U.S. Coast Guard · Aviation Maintenance

AET Avionics Electrical Technician (AET)

Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technicians (AET) inspect, troubleshoot, and repair the avionics and electrical systems on Coast Guard aircraft including HC-130s, HH-60s, and HH-65s, and fly as aircrew on many airframes. The public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists AET as MK+EI+GS = 172 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. The Coast Guard now publishes this rating as AET; older ASVAB charts abbreviate it AVT.

last verified 2026-07-05

AET (Avionics Electrical Technician (AET)) is in the Coast Guard and requires a minimum AFQT of 36 and MK+EI+GS of at least 172. Last verified 2026-07-05 against U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3).

Quick check

Can I qualify for this job?

Enter the scores you already know. Leave a box blank if you do not have that score yet.

AFQT minimum 36Enter AFQT
MK+EI+GS minimum 172Enter MK+EI+GS

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT36
  • Training~24 weeks
  • MK+EI+GS line score≥ 172

Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-05.

Role brief

About AET — Avionics Electrical Technician (AET).

Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technicians (AET) inspect, troubleshoot, and repair the avionics and electrical systems on Coast Guard aircraft including HC-130s, HH-60s, and HH-65s, and fly as aircrew on many airframes. The public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists AET as MK+EI+GS = 172 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. The Coast Guard now publishes this rating as AET; older ASVAB charts abbreviate it AVT.

Starting pay · 2026

What this job pays as a junior enlisted member.

Base pay is set by pay grade, not by job — every Coast Guard enlistee at the same grade earns the same monthly base pay. These are the 2026 active-duty rates (3.8% raise, effective 2026-01-01).

GradeRankMonthly base payService
E-1Seaman Recruit (SR)$2,407after 4 months of service
E-2Seaman Apprentice (SA)$2,698under 2 years
E-3Seaman (SN)$2,837under 2 years
E-4Petty Officer 3rd Class$3,142under 2 years
  • Plus food allowance (BAS)$460/moFlat enlisted rate, tax-free, paid on top of base pay.
  • Plus housing allowance (BAH)Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is paid on top of base pay and is tax-free, but it varies by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents — there is no single nationwide figure. Use the official DoD BAH calculator for your assignment location.DoD BAH rate lookup →

Source: DFAS 2026 active-duty basic pay tables (3.8% raise, effective Jan 1 2026) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

Eligibility notes

What AET candidates should check.

  • COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) lists AET as MK+EI+GS = 172 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. This replaces the prior secondary-source VE+AR+MK+EI = 220 formula this page previously showed.
  • The Coast Guard now publishes this rating as AET (Avionics Electrical Technician). Older ASVAB score charts list the same job under the abbreviation AVT, so 'AVT ASVAB score' and 'AET ASVAB score' refer to the same rating.
  • The Coast Guard's 2021 ASVAB policy update lowered several A-school composites by 10 points — it names IT explicitly (MK+EI+GS changed from 172 to 162). Because AET uses the same MK+EI+GS composite, its current figure may likewise be lower than the 172 shown in the public table.
  • COMDTINST 1500.10D says the live rating-requirements listing is compiled on the internal Coast Guard PSC EPM-2 site, which is not public. Confirm current AET waiver and assignment rules with a Coast Guard recruiter.
  • A qualifying ASVAB score does not replace AET's aircrew, vision, and aviation-screening requirements.

What ASVAB score does Coast Guard AET require?

The public Coast Guard M1500.10C rating table lists AET (Avionics Electrical Technician) as MK+EI+GS = 172, with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. Source verified 2026-07-05.

Is AVT the same as AET in the Coast Guard?

Yes. The Coast Guard now publishes the avionics rating as AET (Avionics Electrical Technician). Older ASVAB charts use the abbreviation AVT for the same job, so 'AVT ASVAB score' and 'AET ASVAB score' are the same rating.

Why do some sites show 220 for the Coast Guard avionics rating?

Secondary ASVAB sites list AET/AVT as a VE+AR+MK+EI = 220 composite. The public Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists MK+EI+GS = 172 with AR 52 or AFQT 65 instead, so this page uses the Coast Guard figure and tells candidates to confirm current rules with a recruiter.

What are the rating requirements for AET Avionics Electrical Technician (AET)?

The Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) rating (AET) requires a minimum AFQT of 36 and MK+EI+GS of at least 172, with initial training of about 24 weeks. Those are the ASVAB-based entry requirements; a recruiter confirms the full enlistment picture (medical, background, and current openings). Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3), last verified 2026-07-05.

How long is AET Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) training?

AET initial training runs about 24 weeks. Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3), last verified 2026-07-05.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-05 · date retrieved 2026-07-05.

Nearby targets

Related Coast Guard score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus AET line-score subtests.

AFQT + MK+EI+GS practice targets

Independent test-prep — not affiliated with DoD or the ASVAB program. See officialasvab.com for the test program.

Sources