MILPERSMAN 1220-010

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MILPERSMAN 1220-010

AIRCREW AND AVIATION RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAMS

Responsible

Office

BUPERS-32

Phone: DSN

COM

FAX

882-2074

(901) 874-2074

882-2041

MyNavy Career Center

Phone: Toll Free

E-mail:

MyNavy Portal:

1-833-330-MNCC (6622)

askmncc@navy.mil

https://my.navy.mil/

________________________________________________________________

References

(a) (a) CNAF M-3710.7 of July 2017

(b) (b) SECNAVINST 5510.30C

(d) (d) BUPERSINST 1326.4E

1. Background. The Aircrew (AIRC) and Aviation Rescue Swimmer

(AIRR) Programs provide opportunities for recruits and fleet

personnel to become career enlisted aircrew. This article

applies to Active Component (AC), full-time Support (FTS), and

Selected Reserves (SELRES) personnel. AIRC and AIRR Programs

are 6-year obligation advanced technical fields that guarantee

class “A” school, as well as follow-on advanced schools (Naval

Aircrewman Mechanical (AWF), Naval Aircrewman Operator (AWO),

Naval Aircrewman Tactical Helicopter (AWR), Naval Aircrewman

Helicopter (AWS), or Naval Aircrewman Avionics (AWV)) for

recruits. Applicants must volunteer for flying duty (see

MILPERSMAN 1220-020), be capable of performing swim

qualifications per reference (a), and pass an aviation flight

physical.

2. Qualifications Required

a. Age. Applicants must be 30 years of age or less at the

time of enlistment or reenlistment. Waivers for AC, FTS, and

SELRES fleet volunteers will be considered by Bureau of Naval

Personnel (BUPERS) Aviation Enlisted Community Manager (ECM)

(BUPERS-323) or SELRES ECM (BUPERS-352), respectively, on a case-

by-case basis. Initial accession age waivers will be considered

by Navy Recruiting Command (NAVCRUITCOM) AIRR Program Manager

(N323) on a case-by-case basis.

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b. Physical Conditioning. AIRC and AIRR are high risk and

physically demanding programs that require above average

physical fitness standards and strong swimmer skills.

Applicants must pass the Navy physical fitness assessment (PFA)

with a grade of “satisfactory” in all categories prior to

commencement of Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS). Service

members must pass a PFA with a "good" in all categories for

their respective age and gender to graduate from NACCS.

Additionally, this same standard must be maintained throughout

the aircrew training cycle. Non-swimmers cannot successfully

complete the program; therefore, they should not apply.

c. Security Clearance Required. Applicants must be

adjudicated and be able to maintain a secret security clearance.

Some billets may require a “top secret/sensitive compartmented

information” security clearance and or Personal Reliability

Program (PRP) as specified in reference (b).

d. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Applicants must meet ASVAB requirement per current ASVAB naval

message.

3. AIRC and AIRR Statements of Understanding for Initial

Accessions. ALL initial accession applicants applying for the

AIRC must read and sign the Aircrew Program Statement of

Understanding (exhibit 1) via NAVPERS 1070/613 Administrative

Remarks entry. All initial accession applicants applying for

AIRR must read and sign the Aircrew Program Statement of

Understanding and the Aviation Rescue Swimmer Program Statement

of Understanding (exhibit 2) via NAVPERS 1070/613 entry.

Classifiers must sign as witness, per reference (c), as part of

the applicant’s enlistment process. This document must be filed

in the enlistment package forwarded to Recruit Training Command

(RTC) when Service member is shipped. AIRR initial accession

applicants must pass a physical screening test as per MILPERSMAN

1220-410.

4. AIRC and AIRR Statements of Understanding for Fleet

Accessions. ALL fleet volunteers and those converted or

reclassified into AIRC must read and sign the Aircrew Program

Statement of Understanding on NAVPERS 1070/613 entry. All

fleet volunteers and those converted or reclassified into the

AIRR must read and sign the Aircrew Program Statement of

Understanding and the Aviation Rescue Swimmer Program Statement

of Understanding via NAVPERS 1070/613 entry.

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5. Service School Assignments. For all applicants, the AIRC and

AIRR provide assignment to a class “A” and or “C” school (as

applicable) in any of the career aircrew source ratings listed

below. The specific training assigned is based on the Service

member's qualifications, personal desires, and needs of the Navy.

