Aviation Support Equipment Technician
Maintains ground support equipment used to service aircraft.
Overall
Quick Stats
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
Who This Is Best For
Best for mechanically inclined individuals who prefer working in hangars over flight decks. If you enjoy diesel and hydraulic mechanics and want transferable heavy equipment maintenance skills without the intensity of topside operations, this rate offers a calmer aviation career path.
+Pros
- ✓Strong civilian career transition
–Cons
Real Opinions
+Positive
“I would recommend AS to anyone considering it. The training is solid and the community takes care of its own.”
“Good training on diesel engines, hydraulic systems, and electrical troubleshooting. The work is varied — no two days are exactly the same because you maintain dozens of different types of support equipment. The certifications transfer to civilian jobs easily.”
“AS is a hidden gem for people who like working with their hands on ground support equipment. You maintain everything from tow tractors to hydraulic test stands. The skills transfer well to civilian heavy equipment and industrial maintenance careers.”
–Critical & Mixed
“Like any rate, AS has its downsides. Long hours, time away from family, and Navy bureaucracy are real.”
“AS is one of those rates nobody talks about because it's not glamorous. You're fixing tow tractors and generators while everyone else works on the actual aircraft. It can feel like you're invisible even though nothing moves on the flight line without your equipment working.”
“The workload is crushing during deployment. Every piece of ground support equipment has to be ready for flight ops, and when something breaks at 2 AM, you're the one getting called. The pace is relentless on a carrier.”
“The AS community is small, which means limited promotion opportunities. You work in hot, noisy environments around diesel exhaust and hydraulic fluid. The civilian job market recognizes the skills, but you have to explain what ground support equipment even is to most employers.”
Recruiter vs Reality
What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.
🫡 Recruiter says
“The AS 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 AS.
🫡 Recruiter says
“AS has great mechanical skills for civilian jobs.”
💀 Reality
Source: sailor forumsAS experience with hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical systems transfers well to industrial maintenance careers. Many AS transition to facilities maintenance or heavy equipment repair.
🫡 Recruiter says
“Aviation Support Equipment Techs maintain ground support gear.”
💀 Reality
Source: veteran feedbackAS maintains the equipment that supports aircraft on the ground: power carts, hydraulic test stands, air conditioning units. It is important work but you are not working on aircraft directly.
🫡 Recruiter says
“You'll be a critical part of the aviation team — no aircraft fly without the ground equipment you maintain.”
💀 Reality
"No air support without ground support" is literally true and literally how you will be treated — invisible until something breaks. You maintain tow tractors, hydraulic test stands, electrical power units, and air-conditioning carts that every squadron depends on, but you are almost never recognized for it.
🫡 Recruiter says
“You'll learn diesel and gasoline engines, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical systems — incredibly diverse skills.”
💀 Reality
The skill set is genuinely diverse and translates well to civilian heavy equipment, automotive, and industrial maintenance. This is actually undersold by recruiters. ASs who get out with documented experience and a CDL or diesel mechanic certification are in high demand.
🫡 Recruiter says
“A-school is 20 weeks and gives you comprehensive training on support equipment.”
💀 Reality
A-school is genuinely thorough — covers diesel engines, electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, refrigeration, and welding. But the gear you maintain at your command may be decades old and held together with creative field repairs. You will troubleshoot equipment that has no working technical manual.
🫡 Recruiter says
“You'll work with the latest ground support equipment technology.”
💀 Reality
Much of the Navy's support equipment inventory is old. You will become an expert at keeping aging tow tractors and gas turbine compressor units running far past their expected service life. The upside is you develop real troubleshooting skills that textbooks cannot teach.
🫡 Recruiter says
“AS is a solid rate with good advancement opportunities.”
💀 Reality
AS is a smaller rate, so advancement quotas can be tight. The SE Division is usually small — maybe 8-15 people — so standing out for your eval requires finding ways to be visible outside your immediate shop.
🫡 Recruiter says
“You'll support flight operations from the ground — an important but safer job than working on the flight deck.”
💀 Reality
You do work on the ground, but "safer" is relative. You work around heavy equipment, pressurized systems, hot engines, and forklifts. SE gear can weigh thousands of pounds. Also, when the flight deck needs SE support, you go to the flight deck.
Training Pipeline — Total ~16 weeks (4 months)
Ship Date Calculator
Enter your MEPS ship date to see when you'll complete each stage.
Promotion SpeedEarn higher pay fasterAverageManning 89%
| Cycle (Year) | Eligible | Selected | Promotion % |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-4252-Spring(2024) | 195 | 76 | 39% |
| E-4252-Fall(2024) | 201 | 82 | 41% |
| E-5252-Spring(2024) | 146 | 18 | 12% |
| E-5252-Fall(2024) | 47 | 63 | 134% |
| E-6252-Spring(2024) | 59 | 19 | 32% |
| E-6252-Fall(2024) | 97 | 23 | 24% |
Bonuses — Click here to see your military pay
Enlistment Bonus
No active bonus for this rate
You May Qualify for a Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC)
Specialties within this rate you can select, some with additional compensation. Each NEC has its own training, bonus potential, and career path.
Primary specialty code for Aviation Support Equipment Technician rating
Advanced specialty code for experienced Aviation Support Equipment Technician personnel
Potential Civilian Post-Navy Outcomes
Ground Support Equipment Mechanic
Transferability: 6/10
$38k–$58k
Lifestyle6/10
Ship vs. Shore Split
40% / 60%
Deployment Frequency
Moderate
Physical Demand
medium — mixed
Watch Standing
Flight schedule dependent, rotating duty days
Watch standing is a 24-hour duty rotation where sailors take turns manning critical positions aboard the ship or at their command. The rotation determines how frequently you stand watch and how much rest time you get between shifts.
Watch qualifications vary by command and platform. Expect to qualify within 90 days of reporting.
Common Duty Stations
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Schools + spouse jobs
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Avg waitlist for on-base
95
100 = national avg
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Schools + spouse jobs
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Avg waitlist for on-base
135
100 = national avg
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Schools + spouse jobs
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Avg waitlist for on-base
92
100 = national avg