Aircrew Candidate School 

I've been an aircrewman for almost 4 years, I love it ill never regret signing my papers to join this family.

it only takes 13 minutes to get thourgh school? sign me up! haha

I’ll be headed here as soon as I finish basic, excited to take on the challenge and give every last ounce of honor, courage and commitment to making this dream come true.

Just graduated class of 1830. from a marine’s perspective: Over all not bad of a school house a lot of waiting when not classed up and a lot of PT when classed up. You do all the swimming the first week fun stuff the second week (dunker) graduation the third week and gear issue. Make sure you don’t lose focus when you are waiting to class up and make sure you PT regularly prior to classes. Don’t expect to leave right away after graduating. There’s more waiting after class.

Retired aircrew as a P-3 Orion Flight Engineer. Aircrew for 12 out of my 20 years. Loved it, I will always cherish the memories of obtaining my “Wings of Gold!”

Went through Aircrew Candidate School in September 2003. Great video. brings me back. 29 days of some of the best training I've ever had.

good video but Jesus Christ the music is horrible

When I went through SERE, EVERYBODY had to "turn themselves in" the last day of the Evasion phase of the training. Then you go into the Resistance & Escape phase. My tent buddy(they pair you up) was an Ensign just out of BUDs and we never got caught. The longer you can stay out of the camp, the better.

nothing but great memories for me!!! p-cola was such a great time of my life!!! getting paid to train all day, then spend the weekend at the beach.

I was there in 1986, January. Was in CPR training when the tragedy of the Space Shuttle happened. It was super cold that morning. Thanks for your service ladies and gentlemen.

One of you guys gave me my first salute back in Feb 1987 after completing AOCS, just across the street, (Battalion II building). As a prior enlisted former AME2 with 6 years in at that time already, it was a great feeling. I always looked after my sailors when I returned to the fleet as a Naval Aviator a few years later after flight school. Nice vid of your school👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻.

We had the real Helo dunker when I when through in 1983. Six people in a drum that dropped from above the water and sank then flipped in a random rotation. No one caused it to flip in a predetermined direction - that depended on the current weight distribution. You had to go three rounds and exit the side "windows" once all motion stopped. Last dunk was with blacked out goggles to simulate night conditions or jet fuel in your eyes.

7/87 class. Man, this brings back some fun times. Looks like things have changed a bit; new helo dunker, etc. AW/SS3 P-3b/c update 2.5; VP-22 (decom). Good times. Also, glad to see they are still using the same barracks, etc.

Being a Naval Aircrewman seems like the best job in the Navy.

Thank you for posting this video. I went through NACCS in 1984 (5 wks) and the training looks very much the same. There was an obstacle course we had to do as well, the parachute drag, and a 5 mile run to the lighthouse and back. Great memories and you never forget that training. It stays with you forever. Teamwork!

awesome video! I just heard about this from one of my friends and looked it up! I was in class 1244, I'm somewhere in the mess of white shirts showing the "stress sets" before p.t. towards the end of the video lol, great upload to show people what NACCS is really like!

Thanks chunkbarf, i plan to go into the USMC so it's good to see what's expected of me there.

Thank You For Posting This, this has really helped calm my nerves as to how it may go

Welcome to Naval Aircrewman. Best Job in the world in the Navy. We didnt have Aircrew Candidate when I first became and Aircrewman, just SERE and DWEST and EW Training at North Island for the job. When I went for my 2nd tour the Detailer mentioned AC Candidate and I asked if I needed it since I already had my wings, He decided not. I just did DWEST Again and then EW training at Corey Station in PCola. FE School, later at VP31 and Dwest again. Again, Welcome and its the BEST Job you will ever have.

Graduated NACCS in 1980 as an ADAN then to USS America CV-66 COD Crew and VRC-40 then to Reserves VP-62 as a flight engineer trainee. Good times. Lots of changes in Naval Aviation since then.

Saludos desde México. Y mis más profundos respetos a estos Guerreros.

Went through this school in 1996, and it rocked and was very strenuous n tough! But fun. 5 days in woods was argh no food no coffee. Spin puke tub was fun, etc. Very proud to be a naval Aircrewmen. Rock on.

