AECF - FCs and ETs

well then he certainly must not be bored lol!  thanks anti m

Oh, cleaning can be boring ... he isn't idle is more like it.

They also have field days about once a week…not the fun day of games and candy prizes from grade school, but rather a day of breaking out the big guns cleaning wise. My husband was fortunate enough to be assigned to the room where they checked out supplies, so he was able to avoid most of it. 

If my son went in Nov 14- would he be graduating January 4th?

Alicia, Happy Thanksgiving! My nephew went in on 11/13 and they said to count 9 Friday’s from then so we are thinking the 1/11 or could be the 1/4. We were told to wait for his letter as true date. I’m anxious to know. 

Two years ago I shipped the 16th of November and my graduation was scheduled January 13th. I do not think there is a graduation the first week of January because of holiday stand down. That year, the 2-3 pir groups ahead of us were push divisions, so they were only doing about 6 weeks in bootcamp, so the last graduation before mine was before Christmas. There was no pir group behind me for 2 weeks…I remember because I was terrified of being asmoed (spelling? Lol) because instead of being set back just a week, you’d be set back like 3 weeks since that was the next available division. I’m sure it varies a little every year based on how the dates lay out.

Anyway, beyond the confusion of holiday standdown. PIR dates can be a little unpredictable because they have to wait to form complete divisions before they can leave P-Days (in processing). So for example, when I went to bootcamp, I was fortunate to be in one of the last groups to arrive in my compartment, but others had been there anywhere from a day or two to ten days before me. You stay in this temporary compartment until your division is filled, and you will probably have to wait for your brother division as well…then all 80+ from your division and 80+ from your brother division have to complete your medical processing (dental exam, blood tests, eye exam, obgyn for girls, and more),  first uniform fit, set up pay, set up emergency contacts, moment of truth, take a test on the basics, get your address and fill out the graduation access list, go to a couple classes, label your gear, learn how to fold it, and a few other things Im sure I’m forgeting and some things that vary by job, and then FINALLY you and your brother division can move across to “main side” to your new, permanent ship. Bootcamp week 1 officially starts the day you move to your permanent ship. Basically, what I’m saying is actual time in bootcamp can range anywhere from like 8-10 weeks just from the whole P-Day process. This is especially true this time of year because there are far less recruits going through basic around the holidays due to less staffing and many recruits choosing a later ship date to avoid missing the holidays or fear of the cold weather and snow. Holidays can also increase time in P-Days because they can’t do anything for in processing on those days.

I share this as both a caution and a comfort. Caution for anyone planning time off or travel before the form letter shows up, and comfort because if someone hasn’t heard from their sailor after a week or two, they may just be in P-Days still. You cannot make phone calls or write letters in P-Days, even during holiday routine.

Once the form letter shows up, you can pretty much count on that graduation date, but I always caution people to wait a little longer to book things. Things happen sometimes and even some of the best recruits might get set back a week or more. Rarely, a whole division might even get set back. Sometimes recruits are sent home. No news is always good news though, even if you don’t hear anything the whole time your recruit is gone, your recruit is on track. If their graduation date is impacted in any way, they will be allowed to keep calling until they get ahold of someone. 

I am anxiously awaiting this letter- mail man has no idea the hero he is going to be when he delivers that bad boy. lol. my next area of concern is that my son probably doesn't even know my cell phone number, who does these days right? With the holidays I am figuring on in the next couple of weeks I might receive a phone call. if he can remember my number_ god willing he does. 

I remember that feeling. Fortunately, my parents had the same mailman most of my life, and we knew him fairly well, so it wasn’t totally crazy when I started waiting by the mailbox. He happened to be retired navy himself, so he knew exactly what it was when the letters started arriving. He reassured me he would take extra care with them to keep them dry in the winter, and he would tell me all the workings of the post office that could delay them when they didn’t show up on time. I was a lunatic about the mail, and he was so kind about it. 

Anyway, you can actually send your recruit a pocket size address book in bootcamp. Once you have their address, just try to put it in the smallest box or padded envelope it will fit in. They will be allowed to carry it with them to the NEX when they make phone calls and take it out during holiday routine to write letters. My husband and I really only called each other and our parents during bootcamp, but we both appreciated being able to send updates to other friends/family through letters, and my husband used his to keep track of friends and important contacts both from bootcamp and after, since he still had to lock up his phone during school and before reporting to work. I put notes and pictures from his friends/family in his too, so it was a great comfort during hard days in bootcamp and while he would be away. 

I actually made my husband’s address book. Unfortunately, it’s pretty worn over the years, but here it is:

And an example page. Most of his friends put pictures of them together, but I didn’t want to post those on here, so here’s a silly one from one of his friends with a meme haha. I made the pages into pocket pages, so the photos fit inside them for easy storage. 

