You Girls Are Awesome!

[dukelvr]

So it's been a good while since I've actually posted a discussion up here. I wrote one at the end of June, right when my boyfriend left for basic training. He is scheduled to graduate on August 17, 2012!! :) I mainly wanted to write a discussion to say thank you for all the support y'all have given me. The road has been rough, and it's definitely been hard. However, having this site and the support of all you amazing women makes it so much easier! If you want to see how much I've changed, read my post on this page that I made in June...I was a nervous wreck! It's hard to believe he will be graduating in 2 weeks, and it's a great feeling, one that we will all experience soon enough. He is staying in Great Lakes for A-School, and will be in the AECF program. He will be either an ET (Electronic Technician) or FC (Fire Controlman). He doesn't get to choose which, so I'm still waiting to hear on that. I hope to meet some of you ladies that have someone going to Great Lakes for A-School. Hell, it's nice talking to anybody up here! I want you all to know that I'm always here if you want to talk when the going gets tough. I had plenty of people up here listen to me groan and what not when my boyfriend first left. I hope to hear from some of y'all soon :) It's nice coming up here and knowing that other people can relate to your situation. Best wishes to you all, and I hope I get to meet more of you guys up here!!

[Anti M]

Both ET and FC are essentially electronics techs; ETs learn about communications and radar, FCs about ship's weapons systems.  Equally as tough.  ETs have much more variety in the way of C schools, FCs have a limited number of weapons systems to be assigned to.  This gives ETs more versatility in the choice of orders, and they get shore duty more often.  Be careful what you wish for.

FC:

Sea/Shore Rotation for This Rating

• First Sea Tour: 60 months
• First Shore Tour: 36 months
• Second Sea Tour: 60 months
• Second Shore Tour: 36 months
• Third Sea Tour: 48 months
• Third Shore Tour: 36 months
• Fourth Sea Tour: 48 months
• Forth Shore Tour: 36 months

ET:

Sea/Shore Rotation for This Rating

• First Sea Tour: 48 months
• First Shore Tour: 36 months
• Second Sea Tour: 42 months
• Second Shore Tour: 36 months
• Third Sea Tour: 36 months
• Third Shore Tour: 36 months
• Fourth Sea Tour: 36 months
• Forth Shore Tour: 36 months

[RebeccaProudWife]

tiffany, did the Navy move you or did you just move there on your own? My husband will be in GL for his A and C school too...not sure and an ET or FC yet

[tiffanyk2010]

Sorry I never saw your response before. We are actually still here and my husband is graduating from A school in two weeks. I chose to do the move myself because I had heard we could make money and we did! We had a small place back home so it wasnt bad. And we ended up making about $800 in the end. :)

[dukelvr]

How is your husband's schooling going? My bf ended up being an ET, doing his ATT classes now. Do you have any estimate on when your husband is going to graduate? Is he doing C-School? And congrats on the move!! I bet that's awesome :)

[RebeccaProudWife]

Thanks for the info tiffany  :)

Cool so from my understanding you physically moved your self but the Navy approved the move (it was on his orders) That is great to know. We keep hearing that they will not pay for my move, (but that is coming from people who are several years removed from BC.) We have almost every thing in storage so I won't have too much to prepare for a move and it shouldn't be too bad just like your move.

[tiffanyk2010]

Hubby is set to graduate A school 10/5. So between ATT & A school it took about 8 months. And he really didn't have much in the way of hold times. Maybe a week total. He's doing great! Top of his class and I am so proud. He turned in his dream sheet last week and we'll just have to wait for him to get orders to know what his C school will be. Yes, my move was Navy approved. As long as you are married before boot camp, and his first set of orders out of boot camp are for a minimum of 6 months, they will move you. I just chose to move us instead of having the Navy do it so we could make some extra money. Most people don't realize you can join your spouse for A school because most A schools aren't long enough. It's all about that magic 6 month number. :)

[dukelvr]

Tiffany when did your husband graduate boot camp? I was wondering the dates he started and ended everything, that way I can have a rough idea. My boyfriend told me he could be there around a year, but 8 months sounds way better!

[tiffanyk2010]

My hubby graduated boot camp 2/3.  Keep in mind we have no idea when we will get orders so we shall see.  And of course he still has C school.  But that won't be here obviously.  He's so glad to almost be done with A school though.  It's been tough, his schedule can really be grueling some days.  So it will be really nice to have a bit of a break before C school.  Fingers crossed!!  :)

[dukelvr]

So between ATT and A-School it only took 8 months? My boyfriend said he could be there for a year, but his set graduation is still scheduled for April (he graduated bootcamp in August, so that would be 8 months). I just didn't think he would graduate that quickly. Can you tell me how long he was in ATT classes? My guy started on August 28 and lasts till November 20, 3 months! Was that how long your husbands was!? I didn't think it was going to be that long. And I'm taking it that your boyfriend is active? My boyfriend is in the reserves, so thankfully I don't have to worry about him leaving (at least so soon). Also, he talked to numerous officers and they are saying since he's reserves, he probably wont have to do C-School because there wouldn't be a point for him to learn all that stuff just to come back home right after. Sorry for all the questions, I just have so many!! How are his hours during A-School? Were they the same as ATT? Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate anything you can tell me :)

[tiffanyk2010]

Yep, 8 months total between ATT & A school.  3 months sounds about right for ATT.  ATT is a day school but ET A school is a night school.  So since my husband lives with me in town, he has to be at his "ship" every day at noon and then I get to pick him up at around 11:45 at night.  Some days vary, but this is the usual schedule.  It makes for a really long day!  Can't wait till he graduates.  :)  If your boyfriend is in the reserves, he will not be doing C school.  We have a friend in my husband's class that is a reservist and they are sending him home the day he graduates A school.  And no problem, I'm glad I can help answer some questions.  :)

[dukelvr]

So does that mean ET A School is 5 months? I read on a navy site that it's over 40 weeks...which would make it wayyy longer. Everything I read online is so different! I definitely will take in what you say over what I read online since you're husband is going through it right now. I'm hoping there wasn't a big hold period between ATT and A School...I heard there isn't much (typically). But apparently they may be switching up FC A School and ET A School, like between day school and night school. My boyfriend said the officers are talking about it right now, but nothing is set in stone. I'm hoping he stays with day school, but can't really help what he gets stuck with. Thank you so much for your help! It really eases my mind! Thankfully I'll be seeing him in 9 days, so I'm just focusing on that for now. If I have any more questions, I'll be sure to message you! :) And I hope you're right about the whole C School thing, I'm still hearing mixed messages about that. But he's thinking he wont have to do it either. Any bit of info helps, thanks Tiffany!