Navy Rating · Aviation
ABF Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Fuels
Overview
An Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Fuels operates and maintains aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems aboard ships and on air-capable platforms. The sailor services fuel farms and aircraft fueling equipment, monitors fuel quality, enforces handling precautions, and supervises firefighting, rescue, and damage control teams in assigned fuel spaces.
Core Skills
- fuel systems operation and monitoring
- preventive and corrective maintenance
- piping and valve system troubleshooting
- hazardous materials handling
- safety and environmental compliance
- pump and mechanical systems operation
- team coordination in high-risk environments
- equipment inspection and testing
- inventory and quality control of fuels
- emergency response support
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Operational databases
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Civilian Career Paths
- Facilities Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Warehouse Operations
- Environmental Engineering
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Certified Petroleum Apprentice (CPA): Level 1 · Funded
- ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)
- Certified Oil Monitoring Analyst: I (OMA-I) · Funded
- Certified Oil Monitoring Expert · Funded
- Level I Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA I)
Career Growth
- Certified Petroleum Craftsman (CPC): Level 4 · Funded
- Certified Petroleum Journeyman (CPJ): Level 2 · Funded
- Certified Petroleum Professional (CPP): Level 5 · Funded
- Certified Petroleum Specialist (CPS): Level 3 · Funded
- API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector
Also Common
- API 570 Piping Inspector
What the Work Involves
- Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
Related Occupations
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Wellhead Pumpers
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a high school diploma and some on-the-job training.
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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