Figure 1-1 illustrates paths of advancement for
an Airman Recruit to Master Chief Aviation
Boatswain’s Mate, Commissioned Warrant Officer
(W-4), and Limited Duty Officer. Shaded areas show
career stages where qualified enlisted personnel may
advance to Commissioned Warrant Officer (W-2), and
Limited Duty Officer.
Personnel in the ABF rating operate, maintain,
and perform organizational maintenance on aviation
fueling,
automotive
gasoline
(MOGAS),
and
lubricating oil systems on CVs, CVNs, LHAs, LPHs,
and LPDs. Included are aviation fuel, MOGAS, and
catapult lubricating oil service stations and
pumprooms, piping, valves. pumps, tanks, and
portable equipment related to the fuel system. ABFs
also operate, maintain, and repair the valves and
piping of purging and protective systems within the
Air Department spaces aboard ship.
Figure 1-1.—Paths of advancement.
Additionally,
ABFs
operate
and
service
motorized fueling equipment, maintain quality
surveillance, and supervise the operations and
servicing of fuel farms and equipment associated with
the fueling and defueling of aircraft ashore.
They also may train, direct, and supervise fire-
fighting crews, fire rescue teams, and damage control
parties in assigned fuel and catapult lubricating oil
spaces. And they ALWAYS observe and enforce fuel-
handling safety precautions.
AVIATION FUELS DIVISION
AFLOAT
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Describe the
organization and responsibilities of the major
work-centers of a typical Aviation Fuels
Division Afloat.
Figure 1-2 illustrates the typical AvFuels
Division Afloat organization. However, it must be
emphasized that you will encounter many variations
of AvFuels Divisions. This is due to the many
different types of ships used by the Navy that have
the capability of fueling and defueling aircraft.
The variations you will see in the organization of
a division include the number of personnel assigned
to the division, the number and types of aircraft em-
barked, and the tactical employment of your ship.
You
may
also
encounter
slightly
different
organizations even on the same-class ships.
Regardless of the type of ship, keep in mind that the
basic mission of the division remains the same;
therefore, the basic division structure does not
change.
The AvFuels Division Afloat is normally made up
of the V-4 Division Office, the Flight Deck workcen-
ter (which includes flight deck repair and the quality
surveillance lab), and the Below Decks workcenter.
Some divisions will have a maintenance workcenter
that combines the maintenance and repair of the
flight and below decks workcenters. Most will have a
Damage Control workcenter. Again, it depends on the
needs and manning of the command.
Another integral part of the AvFuels Division
Afloat is the Aviation Fuels Security Watch. This
watch is stood 24 hours a day when the ship is not at
flight quarters. Personnel standing this watch must
be properly trained, familiar with the AvFuels
system, and fully PQS-qualified as an AvFuels
Security
1-2