Career Aircrew Source Ratings

(new accessions and fleet volunteers)

AWF, AWO, AWR, AWS, AWV

Non-Career Aircrew Source Ratings (fleet

volunteers only and assigned

flight orders as per reference (d))

Cryptologic Technician

Interpretive, Cryptologic

Technician Technical,

Cryptologic Technician

Collection, Hospital

Corpsman, Culinary

Specialist, Mass

Communications Specialist

6. Training Cycle. The training pipeline for all aircrew

candidates is:

a. RTC;

b. NACCS, Pensacola;

c. Aviation Rescue Swimmer School (ARSS), Pensacola (rescue

swimmers only);

d. Class “A” School, Pensacola (if required);

e. Fleet replacement squadron (FRS) at various locations,

or class “C” school, Fort Worth (FTS/SELRES only); and

f. Initial assignment to include follow-on in-flight

training.

7. Terms of Enlistment. Applicants enlist in the U.S. Navy as

AC, FTS, and SELRES for 4 years and concurrently execute NAVPERS

1070/621 Agreement to Extend Enlistment or NAVPERS 1070/622,

Agreement to Recall or Extend Active Duty for 24 months using

the following narrative for entry:

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“Training in the Aircrew Program and accelerated advancement

to pay grade E-4 per MILPERSMAN 1220-010. Accelerated

advancement to E-4 is authorized only after successful

completion of NACCS, class “A” school and fleet replacement

squadron training. I understand that this extension becomes

binding upon execution and may not thereafter be cancelled,

except as provided for in MILPERSMAN 1160-040.”

NAVPERS 1070/621 or NAVPERS 1070/622 must be executed on the day

Service member is enlisted (initial accession). Fleet applicants

must obligate 5 years per MILPERSMAN 1306-618.

8. Apprenticeship and Pay Grade

a. Individuals accepted into the AIRC or AIRR who

successfully complete FRS training or follow-on in-flight

training and are awarded the appropriate aircrew Navy enlisted

classification (NEC) code are authorized accelerated advancement

to pay grade E-4 per reference (c).

b. New accessions accepted for AIRC and AIRR must be

enlisted at pay grade E-1. This is not to preclude enlistment at

pay grade E-2 or E-3 per reference (c). Fleet applicants are

accepted in present pay grade.

c. If a Service member is disqualified from aircrew duties

prior to advancement to pay grade E-4, eligibility for

accelerated advancement to E-4 is terminated. This must not

preclude advancement to E-2 or E-3 based on normal advancement

criteria.

d. Accelerated advancement to pay grade E-4 requires a

6-year total active duty obligation. If a Service member is

reduced in rate subsequent to accelerated advancement to E-4,

there is no reduction in active obligated service.

e. Time in rate requirement is waived for accelerated

advancement to pay grade E-4.

9. Disqualification and Disenrollment

a. Those who fail to remain qualified for this program will

be disenrolled from aircrew training per reference (d).

Applicants must be specifically counseled if they attrite, drop

on request (DOR), request removal from flight status, refuse a

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set of aircrew orders, non-volunteer for any other reason per  
reference (d), or are found not desirable for continuation in the 
Aircrew Program. 
 
    b.  Cancellation of extension of enlistment for 
disenrollment from AIRC and AIRR must be executed per MILPERSMAN 
1160-040 and 1510-030. 
 
    c.  Applicants advanced to E-4 who subsequently attrite do 
retain their extension obligation. 
 
    d.  Aircrew and aviation rescue swimmer personnel who are 
permanently disqualified after being rated for flying duties and 
fail to meet all training requirements must be revoked “duty 
involving flight as a crewmember (DIFCREW)” or removed from the 
program per reference (d).  In addition, members must submit a 
forced conversion package per MILPERSMAN 1440-011 within 30 days 
of receipt of revocation message. 
 
    e.  Sailors having executed orders for conversion who 
subsequently fail to complete the formal training required for 
conversion may be processed for separation per MILPERSMAN 1910-
133. 
 
    f.  Fleet accessions or fleet air warfare qualified Service 
members (i.e., AWF, AWO, AWR, AWS, or AWV) disqualified for 
medical reasons must submit a forced conversion package per 
MILPERSMAN 1440-011.  If Service member is within one 3-year tour 
of Fleet Reserve eligibility, the ECM may, on a case basis, 
retain Service member in rating to meet Fleet Reserve 
eligibility requirements.  Service member must submit Fleet 
Reserve request 18 months for E-6 and below and 24 months for   
E-7 through E-9 prior to 20-year mark.  If Service member fails 
to apply for the Fleet Reserve, Service member must submit a 
forced conversion package per MILPERSMAN 1440-011 within 30 days 
of the 18 or 24 month mark. 
 
    g.  DOR, AIRC, and AIRR are volunteer programs.  Per  
reference (d), participants must sign NAVPERS 1070/613 entry 
stating “I Volunteer to Fly.”  A DOR, at any time during training 
(e.g., military entrance processing station, RTC, NACCS, ARSS, 
class "A" school, FRS, or any subsequent training thereafter), 
is cause for disqualification and disenrollment from AIRC and 
AIRR. 
 