Became USN Aircrew before there was a NACCS; AWs were sensor operators only. Flew as SS1/3 P-3 Orions 77-91 homeported NAS Barbers Point. Cool video; times have changed retired from USN June 1991 hard to believe that was 26 years ago seems like only a few years ago.

Lots of great information! Thanks for taking the time to deliver that.

My dad was an AW from 1977-2001. Iv been an AW since 2004 and retire in 7.5 months. Pensacola was a good time.

The first building in the video is where all aircrew would form up for classing up and classes is being condemned cause a baby possum fell out of the ceiling into the cage. One of the instructors said they wont fix the building for use they will just make the outside look pretty since the repairs for making the building serviceable would cost to much. they planned on moving to another building removing the original wings and painting new ones at the new building. My class 2343 was the last one to have a full cycle through it. We made our class patch honoring that possum who made a huge change to the history of aircrew training. the patch is several possums wearing piss covers diving out of a c-130 with "END OF AN ERA" at the bottom of the patch. HOORAH AIRCREW!

Navy ever needs somebody expert in Sports Science and Medicine I am up for that never forgot starving those 2 weeks at EGLIN AFB ,,,,,,,ever!!!!! Today built like SEAR INSTRUCTOR ...loved my SAR DAYS best training ever got in my whole life---- thank you NAS PENSACOLA FL!

That school house was so hype, waking up shouting out the Petty officers names as they come out then running like 6+ miles doing several minutes planks... it was the life haha

Vp-22 Barbers Point Hawaii 76-80...best time of my life and best friends I ever had... boy this brings back memories

Very challenging and fun! Got my gold wings in 1990. Ended up stationed in Hawaii flying P-3c Orions. *Goooo for it kids!*

Definitely thinking about doing aircrew, shipping out to Navy RTC soon, gonna be an AD. HOOYAH!

NACCS is 4 weeks but you on hold for an undetermined amount of time. it depends on how many people are ahead of you. then you go to RSS if youre a rescue swimmer for 5 weeks. then you go across base to "A" school which depending on the rate you get whether its AWO,AWR,AWV,AWF, or AWS determines the amount of weeks of training. after you graduate then you go to SERE in Maine.

Wow, that brought back a ton of memories. Thank you. Orion's all the way!!!

Leaving November 27, 2017 signed a contract for AG (aircrew) for the Marine Corps. See you guys back when I make it through all the training! OoooOOhRA

This seems so strange to me. Went to boot at San Diego in 1970, NATTC at NAS. Memphis. AT school for 6 months the C school for 3 more. After that shipped out to my squadron and was assigned to a flight school, 6 months later I got my wings. I got sent back for SERE, DWEST, and altitude training 2 years later. It was a whole different world then. GO NAVY.

I was in Class 8225. We did the helo pick up with a real helo in P-cola bay. We also did parachute training from behind a truck at Elgin AFB.

Finishing my physical tomorrow and then getting orders to go to NACCS on friday can't wait to be there.

Boy does this bring back memories. I went through back in 86. Went to AW school in Millington TN right after A/C school. Then SERE Then to my RAG at VS-41. I didn't make the Navy a career but I don't regret one day of the 5 years I was in.

Went through NACCS back in the Stone age(1988), but seems nothing has changed much. After that was "AWA school" in Millington ,TN for another 6 months, then SERE school in San Diego, then 6 more months of the "Rag" Squadron, then you get to your final permanent duty station. Mine was Hawaii:-)

I'll be here in June and I can't wait. See you soon.

NACCS in 2000. Females were not allowed in that MOS (marine corps anyways) but we did have female navy

Amezquita here. Even though I got rolled back in week 3, I am still a GOONSQUAD!!! HOOYAH GOONSQUAD!!