I got his letter 11-30-18! His graduation date is set for 1-11-18. div 67! does anyone else have a child in this div and set for the same graduation date? Now I am waiting on that phone call. I hope I find out if he is doing A school at the same place and how long he has liberty before he has to show up for the inprocessing part of A school. I guess I need to find out what to do around Chicago if he gets some time off. 3 1/2 drive there- so I gotta figure out what we will do in the mean time.

will my son learn when he is suppose to go to A school prior to graduation? Will the parents learn this, or do we see him graduate and then wait for him to in process to A school then get to hang out with him? What is typically the time line for this process? Im just trying to figure out what to do in the event he gets a little bit of time to hang out and what to do during that time or if he will graduate and we get to hug and then off he goes.  

How exciting! The countdown is on! There are forums on this site based on PIR dates where you might find moms or SOs from the same division. His A School location will be based on his job, so you happen to remember what it is he’s going for? I assume it’s AECF (ET or FC) but occasionally others pass through here, so I thought I’d double check before I say for sure. 

Alicia, Please join the PIR group for your recruit graduation date. There will be lots of info there for you.  Just click the link below to join the group.

PIR: January 11, 2019

Definitely join the PIR group for more detail.  After PIR you'll get a short time before he has to go check in.  Ten, twenty minutes.  Check in can take a few hours, so most go to lunch in the area, or check out the museum near the visitor's center.  Or even go back to the hotel.  Going all the way into Chicago on Friday is not recommended.  Gurnee Mall is pretty close.

Hello all! I just wanted to share this great thing I found at my local grocery store. I know some of you have sailors that really want things like top ramen or just ideas for sending food since they can’t cook. Well, it turns out they make a special little microwave tin that fits the top ramen bricks, so you can cook them in the microwave! Of course, you can always just send any microwave safe dish for this, but they’re really cheap, and I think some of your sailors might appreciate them, and it turns out they are at target!

Check out this item at Target https://www.target.com/p/rapid-ramen-cooker/-/A-15632705

Hello new here, my son leaves for bootcamp January 17th 2019.. any others leaving same day?

@Joggingmom ... you will find the boot camp group is far more active and better suited to boot camp questions.  This is for the A school on the TSC side of Great Lakes.  Boot camp is RTC side.

http://navyformoms.ning.com/group/bootcampmoms

Great thanks

Does anyone know how soon the A school graduation date is announced or determined?  My son finally finished ATT school last week, and started ET A school Friday.  He said it's 19 weeks and that 3 people are allowed at graduation.  Just wondering how soon the exact date would be announced so I can tentatively plan.

Hello TRenee,  My sailors A School Graduation was no big deal.  They didn't even have a ceremony.  My son id an E.T.  I don't know, maybe some rates make a bigger deal than others.  We did however attend when he ranked up.  That was special with his dad pinning him.  Best of Luck to you and your sailor.

My ET graduation was just getting our certificates while standing in a hallway.

They do try to have a speech now, but no flags or marching or music, if they have a ceremony at all.  Also, no base passes like PIR, your sailor must meet you and escort you on and off base.  You can go, but it is not a bug thing like PIR.  I hadn't heard of the three guest limit, but it makes some sense as it will be in a small room.

They’ll make more formal announcements to the class about it around the time they start getting orders…which should start about a month beforehand. Definitely not saying your sailor will get orders at that time, my husband was waiting on orders a month after his A School graduation, so don’t stress if your sailor doesn’t get orders right away. I’m just saying that as the first people started to get orders about a month before graduation, we started to hear more about it. 

I think A School graduation is really special. It’ll be the only opportunity to enter the school house and see a little bit where your sailor went to school, you’ll probably meet or at least see their instructor, and there’s signs you can take pictures in front of and stuff. It’s just an opportunity you probably won’t get another shot at in your sailor’s career, and I think it’s worth going if you can swing it. 

Thanks everyone for the info!

My son swore in yesterday and his contract shows AECF.  I don't know much about the job, as this was not even on his wish list and I'm very confused how it ended up as one they told him to choose from.  Can someone tell the layman's version of what this is, the working conditions, etc.  He is formally in CRM, but they told him that he can change to AECF.  I'm just confused at this point.

Hello Dawn1231,  My sailor is an E.T.  It was not anything that he had hoped for, but he is loving it.  As for working conditions, he is in the ship.  Not outside at all.  He has had additional training and is optimistic for the future.  Good luck to you and your sailor.

I was an ET, but before the AECF program!  They still do the same job though.  Not computer programming, it is mostly maintenance of systems.  FC do more operating of their systems than ETs do.  ETs work on communications and radar primarily.  it is an indoor job, in air conditioned spaces.  A school teaches them the basics of their rating, C school determines what they will be working on.  FCs have a much narrower choice of systems, and the weapons system they get will determine the type of ship they are on.  ETs go everywhere, and can several C schools.  Both usually go to sea duty first, then shore duty after that.

Sometimes they see a job is a better fit for recruits or sailors after they take the asvab or during training. Sometimes it’s also just about the needs of the Navy changing. One of those two things is probably why they switched him. 

