KING'S ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST (EAWS) COMMON CORE TUTORIAL



OPNAVINST 1414.9b, Navy Enlisted Warfare Specialist Programs

Enlisted Aviation Warfare Program


Overhaul for Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Program
August 22, 2011 - Coronado, Calif


Enlisted Specialist Programs


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This site has been online since November 1998, and has been updated continually.

The last update was completed: 20 Sept 2021


Core EAWS Exam and Contact Information:

    Need help understanding some of the material? Find a dead link on this website? Want to correct or update a question? Or need something simplified?

    Just email me your question, comment, or suggestion, and I will answer your email as soon as I receive it.

    Also, for a copy of an EAWS Core practice exam, inputs, questions and/or comments, please contact me at:

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AZC(AW/NAC) Kimberly King


Short History of the EAWS Program and Wings

    In order to recognize enlisted personnel serving in Naval Aviation who were not aircrew members, a new program and set of wings was established.

    The Operational Navy Instruction, OPNAVINST 1412.5 of 19 March 1980 established the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Qualification Program and the new wing insignia. The Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist wings are issued to enlisted personnel who acquired the specific professional skills, knowledge, and military experience that resulted in unique qualification for service in the aviation activities of the Navy.

    Back when the program was first established, EAWS wings were normally attained from only the aviation ratings.

    General requirements included a 3.6 or better performance rating out of a possible 4.0 evaluation, nomination by the Commanding Officer, and a minimum of 24 months of sea duty in an aviation assignment. Candidates had to be in direct or indirect support of air-warfare missions.

    Administration, training, and testing was carried out at the command level, and standards were kept high to maintain the integrity of the program.

    Individual qualification requirements could only be approved by those who had themselves previously qualified.

    Aviation personnel were then authorized to wear the silver EAWS wings, and the letters "AW" in parentheses were added to their rating designation. The specialty was not, and still is not, open to officers, but LDO and warrant officers who qualified prior to commissioning, can retain the priviledge of wearing their wings.

    The 1981 Uniform Regulations described the Aviation Warfare wings as follows: "A silver embroidered or silver color metal pin (for enlisted); winged, with a central device consisting of a shield with an anchor superimposed thereon and a scroll at the bottom of the insignia."


    When The Program Was Really Difficult!

    Last, if you think this syllabus is difficult, consider what EAWS candidates had to complete prior to 1998.
    The syllabus back then, NAVEDTRA 43423-D, dated September 1995,
    was so complicated that in order to qualify you had to know or complete:

      - 1,199 questions
      - 65 tasks
      - Aircraft or Shipboard firefighting Course
      - Basic Life Support Certification
      - Navy Safety Supervisor training course
      - Aviation Maintenance Ratings Fundamentals course
      - Standard First Aid course
      - Airfield or Flight Deck Indoc Brief
      - Complete a written exam
      - Complete an oral examination board.

    Today's much streamlined syllabus includes 259 questions, and only 36 tasks,
    one course, an oral and written examination.
    Study hard and remember... it could be much worse... and was!


References for the EAWS Program include the following:

    - OPNAV 1414.9; Navy Enlisted Warfare Qualifications Program
    - BUPERSINST 1610.10C; Navy Performance Evaluation System
    - NAVADMIN message 015/01; Subj: NAVY-WIDE EXAMS FOR ADVANCEMENT IN RATE OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS TO PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS THROUGH FIRST CLASS
    - NAVADMIN message 117/00; Subj: ADVANCEMENT POINTS FOR ENLISTED WARFARE QUALIFICATION AND VOLUNTARY EDUCATION
    - All Hands Magazine; Aug 2000; MMCM(SS/AW) Jim Herdt answers why advancement points were eliminated for the EAWS/ESWS programs.
    - Link Magazine; July-September 1999; Enlisted Warfare Deadlines Approaching
    - Navy Times; July 1999; New Enlisted Warfare Standards
    - CNO Message 281952Z Oct 98; Joint Enlisted Aviation Warfare Program Information Update.
    - NAVOP message 008/97; Subj: ENLISTED WARFARE QUALIFICATION POLICY CHANGES
    - All Hands Magazine; June 1997; Article on 2 Enlisted members onboard the USS Independence
    - NAVADMIN message 219/97; Subj: ENLISTED WARFARE QUALIFICATION POLICY CHANGES. (Note: Cancelled; Historical Interest Only)
    - Navy Times; 10 Feb 1997; Warfare Pin Overhaul
    - All Hands Magazine; date unknown, cira 1997; MCPON answers OS1 Majors on why the Warfare programs were made mandatory
    - All Hands Magazine; Enlisted Warfare Qualifications Change; 1997
    - Navy Times; Date Unknown; Tighter Rules For Aviation Pin by John Burlage, Times staff writer; cira 1997
    - Navy Wire Service, 9 December 1996: NWSB389: Pinning Aboard the USS Independence
    - NAVADMIN 226/95; Subj: ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST (EAWS) QUALIFICATION PROGRAM. (Note: Cancelled; Historical Interest Only)
    - NAVADMIN 094/94: Subj: ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST (EAWS) QUALIFICATION PROGRAM. (Note: Cancelled; Historical Interest Only)
    - NAVADMIN 123/94: Subj: ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST (EAWS) QUALIFICATION PROGRAM. (Note: Cancelled; Historical Interest Only)
    - MILSPERMAN 1306-102; Type Duty Assignment Codes
    - NAVPERS 156651; United States Navy Uniform Regulations
    - MILPERSMAN 1220-060; Enlisted Warfare Specialist (EAWS) Designation
    - CNO Message 222208Z Aug 87; Enlisted Warfare Qualification Standards
    - OPNAV 1414.8; ENLISTED EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL WARFARE SPECIALIST (EWS) QUALIFICATION
    - NAVADMIN 268/10; NAVY ENLISTED WARFARE QUALIFICATION PROGRAMS


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NEW: EAWS Study Guide - 2012. Download here:

EAWS Common Core PDF File


EAWS Core JQR Sections


Obtaining The Core or Specific PQS Books

The Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) books can be found at the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) website: http://www.netc.navy.mil/


Other Enlisted Warfare Related Sites:




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