This is motivation. I’m currently looking to join the navy and I wanted to be a Seabee but also interested in aircrewman helicopter rate it’s so many things to do

In case anyone is looking at this in 2020 or later, NACCS has gotten even easier. The only PT you do in actual class is one week of “hell week” where u do maybe 3 hours of pt a day. The rest of the day you swim. Every other week is just classroom training pretty much. It’s super easy. If you’re a decent swimmer and can do a push-up, this school is cake. The single worst part of this school house is the waiting. You’re in backlog for almost 2 months before u start the actual school, which only lasts 4-5 weeks. Then you’re in grad hold for 2 months. Then you’re in barracks support for a month before you start A school. So much waiting

I attended this training in Pcola. Class (19) 9209. Brings back some memories.

Went through way back in 1987 - forgot the class number, but we started the Tuesday after Memorial Day... then on to RSS Class 8719 (Number One, First in Line, Conway's Last, Guarido's First) - STILL have and fit into my UDT Shorts.

Can't wait to get there! I ship out in a couple of weeks to Navy Bootcamp as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer!!!

I love looking at all the comments on here, it's crazy how long ago some of them were. I ship out next July (I'm DEP) and was able to get aircrew. I'm very excited for the future adventures military life holds for me.

Awesome video man, the instructors must have really lighten up to let you guys bring in cameras.

That school was awesome. I'd do it all over again.

Class 8710 God, I miss those days Only to follow up with SAR School 11 years later...At 34 I could still Lap half the young'ns. Good Times, "Always Ready"

For you guys who were asking about the training pipeline. Normally you go from bootcamp to aircrew canidate school. I dont know about nowadays but in 2004-05` I think the school was 2-3months of just nothing but working out and swimming all day everyday. PT/meal/PT/meal/swim/secure.. Then I went to AW school Now its called AWO A school. That should be 4 months of hard core in the books study. I watched alot of people drop out of both schools so keep your game face on and your military bearing.

i ship to rtc on nov 4th. going here January. so stoked, this all looks fun to me

Nice video. I was there Dec 04`. I miss all those aircrew beach parties and hotel parties in PCOLA.. mannnn we got beat at that school house

I went there in 1980, I remember the helo dunker, the 1 mile swim and being out in the field for days with no food.It was a great experience!

I love it, couldnt think of anything id rather do.

Damnit man now I feel old, I went threw that back in 09. Saw this was 10 years ago and checked to see how close our classes would have been but it hit me how long ago I went threw LOL 🤦‍♂️ forgot all about the hypoxia chamber

I found my MOS i want for the marines this is it!! hope to be training hard as you guys in a couple moths!! Go MARINES!!!

If your going to Aircrew school and want to be a in TACAMO either becoe an AWF( Reel Operator) or what I am a AWV ( In-Flight Technician or Airborne Communication Operator) once you complete ATT and AE or ATO strand you will get a choice to where you wanna go...maybe. If you qualify for a TS clearance AND you want to go to Tinker then im sure you will get it. Its not all that bad here, its what you make of it. But just remember its the needs of the navy and if you get selected!

I just got the paperwork cleared away for this, i know it's AG under mos 73xx enlisted crew, but there was one other either AJ or AH that was also aircrew the other is an aircraft mechanic position which would still allow you to become aircrew just much later down the road.

I went to this school in the summer of 1990 after Boot Camp in Orlando. The President was HW Bush, that's 32 years ago. A lot has change. Many same drills but different places in the base. We did the 1 mile swim outside in the pool. We did the obstacle course a lot. The mess hall was very nice. It was officer quality type but for enlisted. As of matter of fact, it was the best base out of my 5 year enlistment. After Pensacola, we went to Millington, TN for A school and that was a downgrade. That base sucks and the mess hall was Alcatrazz level.

Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) is about 1 month but you are gonna be waiting to class up, so it could range anywhere to 6 weeks to 6 months. After NACCS, you go to your A-School at the other side of base for your rating ( your job in Aircrew).

Great! Just g r e a t . I was there in 89. AC/RSS H-3s. Hey, is that PBY-5 wreck still in the building? I always loved the survival displays there. Oh! Did you go to SERE school?

CANT WAIT!

i leave december 10. ill be in nacs in february. ive always wanted an adventure like this

It's weird watching this now that I'm going through it. We just did the helo dunker today and it was awesome. Things have changed though since this video came out. Things like bay opps isn't in the bay anymore like in the video, it's just in a pool now. Kinda lame but that's what happens when budgets are cut haha.

