As an Army Crew Chief, you have the privilege of being a critical part of the Army’s aviation maintenance team. Your mission is to fly and maintain Army aircraft, ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment at all times. To be successful as a Crew Chief, you must possess the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to be a part of the team. In this blog post, we will explore the steps that one should take to become a Crew Chief in the Army. We will discuss the educational and physical requirements for the job, the importance of strong leadership and organizational skills, and the responsibilities of a Crew Chief. Additionally, we will provide some insight into the challenges and rewards associated with the career. By the end of the article, you should have a solid understanding of the requirements, roles, and opportunities available to a Crew Chief in the Army.
- Earn the necessary education. To meet military enlistment qualifications, you must be a United States citizen or resident, be at least 18 years old and earn a high school diploma or GED equivalent. …
- Pass the ASVAB test. …
- Repair helicopters. …
- Complete training.
What does an Army crew chief do?
An Army crew chief is a specialist who ensures that a helicopter’s interior and exterior are always secure, well-maintained, and useful. They provide instructions to their Army crew on how to use, maintain, and perform tasks on the aircraft. Typically, this entails instructing personnel on when and how to mark landing zones, drop grenades, or fire machine guns. Basic instructions on where to sit and where to load supplies are also given by Army crew chiefs. Common job duties Army crew chiefs are responsible for include:
What is a crew chief in the Army?
In the Army, a crew chief is in charge of the helicopter maintenance staff and makes sure that their assigned helicopter is always safe and functioning properly. When they first begin, they are required to focus on repairing one particular model of Army helicopter, such as the Chinook, Apache, Black Hawk, or Kiowa. Most of these helicopters move soldiers between their stations and the battlefield. They may also complete supply runs and rescue missions.
How to become a crew chief in the Army
Army crew chiefs typically perform difficult tasks to ensure that everyone in and outside the helicopter is always safe. To be a successful crew chief in the Army, adhere to these guidelines:
1. Earn the necessary education
You must be a citizen or resident of the United States, be at least 18 years old, and possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent in order to qualify for military enlistment. Consider taking physical education courses to further develop your exercise and fitness abilities to ensure that you are in shape for military training and tasks if you decide to join the Army after high school. Enroll in mechanic and shop classes as well to become acquainted with the equipment and methods required to repair typical auto parts.
2. Pass the ASVAB test
You must pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test in order to join the armed forces. This test tests your general knowledge and identifies the Army position that most closely matches your skill set and interests. You must achieve a score of 104 on the mechanical maintenance section in order to be eligible for an Army crew chief position. Typically, this section will test your knowledge in areas like mechanical comprehension, electrical knowledge, and auto shop knowledge.
3. Repair helicopters
Before beginning your on-the-job training, complete 10 weeks of basic combat training. To be a crew chief, you must first become familiar with the operations and components of a helicopter. You can do this by working as a helicopter mechanic for a while to gain the necessary experience with your preferred helicopter.
Choose from the Chinook, Apache, Black Hawk, or Kiowa helicopters at the instructors’ discretion. Once you’ve made your choice, you can devote time to learning more about it in order to eventually work as a crew chief on it. You could learn a wide range of repair techniques, such as repairing fuel, electrical, and hydraulic systems and fixing aluminum, fiberglass, and steel airframes.
4. Complete training
You receive practical training to perform tasks like completely disassembling the helicopter and learning how to put it back together correctly while you spend time repairing the helicopter. Regularly completing other maintenance jobs of a similar nature will ensure you have the advanced knowledge necessary to advance to the position of crew chief. If your performance impresses managers, you might move to a line unit position to receive advanced crew chief training.
You might receive direction and oversight from veteran crew chiefs during your advanced training sessions. You could examine and put into practice routine crew chief duties like accurately dropping smoke grenades and identifying helicopter landing zones. You will also receive training for the job’s supply transportation component. You could learn how to safely load and unload cargo and take inventory both before and after deliveries.
Skills for Army crew chiefs
Army crew chiefs should have advanced mechanical skills to perform routine maintenance tasks since they initially work as maintenance repair people. Additionally, they make use of their impressive leadership abilities to support, encourage, and advise crew members as they complete challenging or large-scale tasks. Effective Army crew chiefs also know how to maintain composure under pressure to defuse or handle any emergencies that may arise during their shifts.
Common skills that Army crew chiefs typically have include:
Work environment for Army crew chiefs
Army crew chiefs typically work all day in various settings. They spend the majority of their time in a helicopter giving commands and warnings about safety, occasionally inclement weather. Army crew chiefs may also be employed as warehouse movers, stockers, and inventory takers to move supplies. Many Army crew chiefs keep irregular hours and might spend extra time before or after their crew shifts getting the helicopter ready for the next mission.
Not Everyone Gets to be a Crew Chief (Social Media with Subtitles), NOVO SELO, BULGARIA, 04.06.2018
FAQ
How much does a Army crew chief make?
$56,241 is the typical yearly pay for a crew chief in the US Army. The US Army offers crew chief salaries that can range from $33,266 to $419,999 annually.
How long is Army crew chief?
Crew Chief Work Environment After completing basic training for 10 weeks, you’ll move on to Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where you’ll learn how to repair helicopters. After that, you are given a duty station, which may be in the U S. or somewhere else in the world.
What rank is a crew chief?
A DCC must hold the rank of staff sergeant or higher and have at least six months of experience working as a crew chief. After receiving a waiver permitting them to apply, a senior airman who meets the requirements can become a DCC.
Can you enlist as a crew chief?
You must achieve a mechanical maintenance score of 105 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exams to be qualified to serve as a Marine helicopter crew chief. Since serving as a lookout is a significant portion of this job, you must have average color perception.
