The aviator is responsible for maintaining and servicing aircraft, as well as ensuring the security of the area. They also assist with takeoff and landing, help with crash situations, and perform food service tasks. Different colored uniforms are worn to identify specific roles, and rank is awarded based on length of service and performance.
The aviator is typically the air force and navy version of the private army. The airman’s primary responsibility is to service and maintain the aircraft assigned to him. The plane, ammunition and security of the area are duties of an aviator. Other tasks involve assistance with taking off and landing planes, helping with crash situations and with food service tasks. The general duties of the position offer a soldier the opportunity to rise through the ranks, being educated in many areas of the service, in addition to excelling in a primary division.
As part of the flight crew, the aviator is responsible for nearly every aspect of keeping the aircraft in top operating condition. Fueling the aircraft is a duty performed by an aviator, in addition to cleaning the weapons, loading the ammunition and airing the tires. This type of maintenance is usually performed in a hangar or on an airport premises; however, in a naval application, this type of aviator activity is usually performed on an aircraft carrier. When stationed aboard an American aircraft carrier, the aviator is usually assigned to a group known as the Skittles, so named because of the variety of brightly colored uniforms that are worn.
One of the reasons an aviator would wear a brightly colored uniform is to make himself more noticeable to pilots. This also makes the service member more easily seen in case he falls overboard. The different colors should allow pilots and others on board to quickly and accurately recognize the appropriate person who is performing a specific role for the pilot and airplane. Every job carries a specific color with it, so the identification of airmen assigned as ammunition handlers or fuel handlers can be done properly in the chaos that is often present in the flight deck.
There are different levels in the ranking of airmen, each with its own set of requirements and responsibilities. Rank is awarded based on length of service as well as performance in fulfilling tasks assigned to the rank held. Exceptions to these rules may be made, under certain guidelines, by a commanding officer who is normally permitted to promote service members at an accelerated rate. A new soldier typically enters service at the lowest rank and gains promotion as vacancies become available, and the soldier’s performance is deemed appropriate for the new rank by the commander.
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