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Navy Rating · Aviation

ABE Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Launching and Recovery Equipment

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

An Aviation Boatswain's Mate specializing in launching and recovery equipment operates and maintains aircraft catapults, barricades, arresting gear, and associated equipment ashore and afloat. The specialist also operates hydraulic systems, retraction engines, water brakes, control stations, and other supporting equipment while handling aircraft on the flight deck.

Minimum ASVAB: VE+AR+MK+AS 161

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: milpersman-1306-618-rating-list-2026-04 (source date 2026-04). Policy applicability has not been established.

See if you would hit this score: free ASVAB practice test

Core Skills

  • Catapult hydraulic and water brake operation
  • Electromagnetic launch and advanced arresting equipment maintenance
  • Integrated catapult and deckedge control operation

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.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Maintenance of catapults, arresting gear, and associated machinery transfers directly to maintaining industrial mechanical equipment.

How to prepare: Build a maintenance work portfolio that maps your launch and recovery equipment experience to the machinery and component-repair duties in industrial maintenance openings.

What the civilian work involves
  • Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
  • Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
  • Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • SAP software

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Operating catapult hydraulic systems and maintaining launch and recovery machinery provides a mechanical foundation for work on mobile heavy equipment.

How to prepare: Take a hands-on heavy-equipment maintenance course covering mobile hydraulic components and post-repair operational testing.

What the civilian work involves
  • Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
  • Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
  • Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Maintenance management software
  • Recordkeeping software

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol I (NEOCS, Jan 2026 edition): AVIATION BOATSWAIN’S MATE (EQUIPMENT) (ABE)

    [1] Rating chapter "SCOPE OF RATING"; cached text line 3557; NAVPERS 18068F Vol I, 2026-01 edition

    Supports: Catapult hydraulic and water brake operation, Electromagnetic launch and advanced arresting equipment maintenance, Integrated catapult and deckedge control operation, Industrial Machinery Mechanics (O*NET 49-9041.00), Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (O*NET 49-3042.00)

  2. O*NET: Industrial Machinery Mechanics

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Industrial Machinery Mechanics (O*NET 49-9041.00)

  3. O*NET: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (O*NET 49-3042.00)

Defense contractor jobs for ABE

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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