Aviation structural mechanic Aviation structural mechanic ( abbreviated as AM ) is a United States Navy occupational rating . Duties . Aviation structural mechanics maintain aircraft airframe and structural components flight surfaces and controls hydraulic and pneumatic control and actuating systems and mechanisms , landing gear systems , air conditioning , pressurization , visual improvement , oxygen and other utility systems , egress systems including seat and canopy ejection systems and components , fabricate and repair metallic and nonmetallic materials ; perform aircraft daily , special , hourly , and conditional inspections , supervise operation of airframe work centers ; maintain aircraft metallic and non - metallic structures including fuselages , fixed and moveable flight surfaces , tail booms , doors , panels , decks , empennages , and seats ( except ejection seats ) ; flight controls and related mechanisms ; hydraulic power storage and distribution systems including main ( primary and secondary ) , auxiliary ( utility ) , and emergency systems ; hydraulic actuating subsystems ; landing gear systems including wheels and tires , brakes , and emergency systems ; pneumatic power , storage and distribution systems ; hoists and winches , wing and tail fold systems ; launch and arresting gear systems ; hydraulic component repair and test ; and perform aircraft daily , special , hourly , and conditional inspections . Aviation structural mechanics , safety equipment ( AME ) maintain safety belts , shoulder harnesses and integrated flight harnesses in aircraft , inertia reels , seat and canopy ejection systems , gaseous and liquid oxygen systems , life raft ejection systems , fire extinguishing systems excluding fire detection systems , portable fire extinguishers , emergency egress systems , air - conditioning , heating cabin and cockpit pressurization , ventilating and antiGsystems , visual improvement systems , other utility systems and associated lines , fittings , rigging , valves and control mechanisms ; replenish liquid and gaseous oxygen systems ; remove and install oxygen system valves , gages , converters and regulators ; inspect , remove , install and rig ejection seats , shoulder harnesses , lap belts and face curtain mechanisms ; inspect , remove , install and adjust firing mechanisms and cartridges for ejection seats , lap belts and canopies ; operate and maintain liquid nitrogen and liquid and gaseous oxygen shop transfer and recharge equipment ; perform daily , preflight , postflight and other periodic aircraft inspections . Since 2001 , the occupational rating has been divided into two service ratings for E3 - E7 : At the E - 8 level , AM and AME personnel may be advanced to AMCS ( senior chief aviation structural mechanic ) . At the E - 9 level , AMCS and ADCS ( senior chief aviation machinist ' s mate ) personnel look towards advancement to AFCM ( master chief aviation maintenanceman ) . Working environment . Aviation structural mechanics may be assigned to sea or shore duty in any place in the world , so their working environment varies considerably . They may work in hangars or hangar decks , or outside on flight decks or flight lines at air stations . A high noise level is a normal part of their work environment . AMs work closely with others , do mostly physical work and require little supervision . AMs may also serve as flight engineers aboard certain aircraft . Requirements . ASVAB score requirement : VE + AR + MK + AS = 210 OR VE + AR + MK + MC = 210 Security clearance requirement : None ( except for those who volunteer for aircrew duty ) Other requirements : History . Between 1948 and 2001 , the AM rating consisted of two additional service ratings : AME ' s maintain and repair oxygen , cockpit and cabin pressurization , and ejection seat systems . The AMH was for hydraulic systems ( landing gear , brakes , flight controls and all related ) . The AMS was structural / sheet metal . Today ' s AM rating began from the aviation metalsmith used between 1921 and 1948 .