My son just graduated ET A school. We attended a really nice ceremony and they had  ET t-shirts, hoodies, sweat pants and ball caps across the hall to purchase. I'm such a sucker, I got one of each, an extra  hoodie and extra t-shirt to put in a momento box I'm keeping for him. I'm SO proud! He graduated boot camp on 8/10/18, he was never set back and had almost no hold time. He's set to ship out to C school before the end of the month. This time is flying by!

Congratulations ETMomOH!  That is indeed exciting.  My son is an E.T. and just finishing up his first deployment.  He is so happy.  I am now planning a trip to be on the Pier when he gets back.  Congratulations to you and your Sailor.

That is very exciting that they had a nice ceremony.  They work so hard to get to graduation! 

We have a number of bases in Japan, but I am assuming he is going to a ship there, in Yokosuka.  Most sets of orders are for three years for unaccompanied sailors.  After that, he would be sent somewhere else, although much will depend how much longer is on his contract, and if he wants to extend or re-enlist.  

The operational tempo of the 7th fleet is very high, meaning is he is on a ship, he will be at sea more often than not.  If he gets to take leave, it will be in short periods such as two weeks at a time rather than an entire month.   Japan is a wonderful country, with a lot to do, good food, safe, clean, and friendly.  Get your passport so you can visit.  

Like Anti M said he will probably be there three years for sea duty then sent somewhere else for shore duty.

My son, also an ET, was stationed in Sasebo for his first sea duty, he was then sent elsewhere for his shore duty. My son was at sea more than he was on base, but the sea is where he wants to be. :) He loved Japan!

Hi DawnJosh,

You Can visit any time during his A School, but I would caution you to wait to plan trips until after he arrives and learns his duty schedule and class schedule. As his parents, you are qualified “liberty buddies,” and he will just need to escort you onto base, and you will sign him out from his barracks, so you do not have to plan on having other sailors accompany you, but it is always a nice gesture to offer for friends to come along :) 

He will get some weekends off, usually 1 per month. The other weekends he will have either Saturday or Sunday as part of his duty day, and so he will have to stay in uniform and on base, even when he’s not actively on watch. This will all make more sense later, or if you like, I can write more about it after I get off work! 

Welcome, and best of luck to your new recruit/future sailor! 

Welcome.

The thing about A school is that whatever seat time is given, the actual time spent in Great Lakes will be longer.  There will be ATT before A school, and then a wait to class up.  Sometimes there is even a wait for orders after A school.  Stay flexible, and patient. 

Allison is correct, wait a few weeks before planning a visit.  They must wear only their uniform in phase one, and if you wait, they can go off base in their own civilian clothes in phase two.  Phase three means they can stay out overnight on weekends.  They learn all this during indoc.

Also, if they are there for Christmas, they get to take leave for the holiday stand down.

Allison, back when I was in A school at Glakes, we had "duty weekends" .  Two whole duty days, sometimes three, so only one of our weekends was screwed up for the month.  We had four duty sections, and somehow I worked my way up into being the section leader (platoon back then).  No standing watch, but I was head babysitter.  Yikes, I have stories.

Brittney-my son's PIR was 8-10-18 and he was also AECF (ET).  He was in Great Lakes for a long time with ATT school, then A school but just left July 4th for Norfolk, VA for C school.  For a Texas boy...he was not prepared for the cold winter and was ready to leave North Chicago.  We didn't see our sailor again after PIR until he came home for Christmas.  I wanted to visit during Thanksgiving, but with his work schedule it didn't work out.  I did go up and visit in April (long road trip for this mom) and I had a great 2 days with him.  We also went as a family to see him graduate A school on June 21, and that was such a neat experience.  I hope he enjoys his time in Great Lakes! I think everyone says this....but be ready to wait!

I want to also share this...my son got sent back during ATT school.  Each week they have to pass a test to move on to the next week.  His ATT was 10 weeks long, and he passed every single week.  Then when he took the final, he failed with a 70 (75 is passing).  He went to academic review board and they sent him back to week 5.  He was very discouraged, but held on and ended up making the highest grade in his class for the final.  It's hard, and so much information, but they can do it!  

AntiM, I’m sure my husband would’ve hated two duty days in a row, but I would’ve much preferred it haha. It was a real drag only having one full weekend to go out and explore with my husband. Definitely prepared me for his first duty station though with the 12 hour shifts and the (x) days on, (x) days off rotations. 

Hello new friends! I'm brand new here. My daughter leaves for boot camp Dec 1. I've read things indicating the ET/FC sorting happens at boot camp "randomly", but her recruiter told her it happens at the training school after taking a test, with the higher math score people being put into ET. Which is true?

Anyone else here have a son or daughter shipping on Dec 1?

Jello Jennifer,

 My son found out that he was an E.T. at Great lakes.  He stayed at Great Lakes for A School, and has since been to different bases for more schooling.  Good luck to your new recruit/