Aviation
Above the Best
National Guard helicopter crews fly a variety of missions, from security operations to disaster relief. They might be transporting troops or aiding medical evacuations. Every member of aviation, from pilots to crew chiefs to mechanics, is vital to accomplishing a mission. Every helicopter has its own team of mechanics to ensure it’s always running efficiently.
In the event of a natural disaster, Guard pilots drop water and food and save those in harm’s way. They are trained to fly in any weather and take off or land in high-risk situations.
Job training for soldiers in the Aviation Branch consists of ten weeks of Basic Combat Training (BCT) plus 9-24 weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction, depending on your specialty. For some jobs, these will be combined into One Station Unit Training (OSUT). You will learn essential soldiering and warrior skills, spending time in the field and the classroom, and specialize in the inspection and repair of aircraft engines and equipment.
Military Occupational Specialties
15B Aircraft Powerplant Repairer
As a member of the aircraft repair team, an Aircraft Powerplant Repairer inspects, services and repairs Army helicopters and airplanes to ensure that they remain safe and ready to fly transport, patrol and flight training missions. The Aircraft Powerplant Repairer is primarily responsible for supervising, inspecting and performing repair and maintenance on aircraft turbine engines, parts and electrical components.
15D Aircraft Powertrain Repairer
As a member of the aircraft repair team, an Aircraft Powertrain Repairer inspects, services and repairs Army helicopters and airplanes to ensure that they remain safe and ready to fly. The Aircraft Powertrain Repairer is primarily responsible for supervising, inspecting and performing repair and maintenance on aircraft powertrain systems, including powertrain quills, transmission adapting parts, rotary wing hub and tanks, friction dampers, hangar assemblies and any other powertrain components.
15E Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairer
Being able to observe our enemies with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is important for our national defense. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairers keep these aircraft ready to fly and ensure their ability to collect and transmit information. As an integral member of this team, the UASR repairs the aircraft’s electrical, avionics, propulsion and fuel systems and oversees maintenance of equipment wiring harnesses, electrical components and radio frequency paths.
15F Aircraft Electrician
Members of the aircraft electrician team ensure that the electrical systems on airplanes and helicopters are properly maintained and repaired. The Aircraft Electrician is primarily responsible for supervising, inspecting and performing maintenance and repair on aircraft electrical systems, including instruments, lights, weapons, ignition systems, landing gear, generators, electric motors and any other electrical components or wiring.
15G Aircraft Structural Repairer
It is up to the members of the aircraft repair team to ensure that all Army aircraft remain safe and ready to fly. As an integral member of this team, the Aircraft Structural Repairer is primarily responsible for supervising and performing maintenance on aircraft structural components including stingers, longerons, bulkheads, beams and aircraft skin. Repairers also make structural parts, repair windows and enclosures, and perform inspections.
15H Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer
As a member of the aircraft repair team, the Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer is primarily responsible for supervising and performing maintenance on aircraft pneudraulics systems, and for diagnosing and troubleshooting malfunctions to hydraulic or pneumatic systems, subsystems or components.
15N Avionic Mechanic
Members of the aircraft electrician team ensure that the electrical systems on airplanes and helicopters are properly maintained and repaired. The Avionic Mechanic is primarily responsible for performing maintenance on tactical communications-security, navigation and flight control equipment. Mechanics perform checks and alignments on aircraft flight controls, stabilization systems, avionics and controlled cryptographic equipment, and troubleshoot and repair or replace instruments such as tachometers, temperature gauges and altimeters.
15P Aviation Operations Specialist
Hundreds of transport, passenger and combat airplanes and helicopters fly missions every day, and Aviation Operations Specialists provide the accurate flight information that keeps operations safe and efficient. Aviation Operations Specialists prepare and provide flight information for air and ground crews, schedule and dispatch information for tactical aircraft missions, and coordinate flight schedules and crew assignments. They also post weather warnings and alert crash crews of emergencies.
15T UH-60 Helicopter Repairer
As a member of the aircraft repair team, the UH-60 Utility Helicopter Repairer is primarily responsible for supervising and performing maintenance on UH-60 Utility Helicopters (also known as ‘Blackhawk’ helicopters), to ensure that the aircraft remain safe and ready to fly. UH-60 Utility Helicopter Repairers inspect, service and lubricate aircraft and subsystems including engines, rotors, gearboxes, transmissions, landing gear, mechanical flight controls and their components, as well as repairing aircraft wings, fuselages and tail assemblies, and many electrical parts.
15W Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator
Having the ability to observe both conventional and unconventional enemies is absolutely necessary to plan for our national defense. Intelligence specialists, like the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator, are integral to providing Army personnel with information about enemy forces and potential battle areas. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operators are remote pilots of unmanned observation aircraft, who gather and study information that’s required to design operational plans and tactics.
New Jersey Aviation Units
The bulk of the New Jersey Army National Guard’s aviation assets are located in Lakehurst.
1-150th AHB
On the asymmetric battlefield, the 1-150th 
Assault Helicopter Battalion provides the commander the agility to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single UH-60 Blackhawk.
