History
The rating now known as AT can trace its origin to World War II, when the rating of Aviation Radio Technician (ART) was established on 11 December 1942. This rating was redesignated Aviation Electronics Technician's Mate (AETM) on 31 October 1945. Effective 2 April 1948 the name of the rating became Aviation Electronics Technician (AET); the abbreviation was changed to (AT) on 9 June of the same year. A separate rating, Aviation Electronicsman (AL) was absorbed in 1955. The former ratings of Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ) and Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician (AX) were absorbed into the AT rating effective 1 January 1991.
ATs were at one time further subdivided into ATA (Aircraft Equipment), ATG (Ground Equipment), ATN (Radio and Navigation Equipment), ATR (Radar and Navigation Equipment) and AO (Ordnance), and ATW (Airborne CIC Equipment). The duties of an ATG are now served by an AS (Aircraft Support Equipmentman). The duties of an AO remain a separate rating, and these personnel currently conduct far less electronics troubleshooting. Their training is more aligned with explosives-handling. All of the other subdivisions have since been re-merged back into the AT rating.
Read more about this topic: Aviation Electronics Technician (United States Navy Rating)
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