Comment

Comment by TexasMomof2 on April 30, 2010 at 6:04pm

Uh oh, I'm sorry......I have it wrong. "A" school is after RSS. They take "C" school first. Brmaerje, is your son Romeo or Sierra?

Comment by TexasMomof2 on April 30, 2010 at 3:48pm

Yes, my son is in "C" school as we speak (type) and this is where he's learning the "Romeo" stuff.

Comment by Christi on April 30, 2010 at 2:35pm

Chris A. is that a new ID, ChrisAmo ?

Comment by sally on April 30, 2010 at 12:34pm

Does anyone know how long FRAC actually is? Also, I thought it was a lot of practice jumping out of helicopters but according to my son, it seems like a lot of academic learning about the helo itself and then a lot of testing. But, he just started FRAC. What has anyone else heard? Also, is Romeo and Sierra the assignment for "A" school, or is the the for FRAC? Thanks all!

Comment by sally on April 28, 2010 at 12:15am

That is a great story. When do they get to actually go onto a carrier. Do they have to finish FRAC first? I heard that the Aircrew Search and Rescue Swimmers were the "princes"of the ship., they do get some special treatement because they don't wear the usual Navy enlisted uniform, and they don't wear the officer uniform. They have that "flight suit" and it seems like nobody knows if they are really enlisted or officer pilots. It is quite a privelege if they make it to that spot!!!!

Comment by TexasMomof2 on April 27, 2010 at 4:38pm

Chris, what a nice story! Is he Romeo or Sierra?

Comment by sally on April 22, 2010 at 10:31pm

Molly, I think that what your daughter is experiencing is normal regarding the classifiers in boot camp. We had 3 recruiters in our small, rural office in the boonies and we were blessed with the fact that one of them was previously a AirCrew Rescue Swimmer. The other recruiters were honest (since they were in the same office with him) and told us that they really didn't know anything about the Aircrew Rescue Swimmer. Then, when he got to boot camp, he found the same. I think that since there is a limited (small) portion that do this job, the recruiters and classifiers don't know that much about it in comparison with all the other jobs. My other son, who is Army, also picked a tough job and the drill sargents told him straight up that they never had another soldier going to that particular job so they couldn't advise him on what it is like. On one level it is frustrating but on another level, it is an honor that our sailors are doing something that not many get to do!

Comment by sally on April 22, 2010 at 1:21am

Kari, my sailor told me that when I write to him, I am to put the initials AWS-3 in front of his name. I assume the (S) in AWS is for Sierra instead of (R) for Romeo but I could be totally wrong. I also assume the 3 is for "3rd class petty officier" because he said he was promoted to that.............which was a big time for fun in our family because, as I said he is only 19, and now his rank is higher than his brother's (who is in the Army and 3 years older than him). So when they were home for Christmas, he was giving his older brother a hard time about out-ranking him. He has been in FRAC for about 2 months now. If I knew about all of these schools, I would have written the dates down on the calander. I really didn't know they were such big dates until I started realizing how tough this aviation rescue swim school is. He would tell me the graduation dates all along and I kept a mental note but didn't write them down for myself. I didn't even know that he was in NACCS or that he had to first qualify and complete NACCS. (let alone, there is a drop-out rate for that that I was totally unaware of). I just kept asking, "Why arn't you in RSS yet"? I am sure he explained it to me but I didn't quite grasp it. Now I am. I suppose once I catch on, things will change anyways! It is just confusing to me. I did know that Sierra's had more flight time and less computer time, which is part of the reason he picked Sierra.

Comment by sally on April 22, 2010 at 12:32am

Thanks for all of your comments. It becomes hard to understand the Aviation Search and Rescue program when I talk with other mom's in my area who's sailor goes right from boot camp to "A" school to a ship but I realize that the Aviation Rescue Swimmer has so much more training. I don't think I understood that when he went in so each time he graduates a school (NACSS, RSS, "A" school) I keep asking him if he is done, but he is not. Now, he is in FRAC. I am the one that gets confused. As far as the designated driving thing, I think my son has that job for a while. He is only 19 and he can't even drink on the weekends. A former Aviation Rescue Swimmer that we know told him before he even joined the Navy, that if they get caught drinking under the age of 21, they are OUT of the aviation rescue swim program. They have a zero tolerance for underage drinking in this particular program. At least that is my understanding. By the way, why would FRAC be 3-6 months. What would make if 3 months for one and up to 6 months for another? Thanks again for helping me understand!

Comment by sally on April 21, 2010 at 12:39am

Thank you Kari for your comment. My son is currently in FRAC (or FRS,,,whatever they call it now). It sure seems like it is very difficult to get that far. So many tests along the way in NACCS, RSS, "A" SCHOOL, and then FRAC. I just with this would be over and he would graduate!!! With every test, I worry (like a mother) and want him to just graduate.!!! I initially thought that if they passes Rescue Swim School, they would have it made because that seemed to have the highest DOR or washout rate but it seems like it never ends!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 548
• 549
• 550
• 551
• 552
• …
• 567
• Next ›
• Page