 

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h. Admitted pre-service drug use must be processed per

MILPERSMAN 1306-618 and be considered case-by-case by the ECM as

to whether or not the Service member will be disqualified.

i. Applicants must pass an official or mock Navy PFA with a

“good” in all categories for their respective age and gender

prior to graduation from each phase of their training cycles.

Service members who fail to maintain a “good” in all categories

for their respective age and gender throughout the aircrew

training cycles will be disenrolled from aircrew training per

reference (d).

j. Sailors who have been successfully pre-screened and

interviewed for billets under PRP and do not volunteer for PRP

duties at any time when assigned to a valid PRP billet must be

revoked DIFCREW or removed from the program per reference (d).

10. Disposition of Service Members Disenrolled

a. AIRC and AIRR are voluntary programs, participants may

be disenrolled or may DOR at any time. Service members must

submit a forced conversion package, per MILPERSMAN 1440-011,

within 30 days of receipt of revocation message.

b. Service members revoked DIFCREW or disenrolled from the

program for any reason will not be eligible for reinstatement

for 24 months. Reinstatement will be considered by BUPERS-323

for AC or BUPERS-352 for FTS/SELRES on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, Service members who do not volunteer to fly will

not be eligible for reinstatement per reference (d).

c. Process disenrolled personnel as follows:

(1) RTC. Use NAVCRUITCOM reclassification guidance.

(2) NACCS. NACCS attrites will be disqualified from

AIRC and AIRR and made available to meet the “needs of the

Navy.” New accessions are reclassified per MILPERSMAN 1236-020;

however, assignment to class “A” school is not guaranteed.

(3) ARSS. Service members disenrolled from ARSS

training are not eligible for automatic advancement to E-4 and

will not be retained in the Aircrew Program. Service members who

fail to complete the school for academic reasons will be

disqualified from AIRC and AIRR and made available to meet the

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needs of the Navy. New accessions must be reclassified per

MILPERSMAN 1236-020; assignment to class “A” school is not

guaranteed.

(4) Class "A" School and FRS. Service members who fail

to complete class “A” school or FRS for academic reasons are

disqualified from the AIRC and will be made available to meet

the needs of the Navy. New accessions are reclassified per

MILPERSMAN 1236-020.

(5) All aircrew-related NECs must be administratively

removed by Navy Personnel Command (NAVPERSCOM) Aviation

Distribution Branch (PERS-404) via NAVPERSCOM Enlisted Placement

Management Branch (PERS-4013) for Service members who fail to

meet all training requirements. For suspension and revocation

procedures for disqualified career enlisted flyers and non-

career aircrew refer to reference (d).

(6) Aircrew members who are not physically qualified or

DIFCREW-revoked are not eligible for participation in a Navy-

wide advancement exam, consideration by an advancement selection

board, or advancement in any naval aircrew rating. Service

members who have requested a waiver of medical standards by the

Naval Aerospace Medical Institute will remain eligible for

advancement until adjudication of waiver request.

11. Application Submission

a. Fleet AIRC and AIRR applicants submit an application

through use of a NAVPERS 1306/7 Electronic Personnel Action

Request to ECM BUPERS-323 for AC or BUPERS-352 for FTS/SELRES

via their commanding officers, citing this article as a

reference.

b. Include in the application package:

(1) Flight physical,

(2) Second class swim qualification,

(3) Physical screening test for AIRR, per MILPERSMAN

1220-410, for AIRR candidates,

(4) Last two evaluations (Service member must have at

least 3.0 on all performance evaluation traits and have been

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recommended for retention as “promotable” or higher within the

past 24 months),

(5) ASVAB scores,

(6) Signed copies of the Aircrew and Aviation Rescue

Swimmer Statements of Understanding for AIRR and signed copy of

Aircrew Statement of Understanding for AIRC,

(7) Score “good” in all categories for their respective

age and gender on most recent PFA,

(8) Secret security clearance, and

(9) Have no non-judicial punishment in the past 24

months.

Note: AIRR/rescue swimmer candidates must sign the Aircrew

and Aviation Rescue Swimmer Statements of Understanding.

