SECF - ET & FT & STS

Just wanted to start a group for N4Ms who sailors are in SECF. Anyone who has a son or love one has an ET or FT.

Oh yea! So glad that you started an SECF group! I started the AECF group which is for ETs and FCs on ships and we often have families join us but their Sailors are actually on subs. The need for this group is large! I am so glad we have a group for them to join now.

Thanks again Mary I saw your AECF group. Its great that we both have a group for both subs and ships.

I agree, I'm going to post a note in my group for any SECF families that may have stayed with us. I know they will learn more there. :-)

Thanks again Mary

Hello Amber great to have you in our group.

I like that (Sonar geek). My boy is ET/COMM. In other words radio comm. He corrected be the other day. Funny kid. :)

Tanya sorry about that when I made this group I didn't remember all the ratings. My son always talks about ETs & FTs so I didn't remember that one. STS stand for what again? You are always welcome in this group. Good luck with VA.

Tanya just added ST to group. Sonor Tech got it.

Just received a call from our son to tell us he rank 3rd in a class of 23. Also he was given a list of ports to choose from. He pick HAWAII....... WOOOOOOOHOOOOO. Can't wait to see him and give him a big hug. We are so proud of him.

Tanya so far my son said that its a done deal from what his instructor told him. I hope he's right keeping my fingers cross. :)

I know the military can be funny that way. But we are crossing our fingers that it does not change.

Yea my son said there were 2 sailors in his class who were not able to pick Hawaii because they were married. Guess the Navy doesn't pay extra for family to join their sailors. It does cost a lot to go to Hawaii. Best of luck to you and your hubby. I read that you would love to go to Norfork Va. My hubby cousins are Navy over there. We told our son maybe one day he'll go there. One of the cousins work now for NASA. My son is into all that space stuff so it would be a kool place to visit.

Hi Lindsey welcome to the group. Is Matt Et, Ft or STS?

Hi everyone. My son is NAV ET on the USS Olympia out of Pearl Harbor, HI. He has been in the Navy for over 2.5 years now and in HI for 1.5 years of that time. He is a Petty Officer now.
No, I haven't been to HI yet, maybe next year. His boat was in dry dock when he first arrived and has only been underway since earlier this year. Once he gets a better schedule, we will plan to go visit. Glad to know about this group.

Happy to have you Rhonda 8881 great to know your son is in Pearl Harbor. My son pick it has his port. Don't know how soon after A school graduation he'll be leaving. We'll miss him but glad of his pick.

Thanks for the welcome, Gloria. When my son graduated Sub school he has 2 weeks leave to visit before having to report to Pearl Harbor. I think the grads usually have some leave time, but a lot depends on the boat they are assigned to and what is happening at that time.

When does he graduate? My son was 3rd in his class also. Is your son ET, FT or STS?

Rhonda8881 my son graduate on August 7th it was surpose to be Sept 3rd but they moved it up. Guess his class was doing ready good in their assignments. He is an ET/COM radio.

Also he's an E2

Hey Sponge Dawn gald you found this site. I though I sent you an message about this group. I made this one due to our boys will be leaving Groton, Ct soon. Your son graduates the week after my son. Any idea where he will be station at. My son is going to Pearl Harbor, Hi.

It depends on his A school. My son who is an ET/COM started his school on April 20th it was surpose to be finish in Sept 3th. But it was moved up to August 7th. So I'm guessing its how the course goes and how the sailors do in class.

Welcome to the group KarenB

Hi Chasity welcome. You will find many helpful moms and wifes also dads who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Is he in A school and when is he going to finish. At about a month or so before they finish school they will let the sailors know what ports are available for them to choose. Just remember the higher he places in class then he will be able to hopefully get where he wants to go from the list. My son placed 3rd in his class so he got what he wanted. Best to you. Remember we are here for you.

Thats he is also ET/COM. When did your hubby start A school by the way. May be they know each other.

So he will have a while to go. It goes pretty fast. Remember we are here for you.

If you go to my page you will see more pictures of my son. I see you don't have any of your husband yet. I hope you add some so the next time my son comes home I can show him what he looks like and hopefully they know each other.

I hope thats a good thing LOL.

I check your page no pics yet I guessing they have to be approved first.

