Navy Officer Subspecialty · Aviation
15A0 Aviation Medicine
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Overview
Aviation medicine officers apply medical expertise to the health, performance, and readiness of aircrew and aviation personnel. They provide clinical care, manage aviation occupational health, evaluate flight fitness, and support operational risk management.
Core Skills
- aviation medical readiness
- aircrew fitness assessment
- occupational medicine
- aerospace physiology
- aviation mishap prevention
- environmental health risk management
- clinical patient care
- medical standards interpretation
- operational health advising
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- R
- SAS
- The MathWorks MATLAB
Civilian Career Paths
- Physician
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Commercial Aviation
Training & Development
Getting Started
- United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE)
- Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA)
- State Medical License (MD/DO)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
Career Growth
- Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Medical Examiner Authorization
- Board Certification in Aerospace Medicine
- Board Certification in Occupational Medicine (ABPM)
- Certified Medical Review Officer (MRO)
What the Work Involves
- Direct or manage prevention programs in specialty areas such as aerospace, occupational, infectious disease, and environmental medicine.
- Document or review comprehensive patients' histories with an emphasis on occupation or environmental risks.
- Supervise or coordinate the work of physicians, nurses, statisticians, or other professional staff members.
- Identify groups at risk for specific preventable diseases or injuries.
- Design or use surveillance tools, such as screening, lab reports, and vital records, to identify health risks.
Related Occupations
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Health Informatics Specialists
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a four-year degree or equivalent experience.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
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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