Originally Posted by coopdeville
Thanks for the reply.
So, if i were picked up as AWR, is the AWO/AWR school mixed, because the AWR's are considered AWO's of the Helo?
Yes, AWR and AWO specialize in Anti-Submarine Warfare... back before the 2008 merger, we were the only dedicated Aircrew rate, AWV, AWF, and AWS billets were filled by other Aircrew-qualified aviation rates.
So, it seems like the instructors might pick what rate you are based on your performance at RSS?
It's more up to the detailer who tells them what jobs are needed, but the instructors may have a bit of input over who gets what based on what's available.
So what is the biggest difference between AWR's and AWS's?
AWR is Naval Aircrewman (Tactical Helicopter), while AWS is Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter)... Romeos do Anti-Submarine Warfare, counter-narcotics, Naval Special Warfare support, and Combat Search and Rescue... Sierras do Vertical Replenishment, Search and Rescue (There are only a few dedicated SAR squadrons), and NSW support.
From what I've gathered, AWR does more surveillance and mine work while the AWS does more cargo, warfare insertion/extraction, etc.
I don't know about surveillance, and mine work is done by the non-rescue swimmer crewmen in the MH-53 Sea Dragon squadrons... the primary difference is Anti-Submarine Warfare and "tactical" operations on the MH-60R vs. cargo, dustoff, and some troop deployment for the MH-60S... keep in mind though, the Navy doesn't have troops... the Marines have -53s and Ospreys to take them where they need to go, and SEALS have mostly relied on the Army's 160th SOAR to take them into combat after the mistakes learned in Iran in 1980.
At the same time it seems as though they perform similar jobs.
In the sense of being helo crewmen, yes... but their primary missions are completely different.
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