What to Know A Career in Air Force 1P0X1 Aircrew Equipment

Note: The Air Force created the 1P0X1 career field by combining 1T0X1, Life Support and 2A7X4, Survival Equipment.

Aircrew Flight Equipment Specialists manage, performs, and schedules inspections, maintenance, and adjustments of assigned aircrew flight equipment (AFE), aircrew chemical defense equipment (ACDE), associated supplies, and inventories assets.

Duties Performed by These Specialists

Inspects, maintains, packs and adjusts aircrew flight equipment such as flight helmets, oxygen masks, parachutes, flotation devices, survival kits, helmet mounted devices, aircrew night vision and other ocular systems, anti-G garments, aircrew eye and respiratory protective equipment, chemical biological protective oxygen masks and coveralls, and other types of AFE and aircrew chemical defense systems. Repairs fabric and rubber components, including protective clothing, thermal radiation barriers, flotation equipment, and various parachutes. Evaluates problems and determines the feasibility of repair or replacement related to inspecting and repairing fabric, rubber equipment, and parachutes. Evaluates work orders for fabrication of authorized items.​

Installs and removes aircraft-installed AFE. Uses various types of test equipment such as altimeters, oxygen testers, leakage testers, radio testers, and other types of testers to conduct reliability testing on AFE and ACDE. Maintains inspection and accountability documentation on AFE issued to aircrews or prepositioned on aircraft.

Job Training

Initial Skills Training (Tech School): AF Technical School graduation results in the award of a 3-skill level (apprentice). Following Basic Military Training, initial skills training is provided in a 3-level (apprentice) resident course taught at the 82d Training Group, 361st Training Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas (65 academic days).

During technical school, airmen will be trained on the following: AFE inspection and maintenance procedures; parachute construction; temperature and humidity affect on parachutes and other fabrics; characteristics of rubberized items; solvent, heat, and pressure effect on rubber; proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous waste, materials, and pyrotechnics; aircrew flight and chemical defense equipment inspections, fitting, and maintenance procedures; supply procedures; principles of contamination control; related technical information, policies, procedures, techniques, and equipment.

Certification Training: Upon arrival at the first duty station, airmen are enrolled in upgrade training to the 5-skill level (journeyman). This training is a combination of on-the-job task certification, and enrollment in a correspondence course called a Career Development Course (CDC). Once the airman's trainer(s) have certified that they are qualified to perform all tasks related to that assignment, and once they complete the CDC, including the final closed-book written test, they are upgraded to the 5-skill level, and are considered to be "certified" to perform their job with minimal supervision. For this AFSC, 5-level training averages 15 months.

Advanced Training: Upon achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, airmen are entered into 7-level (craftsman) training. A craftsman can expect to fill various supervisory and management positions such as shift leader, element NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer in Charge), flight superintendent, and various staff positions. For an award of the 9-skill level, individuals must hold the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. A 9-level can expect to fill positions such as flight chief, superintendent, and various staff NCOIC jobs.

Average Promotion Times (Time in Service)

Airman First Class (E-2): 6 months
Senior Airman (E-4): 16 months
Staff Sergeant (E-5): 5.09 years
Technical Sergeant (E-6): 11.34 years
Master Sergeant (E-7): 17.45 years
Senior Master Sergeant (E-8): 20.72 years
Chief Master Sergeant (E-9): 23.13 years

Required ASVAB Composite Score: M-40

Security Clearance Requirement: Secret

Other Requirements

• Qualification to operate a government vehicle (drivers license required)
• Normal color vision
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly
• Visual acuity correctable to 20/20
• No record of claustrophobia or claustrophobic tendencies
• Must be eligible to receive authorization to bear arms IAW AFI 31-207, Arming and Use of Force by Air Force Personnel