aviation - Aviation Officer

Summary

Did you know the U.S. Coast Guard has the highest percentage of officers that are pilots out of any U.S.

military service? As a Coast Guard aviator, you’ll fly in challenging, high-risk environments—such as rescuing people in distress, stopping smugglers, or monitoring illegal activities.

Description

Coast Guard aviators pilot airplanes and helicopters in challenging conditions to save lives and complete a multitude of missions.

Additional Information

Did you know the U.S. Coast Guard has the highest percentage of officers that are pilots out of any U.S. military service? As a Coast Guard aviator, you’ll fly in challenging, high-risk environments—such as rescuing people in distress, stopping smugglers, or monitoring illegal activities.

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical engineers are vital to Coast Guard aircraft and avionics systems acquisition, planning, design, operation, maintenance, and alteration. Within this specialty, you can choose from three master’s degree paths:

How to Become a Coast Guard Aviator

If you have prior military flight experience as a pilot, you can join the Coast Guard through the Direct Commission Aviation program and immediately begin flying.

Training

When you’re selected for flight school, you’ll attend Naval Flight School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. It takes approximately two years for you to earn your wings, as you cycle through:

After you earn your wings, you’ll be assigned to an air station and attend an airframe-specific course at Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL, to qualify for the MH-60 Jayhawk, the MH-65 Dolphin, the HC-130 Hercules, or the HC-144 Ocean Sentry. You’ll return once a year for a one-week proficiency course in your airframe.

Aviation Career

You can expect to gain initial experience as a co-pilot and eventually earn the title of aircraft commander. Throughout your aviation career, you’ll experience search-and-rescue, law enforcement, and other Coast Guard missions. Once you gain leadership and operational skills, you may be selected for command of an air station. You’ll also be encouraged to apply for sponsored graduate school programs to broaden your expertise outside of the cockpit, such as:

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