Aviation Combat Roles
The Marine Corps finds its success as a premier military force by acting in a single cohesive effort across all battlefronts. Featured below are just a sample of the Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) Marine pilots and aviation support Marines serve in to assist the Marines fighting battles on the ground. Every aircraft employed is specifically equipped to serve the mission in the form of offensive air support, assault support, anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.
Air Intelligence and Signals Intelligence Officers
Function in a variety of intelligence billets located within the air wing. Billets include Targeting Officer, Collections Officer, Dissemination Officer, S-2 Officer of a fixed-wing or rotary-wing squadron and Intelligence Officer at an intelligence battalion.
Air Support Officers
Air Support Officers direct and coordinate air support missions and advise commanders on matters pertaining to the employment and control of air support.
The Air Support Control Officer MOS puts lieutenants in a position where they will personally affect a wide range of Marine operations, from the success of large units (regiment/division) in combat by arranging immediate airstrikes, to the welfare of individual Marines by coordinating urgent casualty pickups
F-35 Pilot
The F-35B is an impressive warfighting asset. Flying it is similar to piloting a legacy tactical aircraft, but capabilities brought to the fight are at the next level.
AV-8B Pilot
Marine Fixed-wing Pilots fly some of the most advanced aircraft in the world. These officers perform essential functions of Marine Aviation—assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance—to support missions around the world.
F-18 Pilot
Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) operate the advanced weapons and electronic systems on board F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers. The division of labor between the pilot and the NFO allows the pilot to focus on flying the aircraft and the NFO to focus on the weapons systems. The NFO often has the best situational awareness of the battlefield, and at times leads entire aviation missions.
MV-22 Pilot
Tilt-rotor Pilots' missions mirror that of Rotary-wing Pilots, combining transport capability with speed capability similar to that of Fixed-wing Pilots.
AH-1 Pilot
Support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander by providing offensive air support (e.g., CAS), armed escort and airborne supporting arms coordination, day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint or combined
UH-1Y Pilot
The UH-1Y is the ultimate utility platform. This platform is all about the team whether it is troop insert or close air support. Combined with an AH-1Z – these Marine assets are force multipliers.
CH-53 Pilot
The CH-53 is the “work horse” of Marine Aviation. Pilots lead a crew of Marines in their primary mission to transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force in all from combat to humanitarian aid.
The new CH-53K is the most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense, it will expand the fleet’s ability to move more material, more rapidly using proven and mature technologies. CH-53K is designed to lift triple the baseline CH-53E lift capability with an equivalent shipboard footprint.
C-130 Pilot
The mission of the KC-130 is to support the MAGTF Commander by providing air-to-air refueling, assault support, and close air support, day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint or combined operations.
