Air Vehicle Pilot WOs

In order to operate the MQ-25 Stingray, the first carrier based unmanned aerial vehicle in the Navy, the

Secretary of the Navy has approved the establishment of the Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) warrant officer designator.

Unlike traditional Navy Chief Warrant Officers, 737X warrant officers will be accessed through Navy recruiting

vs. conversion of chiefs through a board process. 737X warrant officers will be trained as technical specialists in

the operation of the MQ-25 platform. In the future, 737X warrant officers may also be qualified to operate

additional unmanned aerial vehicles to support Navy requirements. This signifies continued agility and

flexibility of talent management under Sailor 2025, which seeks to put the right Sailors in the right jobs.

What you need to know

How to Apply

Air Vehicle Pilot

W- 1 Cadre

 Navy Recruiting Command began

accepting applications for initial 737X

accessions beginning in FY22. Civilian

applications will be the primary

accession source for this program

with enlisted communities being a

secondary source. Civilians interested

in applying to the program should

contact their local recruiter for

application details. Enlisted service

members interested in transferring

into the community should contact

their career counselor or detailer.

 The Air Vehicle Pilot will be trained

to fly the MQ-25 Stingray, which will

be used in the near-term as an in-

f l i g h t refueling asset based on

carriers.

 While these warrants will not have

to go through a traditional aviation

pipeline, they will need safety of

flight technical proficiency and also

the skills to conduct in-flight

refueling. The pipeline is estimated

at 15-18 months, slightly less than

today’s aviators.

 There will be 450 Warrant Officer

billets established over 6-10 years,

with expected distribution: 23 W5,

113 W4, 135 W3, 179 W2/W1.

 Air Vehicle Pilot WOs (737X) will

wear WO/CWO bars and the

Pegasus collar device and will be

awarded AVP wings upon the

completion of undergraduate flight

training as a warfare device similar

to Pilot/NFO wings.

 Some qualified MQ-25 AVPs may be

utilized in the future to operate the

MQ-4C Triton on shore duty

following their initial MQ-25 sea

tour.

 This will be the second phasing-in

of the Warrant Officer-1 cadre, with

the first being W-1s in the Cyber

Warfare designator.

 W-1s allow the Navy to recruit

talent more directly from the

civilian workforce and junior

enlisted personnel with needed skill

sets.

 The Navy phased out the bulk of its

W-1s after 1975, with the last W-1s

leaving service in 1995.

Squadron Leadership

Sailor 2025

 MQ-25 squadron leadership positions

(CO, XO, Department Head) will be

filled by administratively screened

13XX officers from other

Type/Model/Series. These officers

will provide valued aviation

leadership and career experience for

mentorship and mission

accomplishment.

 Sailor 2025 is a talent management

concept that seeks to place the right

Sailor in the right job. It is modeled

after a concept that Sailors should

be placed in roles that match their

skill sets vs. being forced into

position based on career timing.

Establishment of W-1s to fly UAS is

in line with this concept.

Developing Leaders

MQ-25 Stingray

 By creating this utilizing the warrant

officer cadre, the W-1s who enter will

continue to rise up to become W-2s

and so forth. They will take on the

same qualities as their warrant officer

peers and be the Navy’s go-to subject

matter experts for air vehicle

operations.

 The MQ-25 is an unmanned aircraft

system that will provide a refueling

capability from a carrier, extending

the combat range of deployed F/A-

18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler,

and F-35C fighters. It is said to be a

game changer for carrier

operations.

Policy Guidance Links:

NAVADMIN 315/20: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2020/NAV20315.txt

Air Vehicle Pilot WOs

Q1. Why is this being done?

A1. The MQ-25 Stingray will be the Navy’s first carrier based unmanned aerial vehicle and is expected to reach

Initial Operational Capability in Fiscal Year 2024. Unlike other Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms, the

complexity in operating and performing its mission from a carrier requires specialists rather than pilots from other

type-model series. Warrant Officers were selected as the primary operator source from an accession standpoint and

also due to ability to bring continuity of back-to-back tours in career progression. Unlike traditional Navy Chief

Warrant Officers (CWOs) the majority of these officers will be accessed much younger and trained as Air Vehicle

Pilots, similar to current Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers. The primary accession source will be through

Navy Recruiting.

Q2. How many will be affected through this designator?

A2. Upon approval of the designator, 450 Warrant Officer billets will be established over 6-10 years, culminating in

approximately 450 total billets. SECNAVINST 1412.8B provides funding levels for WO grades. These

percentages result in the following for AVP grade distribution: 23 W5, 113 W4, 135 W3, 179 W2/W1.

Q3. When will it be implemented?

A3. We expect to start taking applications in FY22. After the initial announcement goes out, the Aviation and CWO

community managers will begin to coordinate to get the designator instituted in our accession plan. Navy

Recruiting Command will then take the lead for bringing in applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.

Q4. How long has this been in the works?

A4. Planning for this began back in 2019 when the Navy began to look at the manning requirements to field this

new class of aviation assets. It was decided by then Air Boss Vice Adm. Miller that instead of creating a new URL

designator for this type/model/series, it would be filled by Warrant Officers. We have been working with the

aviation community managers and training schoolhouses to ensure we can field an officer force ready to operate

when the aircraft becomes operational in 2024.

Q5. What other manning considerations are being looked at to field the MQ-25?

A5. Much of that is still being developed. We recognize that maintainers will need mostly special schools and

expertise. In general, we are treating this like any other aircraft in both supply chain, maintenance, and ensuring it

remains fully mission capable.

Q6. Will there be an avenue for enlisted Sailors to apply for the program?

A6. Yes, just like enlisted Sailors can apply for OCS, the same would apply for this program. They would

apply through CNRC and go through the Professional Recommendation Board process.

Q7. This community is being accessed for the MQ-25 aircraft, but is it possible the community could expand

to include other platforms, such as the MQ-4C Triton?

A7. Yes, the plan is that some qualified MQ-25 AVPs would be utilized in the future to operate the MQ-4C Triton

on shore duty following their initial MQ-25 sea tour.

~ Questions & Answers ~

Air Vehicle Pilot WOs