Government Pilot Careers
Mission
Role/Mission:
United States Naval Aviation spans a wide array of mission sets, all of which are vital for our nation's security and offensive capabilities. Naval aviators tackle some of the most challenging and diverse mission sets across the world, from search and rescue missions in the water and close air support on land, to anti-submarine warfare across the world’s vast oceans. Since Naval Aviators face such a wide array of mission sets, they must undergo rigorous aeronautical training to be considered one of the best. The US Navy also operates countless airframes, from Helicopters and cargo aircraft, to the world's most elite and advanced fighter aircraft.
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Primary Mission Sets:
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue is not specific to the United States Navy, however, due to the wide range of capabilities that the navy possess, they have some of the finest SAR capabilities that the military has to offer. Naval search and rescue specializes in maritime operations, through the use of reconnaissance and helicopter airframes. Naval search and rescue operates around the clock and around the world, any time and anywhere help is needed. They SAR capabilities also cover both combat and non-combat settings. Such as wartime search and rescue in active combat zones, as well as humanitarian aid and assistance in non-combat regions.
Close Air Support/Air to Air Combat
Close Air Support, or CAS for short, is certainly one of the United States Navy’s specialites. Naval Aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet, one of the Navy’s many multi-roll capable aircraft, allow the Navy to dominate in their CAS mission. CAS, in essence, is the employment of airborne weaponry to aid and support US and NATO forces in active combat zones. CAS is one of the most elite tactics that the US military has to offer, as it allows for precise and effective striking of strategic targets on the ground.Air to Air Combat is another one of the Navy’s primary mission sets. Aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet and the world’s premier F-35 are the US Navy’s primary air to air superiority fighters.
Air to Air combat is extremely tricky and poses many challenges, as it is the engagement and “dogfighting” of enemy aircraft in the skies. Air to air combat is extremely dynamic and requires extremely intensive pilot training and confidence in any airframe.
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Submarine’s are one of the most strategic and widely used weapons of the world’s militaries, and it’s the Navy’s job to not only operate them, but hunt them down. The US Navy employes a vast number of means to hunt down and counter hostile submarines. Naval aviators can and regularly operate aircraft like the MH-60 to counter these submarines.