How does a soldier get assigned as a helicopter door gunner?

You want to rain hell from above?

The correct answer is maybe. The Army does not have a door gunner MOS (military occupational specialty). This role is filled usually by non-crew volunteers from the aviation unit, or in some cases the helicopter maintainer/crew chief (15T for Blackhawks, 15U for Chinooks). The idea is to bring on support personnel instead of pulling the crew chiefs away from crew-chiefing. It is not a permanent position.

Any flying is good flying. Photo by me

The Air Force has also removed its AFSC (Air Force Speciality Code) for door gunners, rolling them into the relatively new AFSC 1A9X1, Special Missions Aviator, which fills the role of flight engineer, loadmaster, and gunner. They fill positions on various aircraft, both fixed wing and rotorwing, and operate various systems.

I can't speak precisely for the Marine Corp or Navy, but the trend is the same. You cannot enlist and serve as a door gunner and only a door gunner. It's more useful for the force to have you trained in multiple roles to keep the airframe running smoothly.

Edit: Keith Holt in the comments confirmed that there is no specific door gunner rate for the Navy; it is a collateral duty for members of aircrew.

If you want a guaranteed mission of making air to ground contact by means of a wall of hate, go Air Force for Special Missions Aviation. Be ready for a hell of a school pipeline. Otherwise, join up, become aircrew, and work your way into the position.

Smile for the birdy. Photo by me.

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