Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer)
Perform helicopter search and rescue in the most extreme environments.
Job Overview
ASTs are the Coast Guard's rescue swimmers.
Aviation Survival Technicians deploy from Coast Guard helicopters to rescue people in high seas, floods, and disasters. They also maintain survival equipment.
History & Deep Dive
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Daily Responsibilities
- Airborne SAR
- Rescue swimming
- Maintain survival gear
- Physical training
- Aircraft duties
Training Pipeline
- 1Basic Training8 weeks
- 2AST A SchoolElizabeth City, NC · ~24 weeks
- 3Rescue Swimmer SchoolPensacola, FL · ~5 weeks
Official Qualification Requirements
Requirements being verified against the official service publication. We do not display unofficial or estimated scores — contact a recruiter for the current minimum.
SECRET
Requirements are subject to change by the Department of Defense and each service. Always confirm the current standard with an official recruiter before making a decision.
Required in practice. Recruiting sites do not print a job-by-job rule, but this specialty needs access to classified information, and federal personnel-security rules (32 CFR 117.10 and the SEAD-4 adjudicative guidelines) limit security clearances to U.S. citizens. Verified August 2026.
Video Library
Career Progression
AST supervisor, flight chief.
Assignments & Special Schools
- Elizabeth City, NC
- Astoria, OR
- Kodiak, AK
- Sitka, AK
- Cape Cod, MA
Deployment: Rare overseas deployments; frequent domestic response.
Advantages
- Life-saving work
- Iconic mission
- Elite team
Disadvantages
- Extremely demanding pipeline
- High injury risk
- Dangerous conditions