Hi Maria C. Boxersox when your son first went out to sea in the sub did he feel closed in or comfortable. I was wondering if any of his submates when he started couldn't deal with being in tight areas. Just a question I was thinking about.

Gloria, You had a great idea starting this group - the STS group was just too small to take off, the amount of traffic here is pretty impressive. Regarding claustrophobia - I never felt a bit of it, and never heard anyone on the boat complain about it (there were plenty of other things to b*tch about :) ) but everyone's experience is different. I think guys who have tendencies towards claustrophobia just don't volunteer for subs. It really isn't much of an issue for the guys.

Hey Mark I'm glad you like the fact that I started this group. Also thats for the info I plan on getting that book I know it will be great reading. All the movies that were made from his writings are great. Back to the group like I said its for all the SECF family. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark I meant thanks for the info. Sorry fingers to fast for typing lol.

Gloria,
I noticed the book in Barnes & Noble today - it looks like it has been updated with new material about the Seawolf and Virginia class boats, and is now titled "Submarine".

Mark I check it online and it seems to be 2 different books. One is SSN Srategies for Submarine Warfare (2000), the 2nd one is Submarine A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship (2002) both by Tom Clancy. I paln on picking them up should be a good read. Thanks again. By the way HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool - thanks for the thought, Gloria :) !

Yes welcome to the group abdill !!!!

Thats great so your husband is an ST kool.

My son received his orders he will be on the USS CHEYENNE at Pearl Harbor, Hi. We are so happy for him.

Thanks Kirsten do you know where your son will be?

Well I hope he gets what he wants.

Trust me Beth - North Korea has no military capability that our Navy (especially the submarine force) needs to worry about. Your son will be in no danger from them whatsoeverl, he will just enjoy his time underway more, is all....

Hi Mark my son will be on the USS CHEYENNE. Just wanted you to know.

Your welcome Marinaicp. My son will be in Hawaii soon and I know how you feel about Korea but the Navy will look out for our boys and they do have the best training.

Good luck to him Gloria - hope he enjoys Hawaii!

Thanks Mark I know he will. I'm looking forward to visiting him never been there always wanted to. Now I have a reason to go there.

Hi marinaicp,
They have notice for the long deployments, though it differs somewhat for boomers and fast attacks. Boomers (the SSBN, or Trident boats) have a very set schedule, where the sailors can plan out one or two years in advance pretty much to the week when they will be at sea and in port. Their patrols last between two to three months. Fast attacks (SSNs) are not as regular, but the crew is generally informed several months ahead of a deployment that will last 4-6 months (typical for SSNs). They will go out frequently for shorter periods (a week or two) between the long deployments on considerably shorter notice, sometimes only a few days. If they put in ahead of time for leave though, they will do their best to accommodate it - to the point where they may be left ashore for a short underway period. The safest time on a fast attack to plan on leave more than a few weeks ahead is for a month immediately following one of the long deployments.

Some news I just got from my son for all - he is in indoc this week for ST "A" school, and they were just informed that all SECF "A" schools are going back to the 18 week schedule - so if your son is in, or starting "A" school thinking it will be 12 weeks, it will go six more weeks. This should mean that my son gets to see autumn colors in New England.

Hi Julissa welcome girl.

I know its going to be a little tough not seeing him or hearing from him so often. With the time difference I will have to remind him that we are 5 or 6 hours ahead. I can see him now calling us at 8pm his time and the wee hours of the morning for us. lol

I deliberately left SSGNs out because their schedule situation is more complicated, plus they are relatively new to the fleet. For those who don't know SSGNs are converted Trident (Ohio, really) class boats that have had all the Trident long range ballistic (nuclear) missiles removed, and replaced with hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles with conventional warheads that are used to blow stuff up with precision, but without risking an aircrew. They were used heavily in Baghdad. SSGNs also are capable of carrying a SEAL team, with their specialized underwater vehicles and the capability to leave and return to the boat while submerged. There are two SSGNs on each coast (Ohio and Michigan in Bangor/Guam and Florida and Georgia(?) in Kings Bay). They have two crews that swap off, and I hear they are at sea a LOT. Because there are only a handful of them, and they have such capabilities, it is not surprising that they are more likely to deploy on relatively short notice.