Great Memories! I attended NACCS a LONG time ago. Arrived in November 1987. If i remember correctly, I think I was in class 8808. Do they still do Rambo week?

your going to love aircrew.

Go Marines the end. you will get all the info you need when you finish each step. Vision correctable to 20-20 and good depth perception. Marine corps will get you in shape for the job.

Ok, that's not cool. Our class photo was taken in wet flight suits and barefoot, outside the pool building, after the mile swim, in January.

(continue) after A school you will go to SERE school in maine or san diego, (good luck with that) . thats about 1 week of classroom work and 1 week in the field. Then you would go to your platform school. I went to P-3`s as An AW to VP-30 in jacksonville FL. That school is about 8months. Then you will go to your squadron and once you get qualified there you will get your gold wings. In the squadron for first timers in a p3 it will take between 6months and 12months. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Went here July/August of 1990.

for the navy you go to a school which is just on the other side of base then you go to sere

Yes it is

Royal video 🇺🇸🌎

You can also be a CTR, CTI, or CTT. But if thats the case you have to elect to join the Aircrew pipeline after you start your A school.

Your Aircrew rating, whether it be AWF, AWO, AWR, AWS, AWV, is chosen for you in the final week of NACCS. They'll ask you to put on a paper what rating would you like and depending on the needs of the Navy and space for the job, They'll give you that rating, or they'll give you your second choice. It all depends how manned they are and the needs of the Navy.

That was so fun I’d do it all again if I could

Same buildings, I think we did the mile swim in the intercoastal. I know that the training changed alot after the kid across the hall from me drown in the pool. Before that there was no such thing as training time out or stress card's. The Navy expected you to be tough! If you couldn't hack it you were dropped.

class 8244 still love serving and my wings of gold! Fly Navy!!

According to the Airborne Command Post fact sheet on the STRATCOM official website: "Members of the battle staff form operational teams and represent all branches of the armed services." Is there always a battle staff flying aboard TACAMO every time the aircraft takes off for a mission?

What’s the different for those wearing brown and green flight suits? Different military branches or ranks?

Crazy to look at the front of the building on youtube while I'm currently in it now

we had a Puddle pirate helo pick us up in Pensacola bay not what they have in the pool now... Class 9133 here... is the F4 phantom out side the admin bldg still there, to the left of the barracks as you exited? I believe if I remember right it was from the Constellation...

wow! been a longtime i guess things change, cool video. I went in 1981, I'm actually the 2700th graduate, back then the school was 5 weeks and the helo dunker was no joke. i guess too many washouts they had to soften it up a little. I hope they didn't soften up SERE too.

Oh, the memories.

We did our PT on the Grinder (hot asphalt), not soft green grass!

awesome video. i was in class 1239.

The Navy/Marine Corps have had SERE school classes at Warner Springs since the 1960's. If you do go there, there's not much around in the form of animals around. Plenty of prickly pears to eat. Ha Ha. The guys that have been through SERE usually won't devulge any info about the actual "stuff" that goes on inside POW camp.

Wow.. I remember that.. I took in 1988. the went to rescue swimmer school.

Does anyone know about HM-8401, they go through this right? and what do they do after?

Awesome video! Can you make it available on mobile version please?

Mixed up the sweat chair with the helo dunker. No sweat chair obstacles or maze? When did you guys get life vests? And, why no boats or helos during bay ops? Things have changed I guess. Hooyah Aircrew, wings of gold!

Is this an AJ contract under the mos 73xx enlisted aircrew

I don't know if you know the answer to this question, but does becoming a Naval Aircrewman open a path to become assigned to an E-6B Mercury, either as a TACAMO crewmember or as part of the Strategic Command Airborne Command Post? battle staff?

I was at naccs I got dropped from the program I will defiantly will be going back to get the ac wings

I hope I can land this job I want to get AWF AWO or AWS can you pick any of these rates at MEPS

Good memories though, easiest school you'll ever do as an aircrewman

So after being in the navy if you cant strike this rank out before boot can you transfer to it?

When do you get to choose your rating? Is it before bootcamp at Great Lakes or after we finish NACCS?