I've got a real interest in aviation and I'm thinking about the military as a career path. What are the MOS jobs related to aviation in the military? How competitive is it to get into these roles?
In the military, there are quite a few jobs that are associated with aviation, ranging from piloting aircraft to maintaining and repairing them. It's essential to remember that these jobs are spread across different branches of the military, each with unique requirements, training, and benefits.
In the Army, there are MOSs such as the 15A Aviation Officer who is responsible for coordinating aviation operations and supervising maintenance. Army also has Apache Attack Helicopter Systems Repairers (MOS 15R) and UH-60 Helicopter Repairers (MOS 15T).
The Air Force offers roles like the Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst responsible for identifying foreign communications using signal equipment. Or the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot which operates unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and strategic warfare.
The Navy and Coast Guard also provide a wealth of aviation roles, ranging from pilots and co-pilots to air traffic controllers and aviation maintenance specialists.
Different branches have distinct entry requirements, but in general, competitiveness for these roles can be quite high due to the specialized, high-stakes nature of the job, especially for pilot positions. It usually requires academic excellence, physical fitness, meeting a certain age bracket, and successfully passing various tests and training stages.
Remember that while these jobs can be incredibly rewarding, they also require commitment and rigorous training. I would recommend doing more research and talking to military recruiters to get a better understanding of what each role entails and how you can best position yourself to secure the role you want.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.