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Exhibit 1

Aircrew Program Statement of Understanding

(Use proper letter format containing the following)

“[DATE]: I, [Service member's name], am volunteering for the Aircrew Program. I

understand the following concerning rigorous physical requirements of the

Aircrew Program:

1. I am volunteering for aircrewman duty, which necessarily includes naval

aircrewman candidate school. If I voluntarily disenroll from training as an

aircrewman student, I will no longer be eligible for further aircrew training.

Initial: _____

2. I can swim. Initial:

3. I must pass the Navy physical fitness assessment (PFA) with a

"satisfactory" in all categories to enter aircrew school. Initial:

4. I must meet the following minimum physical fitness requirements to

graduate from aircrew school:

a. Be able to perform extensive daily calisthenics.

b. Pass a Navy PFA with a "good" in all categories for my age and gender.

c. Swim:

(1) 1 mile in flight suit in 80 minutes or less using sidestroke,

breaststroke, or American crawl.

(2) 100 yards in full flight gear (flight suit, boots, helmet, gloves,

and deflated life preserver) using each of the survival strokes for

25 yards (sidestroke, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and American crawl),

followed immediately by a 5-minute drown-proofing (face-down prone float).

(3) In full flight gear, tread water for 2 minutes followed

immediately by 3 minutes of drown-proofing.

(4) 200 yards (50 yards each using breaststroke, elementary backstroke,

sidestroke, and American crawl).

(5) Jump from a 12-foot tower and then swim 15 yards underwater wearing

flight suit and boots using a modified breaststroke, immediately followed by

floating using trouser inflation techniques.

(6) 75-yard flight equipment swim using breaststroke only.

(7) 100-yard swim using 25 yards sidestroke, 25 yards breaststroke,

25 yards elementary backstroke, and 25 yards American crawl. Initial:

(I must be able to pass a Navy PFA with a score of “good” in all categories for

my age and gender at any time during the “training cycle”.)

Signature (Aircrew Volunteer): Date:

WITNESSED: Date:

(Commanding Officer, Executive Officer,

Command Master Chief, or Command Career Counselor)

Enclosure (1)

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Exhibit 2

Aviation Rescue Swimmer Program Statement of Understanding

(Use proper letter format containing the following)

“[DATE]: I [Service member' name] am/am not [circle one] volunteering for

training as a helicopter rescue swimmer. I understand rescue swimmers may be

required to risk their lives during a rescue at sea. They are trained to conduct

rescues efficiently, effectively, and safely. In most rescue situations, the

swimmer leaves the helicopter and enters the ocean. Upon reaching the survivor, the

swimmer removes the parachute and prepares the survivor for hook-up to the rescue

device. A survivor in a state of panic may force the swimmer underwater, but

techniques taught to the swimmer will help to overcome this resistance. Once the

swimmer and survivor are in the aircraft, the swimmer provides advanced first-aid

until medical assistance is available.

Initial:

1. In order to commence training at Rescue Swimmer School, I must be able to

complete the following:

a. 500-yard or 450 meter swim in 12 minutes or less.

b. 1.5-mile run in 12 minutes or less.

c. 42 push-ups in 2 minutes or less.

d. 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes or less.

e. 4 pull-ups in 2 minutes or less. Initial:

2. To graduate from Rescue Swimmer School, I must do the following during the

course of training:

a. 90 minutes of intensive calisthenics and 30-35 minute cross-country runs

daily.

b. 800-meter swim in 20 minutes wearing rescue swimmer equipment (mask, fins,

snorkel, short wetsuit, and search and rescue (SAR) harness with deflated

floatation).

c. 400-meter buddy tow in 16 minutes wearing rescue swimmer equipment.

d. 2000-meter swim in 50 minutes wearing rescue swimmer equipment.

e. 8 pull-ups in a flight suit and boots within 2 minutes.

f. Carry two 50-pound dumbbells 100 yards on flat terrain over 4 obstacles

12-14 inches in height within 2 minutes.

g. Walk 1 mile with a MEDEVAC litter within 16 minutes.

h. Swim 500 meters in SAR gear immediately followed by 400-meter buddy tow

within 27 minutes.

i. Weekly strength training with free-weights and machines.

j. Successfully complete CPR for professional rescuer. Initial:

The Aircrew Program and, in particular, the aviation rescue swimmer training are

both physically demanding and requires strong swimmer skills. My success will

depend upon my own physical preconditioning program, which I have established for

myself prior to reporting. I understand that I must first meet all requirements set

forth for the Aircrew Program in addition to those for rescue swimmer training.

Signature (Aircrew Volunteer): Date:

WITNESSED:

(Commanding Officer, Executive Officer,

Date:

Command Master Chief, or Command Career Counselor)

Enclosure (2)