Aviation ordnanceman

Aviation ordnanceman (abbreviated as AO) is a United States Navy occupational rating.

Overview
Aviation ordnancemen operate and handle aviation ordnance equipment. They are responsible for the maintenance of guns, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and missiles. Their duties include the stowing, issuing, and loading of munitions and small arms. There are three different types of ordnanceman; "O" (organizational) level, "I" (intermediate) level, and "D" (depot) level. O-level ordnanceman are attached to squadrons ashore and afloat. They perform loading/downloading operations on aircraft as well as maintenance on bomb racks, missile launchers, and other aircraft components. Aviation ordnanceman "A" School is currently held at Pensacola Naval Air Station, in Florida, by the Naval Air Technical Training Center. Aviation ordnanceman training is approximately 4 weeks long ( down from 20 weeks in the 70's at Jacksonville Naval Air Station). At aviation ordnanceman "A" School, subjects are taught basic aviation theory and skills, along with electronic troubleshooting. To become an aviation ordnanceman, one must have color perception and 20/20 vision or have their vision correctable to 20/20. One must also have an ASVAB score of VE+AR+MK+AS=185 or MK+AS+AO=140. While some aviation ordnanceman tasks require a secret security clearance, all ordnancemen must be eligible for the clearance. Ship's company, who are stationed on board ship and are also "O" level AOs, work in the magazines below decks or on the flight deck of aircraft carriers. They perform the assembly of bombs in large magazines below decks and are in charge of inventory of the weapons on the flight deck whether they are loaded on aircraft or stored behind the island. "I" level ordnancemen work in the aviation intermediate maintenance departments on ships at sea or in facilities ashore. They perform such tasks preventive maintenance, repair, and testing of bomb racks, missile launchers, and aircraft guns for issue to squadrons. Depot "D" level is for equipment that needs to be completely overhauled and is beyond the capabilities of "I" level maintenance. In a 20-year period, an average aviation ordnanceman spends about 60 percent assigned to fleet units and 40 percent to shore stations.

Aviation ordnancemen are a close-knit community and one of the few ratings in the U.S. Navy to have their own association, the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen. In addition, the aviation ordnanceman slogan is IYAOYAS, meaning: "If you ain't ordnance, you ain't shit." One of the most notable aviation ordnancemen was Lieutenant John Finn, who came up as an enlisted sailor making it to the rank of chief petty officer. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.