mos.directory

Marine Corps MOS · Aviation

7521 Pilot VMFA FRS Basic F/A-18 Pilot

Current service use not established

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

Browse Marine Corps

Overview

A VMFA FRS Basic F/A-18 Pilot operates an electronics equipped fighter attack aircraft in all weather conditions, day and night. This pilot provides air defense and air support.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Core Skills

  • All-weather flight by day and night
  • Combined air defense and air support operations

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.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Operating an electronics-equipped fighter-attack aircraft in all weather, day and night, provides directly transferable aircraft-handling experience for airline flying.

How to prepare: Have your military flight records reviewed against FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) requirements to identify remaining flight-hour, training, and examination needs. Scheduled airline flight crews must hold ATP certificates, which require a commercial pilot certificate and federal age, flight-hour, and examination requirements; airline pilots typically also need a bachelor's degree.

What the civilian work involves
  • Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • AeroPlanner

Commercial Pilots

Day, night, and all-weather fighter-attack flying provides transferable piloting experience for unscheduled civilian flight operations such as charter flying.

How to prepare: Arrange a flight-record and proficiency review with a civilian flight-training provider to identify gaps toward a commercial pilot certificate. Certification requires the applicable flight experience and knowledge, plus written and practical flight examinations.

What the civilian work involves
  • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Aeronautical charts
  • AeroPlanner

Notes & Sources

  • Both flying paths require the applicable FAA ratings and medical qualification, with periodic physical and practical flight examinations.
Evidence for this guidance (4 documents)
  1. NAVMC 1200.1L (FY26, in force): MOS 7521

    [1] MOS 7521 section "a. Summary"; cached text line 18353; NAVMC 1200.1L signed 2025-03-07, in force until 2026-10-01

    Supports: All-weather flight by day and night, Combined air defense and air support operations, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (O*NET 53-2011.00), Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00)

    [2]NAVMC 1200.1L MOS 7521: Related SOC titles · MOS 7521 section "e. Related Standard Occupational Classification"

    Supports: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (O*NET 53-2011.00)

  2. O*NET: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (O*NET 53-2011.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: airline and commercial pilot duties and entry requirements

    [4] What They Do; How to Become One; Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; updated 2026-08-27, retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (O*NET 53-2011.00), Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00)

  4. O*NET: Commercial Pilots

    [5] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 7521

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

Report an error on this page