U.S. Naval Aerospace Medicine PA (APA)
Why become an Aviation Medicine PA (APA)?
Just another day at the office...
Unique Training and Leadership Opportunities:
- Hands-on flight training alongside Naval Aviators
- Flight time in Navy aircraft (fixed and rotary wing)
- Aerospace medicine, physiology & survival training
- Directly responsible to line-side Commanding Officers for air wing medical readiness
- Line-side operational leadership opportunities not found in an MTF
- Earn qualification as MSC Aeromedical Officer (AMO)
- Earn qualification as Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO)
- High degree of clinical autonomy & medical decision-making
- Work closely with the tight-knit Naval Aviation and Aerospace Medicine Communities
Training
Six Months (Academic + Flight Training)
Over 180 CME Credits, Service School, and an AQD (6AB) awarded upon graduation
Phase I - Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination (Naval Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola FL)
- Six-week flight orientation and ground school
- Academic topics
- Aeromedical/physiologic effects
- Mishap investigation
- Clinical medicine and experience
- Survival instruction – aviation physiology, land survival, water survival
Phase II - Flight training (NAS Whiting Field, NAS Pensacola)
- Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation Program (previously called Aviation Preflight Indoctrination), includes:
- Academics
- Land survival
- Water survival training (strokes, float, mile swim, helo-dunker/escape training)
- Fixed and Rotary Wing Training
- Ground school
- Simulators
- Aircraft flying (T6 Texan, TH-57 Sea Ranger)
Phase III - Academics (NAMI)
- Nine-weeks of classroom training
- Didactic instruction in, Aviation Medicine, Environmental Physiology, Operational Medicine, and Naval Aviation Safety
For a more detailed description of APA training program, visit NAMI’s “Prospective Flight Surgeon” web page:
https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Medicine-Operational-Training-Command/Naval-Aerospace-Medical-Institute/Department-53AH/Flight-Surgeon/
Responsibilities
- Preventive medicine, primary care, contingency planning, medical evacuation and medical administrative duties, whether ashore or afloat
- Promote aviation safety, decreasing the potential for aircraft accidents
- Includes giving safety stand down lectures, squadron briefs regarding potential in-flight stressors, and participating in mishap investigations
- Make regular visits to squadron spaces to assess squadron esprit de corps, and safety consciousness of aircrew (your are expected to spend approximately 50% of your time in clinic and 50% in squadron spaces or flying).
- Routine clinic hours to meet primary and urgent healthcare needs of the air wing
- Includes primary/urgent care, flight physicals, and treating health issues unique to the Naval Aviation community
- Direct responsibility to line-side Commanding Officers for the general health and medical readiness of the air wing
- Includes regular briefs to squadron COs regarding the overall health and wellness of their squadron
- Working closely with the air wing Flight Surgeon(s) to coordinate patient care and ensure squadrons receive outstanding medical support
- Additionally, the APA is expected to regularly fly with the squadron as aircrew to observe in-flight stressors and crew-coordination.
- Depending on the aircraft, this may include time at the controls.
APA's Scope of Practice:
- Routine health care of aircrew & maintainers
- Issue aeromedical clearance without co-sign
- Perform flight physicals & AERO submissions without co-sign
- Human Factor Councils & Boards
- Participate in Aviation Mishap Investigations
- Physiologic episode investigations and reporting
- FNAEBs – Evaluations but can’t sit the board
Requirements
- Rolling applications (can apply at any time)
- Application requirements:
- Flight Physical (complete early)
- Application package:
- 1-page personal statement
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Does not have to be from a flight-related individual (although nice).
- Command Endorsement
Utilization
- 2-3 year post-training utilization tour
- Operational billets have priority
Utilization Guidance:
- SECNAVINST 6410.1A
- MANMED Chapter 15
- CNAFINST M 3710.7
- NAMI Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide
Possible Billets:
- Carrier Air Wings
- CVW 2, 9, 11 or 17 (NAS Lemoore CA)
- CVW 1, 3, 7, or 8 (NAS Oceana VA)
- CVW 5 (NAF Atsugi Japan, MCAS Iwakuni Japan)
- USMC
- 3D MAW Yuma AZ
- 1ST MAW Kaneohe HI
- MWSS-272 Jacksonville NC
- MWSD-273 Beaufort SC
- BSO-18 (Navy Medicine)
- Clinic APA: NMRTU Yuma AZ, NMRTC Pearl HI, NMRTC Corpus Christi TX, NMRTC Joint Base Andrews DC, NMRTU Oceana VA, NMRTU Norfolk VA
- Other: Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (Pensacola FL) - Requires completion of CVW tour as APA
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I still receive my Retention Bonus?
- YES
- Are you stuck in Aerospace Medicine, or can I pursue other career opportunities?
- You are NOT stuck and can pursue other fellowships, instructor duty, other shore & operational communities.
- What are the chances of getting a shore billet directly out of training?
- Operational billets are the priority; however, it is possible based on manning factors to get a shore billet.
- Are there leadership opportunities?
- APAs have served in Department Head, Medical OIC, and Senior Medical Officer positions.
- What does 0.5 FTE mean? Do BSO-18 APAs also get that?
- Half of work week in clinic; other half squadron/admin.
- Yes, BSO-18 APAs by instruction are 0.5 FTE (if in an APA billet).
Application and Information
For a more detailed description of APA training program, visit NAMI’s “Prospective Flight Surgeon” web page:
https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Medicine-Operational-Training-Command/Naval-Aerospace-Medical-Institute/Department-53AH/Flight-Surgeon/
A separate page is under construction for APAs. However, APA flight training and didactics are identical to that of Navy Flight Surgeons.
Naval Aerospace Medical Institute
340 Hulse Road
Pensacola FL 32508
For more information please contact APA Program Director
Navy PAs, contact through your Assistant Specialty Leader
APA Brief:
