AECF - FCs and ETs

Thank you Bandmom , good for the family to know he is coming along ok.

My Sailor leaves for his new assignment tomorrow, he had his taxes filled out, and the check arrived at our house instead of direct deposit.  He closed his local accts when he joined and now uses Navy Federal.  I have asked a number of times for his information so that I can deposit his check, I have not received it.  I do not think that I am on the acct, so probably could not make a deposit anyway.  I am so frustrated with him right now that I could scream.  I have asked for his insurance information for his car as well, (he has let it at home) so that it can be driven once in a while, I haven't received that either.  It just makes me angry.  He keeps saying that he doesn't have time, but I know that he was off base both Saturday and Sunday with friends.  It doesn't take that long to send me that information.  Sorry for venting.

It is frustrating, I know!  I had to harass my sailor for 2 weeks to get his account information for doing his taxes.  Most mobile banking apps let you deposit by taking a picture of the check.  Take a picture, text it to him and tell him that it's on him to get it done.  Part of the frustration is that they are so far away and our arms don't reach far enough to smack them! LOL

momofbailey, You are right!  LOL  It drives me nuts , my daughter says it is just because he is a guy.  I am on all of her accts., but he doesn't need any one you know.  Sent him a scathing text this morning, finally got the insurance information, now I just need the banking, or I might do what you said and just text him a picture.

My son is deployed in the western pacific, does anyone know how can do they file their taxes? 

Every ship has VITA volunteers who help them prepare their returns, and they file them the old fashioned way, through the mail.  They can also ask for an extension, up to June 15th.

If he’s expecting a refund, double check for state, many also have some kind of grace period, but Federal is up to 3 years to file. This is only if he’s getting a refund. 

VITA is also available at overseas duty stations. Military also get a free license to turbo tax…doesn’t necessarily help deployed sailors, but it’s good info for future reference or for others whose sailors are not deployed. 

Thanks Ladies! I'll follow up with him in case he hasn't done them already.

Hello everyone,  My son made it safely to his ship.  He called last night and sounds so happy!!  He was talking a mile a minute.  It makes my heart happy to know that he is that happy.

Update from our son he passed another exam , 3 more weeks to go  in ATT then on to A School still at GL. we are excited for him.

Congratulations!  

So Anti M, I have a question for you.  My son graduated A school as an E.T.  Got to his ship, and now they want to send him for Communication.  Does that still fall under ET?  I thought he would be working with Radar, sonar etc.  What will he be working on now?  Can you tell me?

Bandmom, My son, also an ET, was also sent to C School for communications in 2012. They have satellites etc., that also need tending to. It's just another specialty for your son to know how to work on.

From Navy.com

As an ET, you’ll be responsible for maintaining, repairing and adjusting a huge range of cutting-edge electronic equipment. You may work with equipment used for everything from communications, detection and tracking to recognition and identification, navigation, and electronic countermeasures.

I was in communications as an ET, secure voice broadband and crypto systems, roughly.  Top secret stuff, which kept me very busy at times, and that gear is all obsolete now.  The rating is very broad when it comes to electronics, some ETs do more than one type of job (my husband did both radar and comms and more).  I went to at least six C schools in nine years, although two were for micro-miniature circuit board repair.  Communications, test equipment, antennas, and yes, radar.  The STGs work on sonar, not the ETs.  There are also ETs who train for submarines, and ETs who train for nuclear power systems, but they go to different A schools entirely.

And I forgot navigation and data systems....  

Thanks Anti M, I know that they did talk to him about different things.  Just trying to keep it all straight.

My son also-E.T communications. Went to C school @ San Diego, then will be to C school in Virginia...then? His ship is scheduled for dry-dock for repairs when he gets done w/ C school. What will they do with him?

He will still report to his ship.  What they do with him can vary quite a lot.  Maybe other C schools, if the command has the budget for it.  He may go on temporary duty to another command, anything form another ship to one of the shore commands.  Base security is not an impossibility.  Or if the ship is still "working" he'll work on the ship.  Might be doing his job, might be cranking (helping in the kitchen or laundry).  Really difficult to say just what they'll do.  Be prepared for just about anything, especially if it is weird, annoying, or frustrating.

Its been a long time since I've been on. Husband is an FC, going on year 6. Time has sure flown by since I was on her asking a hundred questions. Hang in there you all

Barefootie, we are not sure. He is talking to his command and weigh all the options. Possible extending a year at least.

Most of the barracks have/had bulletin boards.  I don't know what type of social media is active there, facebook or craigslist?  Or r/Navy or r/newtothenavy on Reddit?  (Reddit can be a pit of despair, I do not recommend it for moms.)

Facebook marketplace, also there are sales pages for Great Lakes…mostly spouses on it, but you never know. I can’t remember them off the top of my head, but a Facebook search should pull it up. YikYak is also a popular place for selling things…not really what it’s for, but that seems to be all it’s used for anymore since it’s not anonymous anymore 

Ignore the meme my friend shared lol. This is where you find Facebook Marketplace. 

