Your own efforts will determine your readiness for other jobs. The Navy needs well-trained personnel, so work in an inspired manner regardless of your chosen rating. Likewise, when you get aboard ship, you will prob- ably think that your job is only moving aircraft from one spot to another. As with your work ashore, you will have more responsible jobs as you learn your duties afloat. ASSIGNMENTS As an Airman Recruit, you will work in one of the more progressive areas of the naval service—naval aviation. As an Airman Apprentice or Airman, you can expect various assignments. Your job may be on an aircraft carrier as ship's company, where you will work in a variety of jobs. You may work in an operating carrier squadron. Carrier squadrons are shore based, but when the air wing goes aboard a carrier, the squadron will accompany it. You may work in a patrol squadron. Patrol squadrons are on naval air stations in the United States and deploy to overseas bases. You may also work in a training squadron. Your assignment could be with fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft. Shore assignments include naval air stations, naval air facilities, or aircraft intermediate maintenance departments. There are other billet possibilities for the Airman, but those are the major ones. The team assignment is not the important thing. The important thing is to become an integral part of the team. Always do your best to make your team the Navy's finest. LEADERSHIP In the Navy, leadership begins early. As an Airman Recruit or Airman Apprentice, you have a limited leadership role. However, you should begin to find out the principles of good leadership. For you to perform your responsibilities as a petty officer, you must display the qualities of good leadership. Why not learn as much as possible about leadership now. Leadership is learned. Those who have become Navy leaders have done so through the application of the principles of leadership from an early age. This training manual does not present an extended leadership course. However, you will find some of the general principles of leadership in the following paragraphs. If you wish to read more about this subject, refer to   Basic Military Requirements, NAVEDTRA 12018, and   Military Requirements for Petty Officer Third Class, NAVEDTRA 12044. Both of these training manuals contain information about leadership. Military Requirements for Petty Officer Third Class,  NAVEDTRA 12044, is primarily for personnel who are preparing for petty officer third class. You may wish to study it to get a head start in leadership training. The Bibliography for Advancement Examination Study, NAVEDTRA 10052,   provides titles and sections of publications you should study when preparing for the examination. No single publication can give you all the information you need. Your divisional training petty officer or the Educational Services Office (ESO) will assist you. A thorough knowledge of the work a person is doing is a decided advantage to the prospective leader. It is important that you learn everything you can about the rate requirements of an Airman. You may find yourself in a position where your shipmates come to you for assistance with a problem. When you are able to help with their problems (without embarrassing them), you are on your way to becoming a leader. You may even be able to do the right things automatically. In this case, it will be a relatively easy job for you to become the type of leader the Navy needs. However, as stated previously, leadership is learned. If you have to think about how you are conducting yourself when giving help, you are normal. Q1-5. The initial Machinist Mate (Aviation) rate came from what rating? Q1-6. Major changes to the aviation ratings structure took place in what year? Q1-7. What manual lists the requirements for all aviation ratings? Q1-8. What general rating begins at paygrade E-6 instead of E-4? Q1-9. What are aviation service ratings? Q1-10. What officer or office should you contact for assistance in finding the publications you need to study for advancement? SUMMARY The history and mission of naval aviation tells of its importance, both yesterday and today. By learning about what happened in the past, you gain insight into today's world of naval aviation. Further, knowing yesterday's role of naval aviation will help you know what is expected of you as you work in the aviation field. 1-13