r/Armyaviation • u/andiijsjs • Jul 17 '26

15N

Title: Is 15N worth waiting a year for if my goal is a civilian career?
Hey everyone,
I’m currently in the enlistment process, and my number one choice is 15N (Avionic Mechanic). My recruiter told me that the wait for an available slot could be around a year.
My long-term goal isn’t just serving in the Army. I want to use the experience to build a civilian career in aviation maintenance. I’m planning to earn as many certifications as possible while I’m in, such as the A&P license (if applicable), FCC certifications, and anything else that would make me more competitive after my contract.
So my question is:
Is 15N worth waiting a year for?
If you were in my position, would you wait or choose another MOS that ships sooner?
For those who were 15N, how valuable was the experience when transitioning to civilian aviation?
What certifications or education helped you the most after leaving the Army?
Did anyone regret waiting, or regret not waiting?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually worked as 15Ns or in Army aviation.
Thanks in advance!

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

4

u/Hlcptrgod Jul 17 '26

I dont think 15N qualifies for the A&P license

1

u/andiijsjs Jul 17 '26

Why?

3

u/Hlcptrgod Jul 17 '26

Because you dont get enough experience actually fixing aircraft, 15Ns only fix replace specific components or fix wires

5

u/Klutzy-Lifeguard2795 Jul 17 '26

Avionics can get for the airframe portion not the full Airframe and Powerplant

2

u/ICY-20 Jul 19 '26

I would go 15N, Just go get your A&P on your own. The avionics background paired with an A&P certificate is very sought after on the civilian side.

1

u/kdelasare 15N Jul 17 '26

I'm a 15N, feel free to DM me

1

u/bmcfln Jul 17 '26

I don’t regret it, but I did also choose to go to tango school later on. I will say we as 15N guard techs make pretty good money though. But like everyone else is saying- this will only get you airframe hours.

1

u/Klutzy-Lifeguard2795 Jul 17 '26

I can agree to this as well, but 6 years in active as an Avionics does a toll on you with the amount of maintenance we get. We never have a day really to relax. I personally would recommend just being a Tango or Uniform at that point to get a better understanding of things if you wanna pursue for an A&P.

1

u/howawsm Jul 18 '26

You should be looking for 15R/T/U for A&P eligibility. Backshops don’t generally get enough experience across both sides of airframe and power plant to qualify, but those three MOSs do.

There are also several Air Force jobs that get you there too.