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Comment by Mary, Proud Mom of Nick on August 24, 2011 at 7:08am

Fabulous photo - I want to be wherever that was taken!

KellyM --- Expect your sailor to be in schools for about two years and the Navy will provide the housing. He will be living on base in the barracks while he is in A school and C school. The barracks are nice, kinda like a dorm with four to a room while in GL. Accomodations at C school can be even nicer but it depends on where he goes to C school. FCs that go to Aegis school in Dahlgren, typically have a washer and dryer and there are only two to a room.

Once they move to the fleet - they always have their ship for housing :-) but depending on the command most start living off the ship when they reach E5 and receive BAH (basic housing allowance) that will pay the rent.

But in some areas ----- they have housing available for E4s.

Example: Sailor son lives in Hawaii (brat) and has one room mate, rent is $1800 per month so they each pay $900 but they are receiving $1850 per month in BAH...smart sailors are banking the balance or enjoying Hawaii!!! BAH rate varies from command to command - they also receive more if they have dependents.

Off to California for a few days, hope everyone is well and stays safe from Irene or any random earthquakes!

Comment by KellyM on August 24, 2011 at 6:20am

Thanks for the information!  He did get the description sheet but I guess I am so stressed out right now that I really didn't absorb what I read.  Does the Navy help these guys with their housing?  I mean, after boot camp, when they go to their designated schools, are they housed on base or what?  I am so confused.  He will only be 20 yrs old when he is on his own and has never lived away from home.  What about furniture and transportation?  I know these sound like stupid questions!

Comment by ProudGMBarb on August 23, 2011 at 11:41pm

Luv1031...very lovely pic...wanna go there and take my shoes off! And just too cute that he sent a pic from wikipedia!!! At least he's creative!

Comment by ProudGMBarb on August 23, 2011 at 8:24pm

KellyM...Welcome!

AECF (Advanced Electronics/Computer Field) is the field for both rates(jobs) of ET (Electronics Technician) and FC (Fire Controlman). Recruits will find out if they will be training for either ET or FC a couple weeks/few weeks into Bootcamp. I do not believe they are given a choice.

Your son should have been given a copy of the rates descrition when he signed his contract. ETs maintain and repair electronics equipment such as radar, communication and navigation equipment. FC's operate, maintain and repair the Fire Control Radars, mainframe computers, large screendisplays, LANS, weapon control consoles, automatic gun systems and associated electro-mechanical systems utilized in weapons systems.

These ratings comprise the basis of the ship's Combat Systems department and are responsible for maintaining the ship's readiness for combat operations. 

Both are excellent rates/jobs! Hope this helps.

Comment by KellyM on August 23, 2011 at 8:04pm

Hi everyone.  I'm not sure if I'm in the right group. My son just enlisted as an AECF position and won't go to boot camp until April 2, 2012.  Not sure what job he will be given and I am very new to this.  Would like to know what his options are for this position and what exactly he will be doing?  Not really sure of the difference between an FC or ET?   Help.....

Comment by ProudGMBarb on August 23, 2011 at 7:21pm

Luv103l...Happy Birthday to your sailor! The big 21 !!!! Hope he has a good one!

Comment by jacqueline-rn on August 23, 2011 at 6:44pm

There's a fault line in the mid-west too.  It's not terribly active but we get a tremor about every 20 years or so.  Nothing the Californians would call a 'quake.

Comment by Sandy's_sailor son on August 23, 2011 at 10:35am

I have heard that good grades matter the most in (C)school. Of course a Sailor should always do his or her absolute best. Everything goes in your record.

Comment by Sandy's_sailor son on August 23, 2011 at 10:32am

Anti M. you are correct that things have changed. FCs used to get their orders based on class standing in (A)school. That no longer applies. After my son graduated from (A)school everyone in his class made out a dream sheet. They each put down 3 choices. Everyone got CWIS.

Comment by Anti M on August 23, 2011 at 9:37am

Yes, ETs used to pick their orders by class standings (which included your student evals and senority).  That no longer applies to ETs, but other rates are still doing it.  C school is different than A school, so there may be instances of them choosing their orders from a set given to the class overall.  

The end of the fiscal year is October, and as the money gets tight, the orders and money for C school and travel slow down.  So what is true now may be less true in another month or two.  

 

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