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Navy Rating · Aviation

AME Aviation Structural Mechanic, Safety Equipment

Current service use not established

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Overview

An Aviation Structural Mechanic specializing in safety equipment maintains ejection seats, canopy jettison components, and aircraft environmental control, fire extinguishing, oxygen, and life support systems. They inspect and install explosive devices and ejection seat components, service oxygen and nitrogen systems, and perform daily, preflight, postflight, conditional, and periodic aircraft inspections.

Minimum ASVAB: VE+AR+MK+AS 210 or VE+AR+MK+AO 210

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

  • Ejection seat and explosive device installation
  • Canopy assembly rigging and adjustment
  • Liquid oxygen and nitrogen system maintenance
  • Cabin pressurization and avionics cooling maintenance

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

AME experience maintaining aircraft oxygen, environmental control, and safety systems and performing periodic inspections transfers directly to aircraft systems maintenance.

How to prepare: Compile records of aircraft systems work for FAA evaluation of applicable mechanic experience, identifying any gaps in airframe or powerplant coverage. Air carriers often require a mechanic certificate for hiring, although it is not an FAA 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.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
  • Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Installing ejection seats and associated components and rigging canopy assemblies provides directly relevant experience for aircraft systems assembly and adjustment.

How to prepare: Practice reading production blueprints and assembly specifications, focusing on component fit and alignment rather than maintenance-only procedures.

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.

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

Maintenance of aircraft valves, control mechanisms, oxygen gauges, and regulators transfers to mechanical valve and regulator repair.

How to prepare: Take hands-on training in industrial valve disassembly and regulator testing to bridge from aircraft components to industrial equipment.

What the civilian work involves
  • Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
  • Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.

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)

    Pursue FAA certification for civilian aircraft maintenance positions that require airframe and powerplant ratings.

    Eligibility and preparation: Applicants must be at least 18 and able to read, write, speak, and understand English. The experience route requires 18 months of practical experience appropriate to one rating or 30 months concurrently performing duties appropriate to both ratings; alternatives include graduation from an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School or completion of the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council course. Knowledge, oral, and practical tests are required.

    For: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

  • Certified Aerospace Technician Core

    Validate aerospace technical knowledge and practical skills through written, oral, and practical evaluation.

    Eligibility and preparation: Meet any one route: active-duty or veteran military service in an aeronautical, aviation, aerospace, or engineering rating, MOS, 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 Mechanics and Service Technicians, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

  • ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

    Build exam-based knowledge of tool accountability, housekeeping, and material handling for aircraft maintenance and assembly work.

    Eligibility and preparation: No mandatory prior credential, education, or experience is required; AET certification is not a prerequisite for FOE.

    For: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (9 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol I (NEOCS, Jan 2026 edition): AVIATION STRUCTURAL MECHANIC (SAFETY EQUIPMENT) (AME)

    [1] Rating chapter "SCOPE OF RATING"; cached text line 8518; NAVPERS 18068F Vol I, 2026-01 edition

    Supports: Ejection seat and explosive device installation, Canopy assembly rigging and adjustment, Liquid oxygen and nitrogen system maintenance, Cabin pressurization and avionics cooling maintenance, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00), Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (O*NET 51-2011.00), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (O*NET 49-9012.00)

  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)

    [6]COOL credential mapping: Mechanic (Airframe & Powerplant) · AME 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. O*NET: Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

    [5] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (O*NET 49-9012.00)

  6. COOL credential mapping: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

    [7] AME cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

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

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

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

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

    Supports: Certified Aerospace Technician Core

  8. COOL credential mapping: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

    [10] AME cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

    [11]SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.: ASTM NCATT certification information, exam list, and FAQ · Background; Exams Offered (Aircraft Electronics Technician, AET Endorsements, Other ASTM NCATT exams); Frequently Asked Questions; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

  9. ASTM NCATT FOE Elements of Basic Awareness Study Guide (PDF, copyright 2022 ASTM International NCATT)

    [12] Scope (sec. 1) and Significance and Use (sec. 3); retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

Defense contractor jobs for AME

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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