ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AERIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR (AVO) WARRANT OFFICER (WO) COMMUNITY

[Tony]

UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 091350Z DEC 20 MID600050062177U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS

NAVADMIN 315/20

PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/OCT//

SUBJ/ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AERIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR (AVO) WARRANT OFFICER (WO) 
COMMUNITY//

RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces the establishment of the Aerial Vehicle 
Operator Warrant Officer (737X) community.

2.  In order to operate the MQ-25 Stingray, the first carrier-based, Unmanned 
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the Navy, the Secretary of the Navy has approved the 
establishment of the AVO WO designator.  Unlike traditional Navy Chief 
Warrant Officers, 737X WO-1 will be accessed through Navy recruiting.  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 UAVs to support Navy requirements.

3.  Navy Recruiting Command will begin accepting applications for initial 
737X accessions beginning in FY22 in accordance with Program Authorization 
106A.  Selected candidates will attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 
Newport, Rhode Island.  Upon completion of OCS, candidates will complete 
initial flight training with follow-on specialized training on the MQ-25 
platform.  Interested fleet applicants should contact their career counselors 
for additional information regarding the OCS application process.

4.  The procurement of the MQ-25 Stingray and the creation of the 737X AVO WO 
designator represent an exciting new chapter in the storied history of naval 
aviation.

5.  Points of contact are CAPT Christopher Wood, Aviation Officer Community 
Manager, (901) 874-3353/DSN 882 or email christopher.j.wood1(at)navy.mil and 
CWO5 Hector Sandoval, LDO/CWO Community Manager, (901) 874-2464/DSN 882 or 
email hector.sandoval(at)navy.mil.

6.  This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, 
whichever occurs first.

7.  Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//

BT
#0001
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//
 

PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION 106A

Program Authorization: Officer candidate indoctrination and training for active duty appointment in the U.S. Navy as a Warrant Officer (WO1), designator 7371 Aerial Vehicle Operator (AVO). Aviation Officer Community Manager (BUPERS-313) and Chief Warrant Officer Community Manager (BUPERS-319) are the officer community managers.

[Tony]

Navy Announces Aerial Vehicle Operator Warrant Officer Specialty

The Navy announced a new warrant officer specialty designator whose job will be to operate carrier-based MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial vehicles, which are expected to start appearing in fleet carrier air wings sometime in 2024.

The establishment of the Aerial Vehicle Operator (AVO) warrant officer specialty became a reality Oct. X with Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite’s approval of the new designator, which was announced in NAVADMIN 315/20.

Over the next 6-10 years, the Navy will recruit, train and send to the fleet, a community of roughly 450 warrants in grades W-1 through W-5.

Those selected for the program will first complete Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. Upon graduation, they will be designated as Warrant Officer One and must complete basic flight training as well as advanced training on the MQ-25 aerial vehicle. Once complete with basic flight training, these officers will earn their own distinctive Navy "wings of gold" warfare device and be assigned the 737X designator.

"AVO's will start out operating the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy's first carrier based unmanned aerial vehicle, which is expected to join the fleet with an initial operating capability in 2024," said Capt. Christopher Wood, aviation officer community manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn.  

The use of warrant officers as the primary operators of unmanned aerial vehicles came about because the expected career path they'll have as they move up the ranks will be as technical specialists who complete repetitive tours, which fits the Navy's model on how warrant grades are utilized.

"Unlike traditional Navy Chief Warrant Officer’s, the majority of these officers will be accessed much younger and trained along the lines of current Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers in the unrestricted designators," Wood said.

"However, Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers require assignments that progress in tactical and leadership scope to be competitive for promotion, while warrant officer AVO's will be technical specialists and spend their careers as operators."

Navy Recruiting Command will begin accepting applications for initial AVO accessions in fiscal year 2022. In addition to street-to-fleet warrants, enlisted Sailors will also be able to apply for the program, and potentially earn the 737X warrant officer designator.

"Currently, the plan is to grow the community from the ground up with Warrant Officer AVOs," Wood said.  "However, Naval Aviation will continue to evaluate the requirements of the program as it matures."

Commanding and executive officers, as well as department heads of MQ-25 squadrons, will be filled by aviators and flight officers administratively screened for those commands.

"During the first 4-5 years of the program, some MQ-25 AVOs will come from other Type/Model/Series as we build up the knowledge base, with the first 3-4 deployments having a mix of existing unrestricted line and new warrants making up the ready room."

And though right now the community will be focused on the MQ-25, in the future, warrant officer AVOs may also operate the MQ-4C Triton while on shore duty following their initial MQ-25 sea tour.  As the Navy's footprint in unmanned aerial vehicles increases, so could the scope of the AVO community.  

[Guest kotn]

Any idea of the age limit for the street to fleet applicants?

[Guest Randyg88]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://forum.navyadvancement.com/topic/5901-establishment-of-the-aerial-vehicle-operator-avo-warrant-officer-wo-community/&ved=2ahUKEwigsNG9hN7xAhVomeAKHQO3DCgQFjACegQIDxAC&usg=AOvVaw0DbiqJvAbQk_tUfAl0ZF8k

On 1/6/2021 at 1:04 PM, kotn said:

Any idea of the age limit for the street to fleet applicants?

Sadly from what ive seen is the cut off date as 32. I seriously thought this maybe a way to get out of reserves and back on active duty.