The Sailors Who Arm the Fleet

Picture a pitchblack flight deck somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. Jet engines howl, red deck lights glow, and a line of Sailors in scarlet shirts jog singlefile beneath a Super Hornet’s folded wings. These are Aviation Ordnancemen, or AOs, and their job is pure adrenaline: load, inspect, and safeguard every missile, bomb, and round that a Navy aircraft carries into the fight. They are the reason a pilot can press the trigger with total confidence. If you have ever watched an air show or seen combat footage where Navy aircraft release precisionguided weapons, you have witnessed the fingerprints of an Ordnanceman, even if you did not know it. 

What Exactly Does an Aviation Ordnanceman Do? 

An AO’s day revolves around three verbs: build, load, and maintain. On shore they assemble warheads and guidance kits inside climatecontrolled magazines. At sea they hustle ordnance from the ship’s elevators to the hangar bay and up to the flight deck, one carefully choreographed chain that marries raw horsepower with strict safety. Every bolt torque, fuze setting, and wiring harness is doublechecked because a single mistake can wreck an aircraft or, worse, cost lives. Beyond bombs, AOs service the M61A2 cannons inside the nose of an F/A18, pack flare dispensers, and keep aircrew escape pyrotechnics missionready. 

Training begins at “A” School in Pensacola, where students learn physics, fuzes, weapons codes, and enough explosive safety rules to make your head spin. From there, they refine deckplate skills with their squadrons, mastering the heavyduty GBUloading tools and the delicate touch required to seat a missile’s umbilical connector. It is a career path that rewards precision under pressure and welcomes anyone who can thrive in controlled chaos. 

IYAOYAS – The Motto That Bonds a Tribe 

If You Ain’t Ordnance You Ain’t Shit. The acronym IYAOYAS is scrawled on workbenches, stitched on morale patches, and shouted from flight decks worldwide. It is half punch line, half rallying cry, and all pride. Ordnancemen wear it like armor. The phrase grew from goodnatured ribbing among deck divisions and became a unifying motto long before hashtags existed. When a junior AO recites it on their first night check, they signal to veterans that they understand the responsibility. Sleep is optional, perfection is mandatory, and the aircraft does not launch until Ordnance says it is safe. 

For a deeper dive into Navy slang, our post Talk Like a Sailor: Navy Jargon Explained breaks down salty phrases that turn everyday conversation into an abridged history lesson. You will find IYAOYAS there alongside gems like “scuttlebutt” and “hot wash.” 

Ordnancemen Through History 

Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John William Finn 

Finn earned the first Medal of Honor of World War II for manning an exposed .50caliber gun during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite multiple wounds, he kept firing until ordered to seek medical aid. After treatment he returned to the gun line. Finn’s courage set a benchmark that every AO studies in training. 

Aviation Ordnanceman First Class Thomas McGinnis 

During the Korean War, McGinnis was credited with braving burning fuel to disarm a hung bomb lodged beneath a damaged Corsair, preventing catastrophic deck explosions. His quick action saved the carrier USS Philippine Sea from disaster and earned him the Navy Cross. 

The Modern Era 

Today’s Ordnancemen arm not only iron bombs and rockets but also advanced Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AIM9X Sidewinders. They work shoulder to shoulder with civilian engineers to integrate hypersonic concepts and laserguided innovations. For a look at how technology reshapes every corner of the fleet, check out How CuttingEdge Tech Is Transforming the U.S. Navy. 

Why the Navy Cannot Fly Without Them 

A carrier air wing can sortie eighty or more combat sorties a day during high tempo ops. That kind of firepower is useless if pilots launch with empty pylons. Ordnancemen ensure the right weapon is on the right jet at the right time. They also troubleshoot hung ordnance emergencies in midcycle, sometimes within arm’s length of spinning propellers or scorching afterburner exhaust. Their red shirts are a beacon that signals do not mess with this payload unless you know the checklist by heart. 

Communication under stress is critical. Hand signals, colored wands, and even helmet taps become second language. Our piece How U.S. Navy Ships Talk Without Saying a Word explains this silent choreography in detail; Ordnancemen rely on the same visual shorthand every night. 

Life on the Flight Deck 

Imagine working on a fouracre moving airfield where the ambient noise hovers near a rock concert and the nearest hospital is an ocean away. AOs haul 500pound JDAMs across nonskid coated steel, secure them with heavy shackles, and verify arming lanyards by touch. Crews rotate through steaming tropical nights and bonechilling North Atlantic mornings. The reward is watching a fully loaded jet punch off the catapult, knowing their handiwork could save ground troops or deter hostile ships. 

Want a bigger picture of why carriers remain indispensable? See Aircraft Carriers: Why the Navy Can’t Sail Without Them. It adds context to the steel city that keeps the AO shop in business.  

Brotherhood, Family, and Tradition 

Ordnance divisions are notoriously tightknit. They celebrate promotions with steelhammered “wetdown” parties and mourn losses with the reverence you would expect from friends who share danger daily. The AO community also connects generations: retired Sailors often volunteer at squadron reunions to pass along best practices and sea stories. Families back home adopt the IYAOYAS spirit too. When a spouse pulls long nights with the kids while their AO deploys, they become part of the extended redshirt tribe. 

Modern Challenges and the Future 

Bombs are smarter, but danger is still real. Lithium battery fires, cyberhardened weapon interfaces, and the sheer speed of technology updates mean today’s Ordnancemen must be part computer technician, part traditional armorer. The Navy’s future weapons schoolhouses now teach augmentedreality troubleshooting and 3Dprinted parts management. Yet the core mindset remains unchanged: safety first, accuracy always. Whether they are programming a seeker head or torquing down a lug, an AO understands that mistakes echo far beyond the flight deck. 

Why Their Story Matters to Every Sailor (and Fan) Ashore 

The next time you watch a movie dogfight or stand on a pier watching a carrier depart, remember that the loudest firepower begins with someone in a red shirt and cranial helmet kneeling in hydraulic fluid, wrench in hand. They may never appear on recruitment posters, but without them the Navy’s air arm would be a toothless tiger. By spotlighting Aviation Ordnancemen we also celebrate the broader message of skill, grit, and teamwork that fuels every rate in the fleet, from Seabees to submariners. That is the same message woven into every stitch of USN For Life apparel. 

honor the redshirt legends who keep Navy aircraft armed and ready with our new IYAOYAS apparel. Grab yours now and wear the motto with pride, then tell us what you think in the comments below – your stories keep this community thriving.