $30,000, and Aviation Rescue Swimmer (AIRR) and Cryptologic Technician Maintenance (CTM) at $25,000. Special Operations Future Sailors who clear the elevated PST standards add a flat $20,000 EBPST. Most rates cap at $50,000 total EB. The Loan Repayment Program adds up to $65,000 on top, separately. Reserve component (SELRES) bonuses are governed by a different message and are not covered here.