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Marine Corps MOS · Aviation

61XX Aircraft Maintenance (Rotary-Wing)

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

Rotary wing aircraft maintenance mechanics inspect, maintain, test, and repair helicopter and tiltrotor airframes and their components. They also work on dynamic components, power plants, power plant systems, and flight line operations.

Core Skills

  • Helicopter and tiltrotor dynamic component repair
  • Aircraft powerplant inspection and testing
  • Rotary-wing flight line operations support

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Inspection, maintenance, testing, and repair of helicopter and tiltrotor airframes, dynamic components, and powerplants directly overlap civilian aircraft maintenance.

How to prepare: Assemble documentary evidence of your military maintenance experience for FAA evaluation toward Airframe and Powerplant ratings. Air carriers often require the certificate for hiring, although it is not an FAA regulatory requirement for every airline mechanic job.

What the civilian work involves
  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Access Software AIRPAX

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Military airframe and component inspection, testing, and repair transfer to checking and reworking aircraft assemblies in production.

How to prepare: Take a practical aircraft assembly course covering production blueprint interpretation, fastening, and fit checks.

What the civilian work involves
  • Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
  • Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
  • Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • SAP software

Training & Development

Choose credentials for your target role. COOL funding markers describe program listings, not a guarantee of eligibility or funding.

Getting Started

  • Mechanic (Airframe & Powerplant)

    Earn FAA Airframe and Powerplant ratings through the applicable experience or training route and knowledge, oral, and practical tests.

    Eligibility and preparation: Applicants must be at least 18 and able to read, write, speak, and understand English. The experience route requires 30 months concurrently performing duties appropriate to both ratings, or 18 months for a single rating. Alternative routes include graduation from an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School or completion of the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council training course.

    For: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

  • Certified Aerospace Technician Core

    Validate aerospace fundamentals in applied mechanics, test and measurement, materials and processes, and safety through written, oral, and practical assessment.

    Eligibility and preparation: Meet one route: active-duty or veteran military service with an aeronautical, aviation, aerospace, or engineering MOS, rating, or assignment; at least two years of work experience in one of those fields; a college or technical-school degree of at least two years in one of those disciplines; or an FAA Airframe & Powerplant Certificate.

    For: Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (6 documents)
  1. USMC COOL MOC feed: 61XX

    [1] data/authority/marine_corps-codes.json entry 61XX (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); NAVMC 1200.1L Summary section not located for this code

    Supports: Helicopter and tiltrotor dynamic component repair, Aircraft powerplant inspection and testing, Rotary-wing flight line operations support, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00), Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (O*NET 51-2011.00)

  2. O*NET: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00)

  3. FAA: Become an Aviation Mechanic

    [3] Requirements and mechanic experience requirements

    Supports: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00), Mechanic (Airframe & Powerplant)

    [5]COOL credential mapping: Mechanic (Airframe & Powerplant) · 61XX cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Mechanic (Airframe & Powerplant)

  4. O*NET: Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (O*NET 51-2011.00)

  5. COOL credential mapping: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

    [6] 61XX cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

    [8]SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.: Certified Aerospace Technician - Core Certification · Core Certification section; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

  6. SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.: Qualifications for SpaceTEC Certifications

    [7] Qualifications for SpaceTEC Certified Aerospace Technician Core; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

Defense contractor jobs for 61XX

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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