But I don't want the prey to die!

My son is off to boot camp April 16th and will be with this group.

Hi, Jennifer! How exciting watching the kids get ready for their big adventure, right? Something that really helped my son get through BC was knowing in advance what to expect especially for the first few days. This first link was a huge help for me as much as it was for him. It's written by somebody who'd gone through boot camp and it's packed with tips and bits of info that we could never have imagined on our own. Remember (for parents AND recruits) boot camp is Tough but Temporary. Good luck to you and your future sailor!

http://www.navydep.com/forums/showthread.php?t=433 

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/what_to_expect.html

https://www.thebalance.com/navy-boot-camp-4057224

asking for special prayers this week, our son finishes ATT this week 2 tests the biggest one on Friday then off to A school. Which is still in GL. Thanks!

Jack's Momma, my son also went to A School in Great Lakes.  What is his rate?  Prayers coming your way.

Bandmon,

our son is ET, will complete A School there and then have short leave before C school. I appreciate the prayers.

Jack's Momma, My son is also an E.T. and is loving it.  Hi left Great Lakes after A School,  Has been on a ship, now they are sending him to C School.  His order didn't come in until his last week of A School.  He then had 1 week to get ready to leave.  It was crazy.  No leave or anything.

Bandmom, I hope he gets leave we haven't seen him since graduation, his fiancé was just there and it will kill her if he cant come home. But I understand it completely. so  what did your son do with all of his stuff?

He did not accumulate a lot, because he wasn't sure what was happening, He was promoted to Petty Officer right before he left, so we went for that and brought home what little he had we brought home.  The pinning ceremony for Petty Officer was really nice.  He will be coming home in October, because he will be going on a long deployment.  He gets two weeks then.

Going straight to a ship is very unusual!  Crazy is right, wow.  

What usually happens is a week of leave after A school, before their C school.  If not, then after C school.  But as you can see, things can happen otherwise.   And if they can do RAP, recruiter assistance, they get five days back on the books for just a few hours a day of working with their recruiter.  That's only for just after A school though.

My son graduated A school in March and has a hold right now in Great Lakes. That gave time for his wife to move up there. They leave in October for C school then to his ship February 2019. Right now he has a job working in his old ship and he too was promoted to Petty Officer right after A school. Sadly I could not afford to go see his graduation. 

Anti M, My son is not regular Navy, He is Naval Reserve Active Duty which might be why his was a little different.  He also Graduated from A School in February, so he had just been home for Christmas.  Some of his friends also went from A School to C School without leave, but will be getting leave after C School.  My son will not get leave until this fall, right before a long deployment.

That makes sense, the Reserves is always a little bit different.  And yes, the months right after the holiday stand down are also a bit wonky when it comes to leave.  It makes sense in context!

happy to report our son passed and has almost his first week of A school under his belt. he has new quarters again but seems happy to be doing something different. Night school suits him.

Congrats!  Jack's Momma,  another step taken,  

Anti M, My son has found another NRAD that has been in for 10 years.  He is so excited to be able to talk to someone that actually has been through what he is going through.

Hi everybody, we are going to visit our son (he is in C-school Dam Neck base). 

I've never been to Virginia before. Where to go? What to see? Is it better to fly to Norfolk airport? 

Any recommendations are highly appreciated.

Hey guys. Brand new to this. Daughter started boot camp this week. She signed contract for aecf . Her mom and I are missing her, but very excited and waiting for first contact to send her some encouragement. 

Hi  Pauleg welcome we are pretty new at this , our son graduated in Dec from BC and is still at TSC finishing A school, your daughter will do just fine. We are here to encourage you along the way.

Welcome Pauleg.  Do be sure to join the boot camp moms group, they have great details on what to expect step by step.

I was an ET, so was my husband and my acquired kid just re-enlisted and has been accepted into the LDO program, and will eventually move from enlisted to officer.  

How long is a school in GL. Is C school there as well?

ET or FC?  Both are quite long, and will include hold times which increase how long they are there. First is ATT, the electronics prep school, which is 9 weeks.  Then ET school is 42 weeks, FC school is 31 weeks.  The hold time waiting to class up varies a lot, but it can be several weeks.  

Both ratings have C schools, those are located elsewhere, and vary in length.  

My son is currently in boot camp.  I know he will go to A school, but where is it located?  Will he get any leave while he' there?

Thanks!

Both ET and FC A schools are located at Great Lakes, on the Training Service Command side of the base.  A school students usually do not get to take leave while in A school.  The exception is for holiday stand down if they are there for Christmas/New Year, when they can usually take a week or so.  Leave after A school, before C school is the most common option, although now and then they must wait until after C school.

Okay Anti M do you know how long C school is for FC? On hold for now