As the title implies, Naval Aircrewmen (AW) serve aboard fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft, which in and of itself adds excitement to an already important job. But Sailors in the service rating of Aircrewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR) are likely to find each outing seasoned with a bit of extra adrenaline because they are the only AWs tasked with “weapons delivery.” For the layman, that means unleashing some type or ordnance on a target.
There are actually five jobs in the AWR service rating comprising the Aircrew Readiness Manager and four Tactical positions: Aircrew Watch Officer, Multi-Sensor Operator, Systems Operator, and Operations Center Analyst (also called a Mobile Tactical Operations Center Analyst). And it’s the Tactical Multi-Sensor Operator that is tasked with weapons delivery.
But of course the odds of that happening are rather slim (and hopefully stay that way for a good time to come). Other duties of the Multi-Sensor Operator include coordination of communications during tactical missions, handling ordnance, and operating the electronic sensors that detect, classify, track, and analyze any contacts (whether airborne, on the surface, or subsurface). Additionally, the Multi-Sensor Operator oversees transportation of cargo and passengers, manages vertical replenishment missions, conducts Medical Evacuations (MEDEVACs), and performs Search-and-Rescue (and Combat Search-and-Rescue) missions. Search-and-Rescue and Combat Search-and-Rescue missions are also performed by the service ratings of Naval Aircrewmen Operators (AWO) and Naval Aircrewmen Helicopters (AWS).
Related Items
Naval Aircrewman (AW) Rating Badge
CWO Aviation Operations Technician Hard Shoulder Boards
CWO Aviation Operations Technician Soft Epaulets
CWO Aviation Operations Technician Sleeve Device
CWO Aviation Operations Technician Collar Device