U.S. Coast Guard · Aviation and Rescue

AST Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer)

A Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (AST), the service's rescue swimmer rating, needs VE+MC+AS = 162 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65 in the public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table. ASTs rescue people from helicopters, maintain survival equipment, and train for one of the Coast Guard's most physically demanding aviation paths.

last verified 2026-07-04

AST (Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer)) is in the Coast Guard and requires a minimum AFQT of 65 and VE+MC+AS of at least 162. Last verified 2026-07-04 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 65Enter AFQT
VE+MC+AS minimum 162Enter VE+MC+AS

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT65
  • Training~22 weeks
  • VE+MC+AS line score≥ 162

AFQT 65 is a percentile. The line score above is not — it is a Coast Guard composite, a weighted sum of your ASVAB subtest standard scores. Work yours out from your score sheet with the Coast Guard ASVAB line score calculator.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-04.

Role brief

About AST — Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer).

A Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (AST), the service's rescue swimmer rating, needs VE+MC+AS = 162 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65 in the public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table. ASTs rescue people from helicopters, maintain survival equipment, and train for one of the Coast Guard's most physically demanding aviation paths.

Initial training

How AST training works.

FormatRating A-school
LocationAviation Technical Training Center, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Length~22 weeks

After Coast Guard basic training, AST candidates complete a 22-week rating course that includes EMT certification, helicopter rescue procedures, and aviation life-support equipment inspection and maintenance.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard - Aviation Survival Technician career page · last verified 2026-07-04 · date retrieved 2026-07-04.

After training

Common AST follow-on schools and paths.

  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificationIncluded in the AST rating course according to the Coast Guard AST career page.
  • Helicopter rescue and operational fitness trainingThe Coast Guard describes advanced helicopter rescue and operational fitness training as follow-on AST development.
  • Survival instructor resident coursesThe Coast Guard lists survival instructor resident courses as advanced training for ASTs.

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 AST candidates should check.

  • COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) lists AST as VE+MC+AS = 162 with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. This replaces the prior secondary-source VE+AR+MK+MC formula.
  • The 162 is a job-specific composite gate, not the AFQT percentile. AST also carries the elevated AFQT 65 alternate listed in the Coast Guard table.
  • The Coast Guard's current AST career page does not publish a public ASVAB table, and COMDTINST 1500.10D says current rating prerequisites are compiled in the internal PSC EPM-2 A-School Assignments listing. Confirm current waiver and assignment rules with a Coast Guard recruiter.
  • A qualifying ASVAB score does not replace AST's aviation, medical, water-survival, and physical-fitness screening requirements.

What ASVAB score do you need for a Coast Guard rescue swimmer?

The public Coast Guard M1500.10C rating table lists AST as VE+MC+AS = 162, with a minimum AR score of 52 or an AFQT of 65. The current PSC EPM-2 listing is internal, so confirm current waiver rules with a recruiter.

Is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer the same as an AST?

Yes. 'Rescue swimmer' is the everyday name for the Coast Guard's Aviation Survival Technician (AST) rating. The two terms refer to the same job, and the same ASVAB and physical standards apply.

How hard is it to become a Coast Guard rescue swimmer?

AST is one of the most demanding Coast Guard ratings. Beyond the VE+MC+AS 162 / AR 52 or AFQT 65 score gate, candidates must handle aviation, emergency medical, water-survival, and operational-fitness training.

How long is Coast Guard rescue swimmer (AST) training?

The current Coast Guard AST career page describes a 22-week rating course: EMT certification, helicopter rescue procedures, and aviation life-support equipment inspection and maintenance.

Does the Coast Guard use line scores like the Army?

Not in the same way. The Coast Guard builds rating requirements by adding ASVAB subtest scores. For AST, the public M1500.10C table lists VE+MC+AS = 162 plus AR 52 or AFQT 65.

What are the rating requirements for AST Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer)?

The Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician (Rescue Swimmer) rating (AST) requires a minimum AFQT of 65 and VE+MC+AS of at least 162, with initial training of about 22 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 2026-07-04.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-04 · date retrieved 2026-07-04.

Nearby targets

Related Coast Guard score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus AST line-score subtests.

AFQT + VE+MC+AS practice targets

Plan the next step

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

Sources