SECF - ET & FT & STS

Mark I found both books thanks again. ( SSN & SUBMARINE )

Just got home from work in a downpour seem like its been raining every other day. 15 minutes after getting home my son walks in. Hi Mom here for the weekend. I'm just enjoying has much time he comes home before he leaves to HAWAII. Once he's there I won't be seeing him fro a long time. Glad that he's only 2.5 hours away from home.

Yea I guess I got lucky with him being in Groton for Sub school only a couple of hours away. It won't be like that when he goes to Hawaii.

WOW 2 cats. Thats not bad I have 1 cat which my son would love to take when he goes to Pearl Harbor. But like I told him you are going to be in the barricks at first. You don't need to worry about any animals when you go out to sea.

Hi Mary H. Yes you are in the right group. ET is for Electronic Technician, FT is for Fireman Technician, and STS is for Sonar Technician Submarine. Welcome to the group.

Hi Ava welcome to the group.

Hey Kirsten I see that Lee grad will be on Aug. 6th. I thought he started A school before my son. His grad will be on July 30th. Its true that his date was moved up this is the 3rd time it was changed. First Sept 3rd then Aug 7th now July 30th. Just glad I live near by so I don't have to buy plane tickets with all the changes.

SECF stands for Submarine Electronic Computer Field. I'm not sure but if I remember right before they finish BC they are either told or they get to chose what rate they would like to be. I'll have to ask my son on that one.

Thanks Kirsten I could not remember how it was done. Its been almost a year since Dan did it.

Well had a nice weekend with my son. He on his way back to the base (Groton). We went to the mall, I decided to get him a camera so when he goes to Hawaii he'll be able to take lots of pictures and send them to us. And every where else he goes to. Its funny he won't be leaving til August and I'm kind of getting depress. I know its 2 months away but it sure comes fast.

I'm off to the dentist for a root canal. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!!!. lol. Not sure how I'll feel afterwards just hope everything turns out ok.

Back fro the dentist. It wasn't so bad. My mouth is still numb funny when I talk. Good thing we just type on here lol. :) Sherry just wanted to welcome you to our group. Your son what rate is he in?

Nice one I found Hope you like.

Your welcome Linda. I thought it was great myself.

Hi and welcome to the group dlwilson. I'll speak to my son about that info you need.ok hes an ET

Have a happy 4th

Renee,
Your husband will have six weeks of BESS (sub school) first, then ATT (Advanced Tech Training), TCNO (Tactical Computer Network Operator), then will start "A" school; roughly six months after arrival in Groton. Liberty will be granted from the start, in a gradual progression, as far as length of time, and permitted distance from the base. I don't recall the exact limits, but within a few weeks of arrival, he should be able to make the trip on weekends and holidays if you are five hours away. He will know by the end of BESS whether he will be ET, FT or ST. He will be in Groton roughly thirteen months in all, and will know his homeport around six weeks prior to finishing "A" school.

Hi Renee welcome to the group. You say you live 5 hours away from Groton. I live 2.5 hours away and its about 126 miles from the base. If I remember right when your husband gets liberty on the weekends he can only go no more than 300 miles from the base. I 'll double check with my son and let you know for sure. :)

Correction to the thirteen months in Groton - I should have said thirteen months after starting boot camp. Groton will be about eleven months.

Sponge my boy has his orders now for about 2 weeks. Has to report to Pearl on August 24th. He will be on the USS Cheyenne. Sorry to hear that Aaron has to report so soon after grad.

Thats great news. He has to be there 3 days before my son. Wish him the best.

Oh so his sub is not at Pearl? I wonder if my sons sub is there or if he has to fly out to it. How can I find out any ideas Kirsten.

Ok I'll check with my son on that. I bet you are excited for him. Will he come home before he leaves to Pearl. My son will be coming home I just hope he gets all his paperwork and things in order before he goes.

To all the new members welcome!!!!!!!

Welcome to the group Sarah. My son is an ET/COM and will be on the USS Cheyenne this August at Pearl Harbor.

Yes second-geration Sandi welcome to the group.

Welcome prittytiger Wife glad to have you in our group.

Hi Mary - all SECF do go to Groton following boot camp, your recruiter is mistaken if he told you otherwise. He'll be reporting to his first boat roughly thirteen months after arriving at boot camp.

It would depend on DIV, but it seems like grad-n-go is less frequent among guys going to sub school than other groups, especially nukes.

Hi Jack everyone doing great. My son will be graduating from A school on the 30th of this month. He is so happy that he got Pearl Harbor, Hi. He just wish that some of his friends were going on his boat the USS Cheyenne. But he's still glad some of them will still be at Pearl with him. I told him don't worry you will make a lot more friends out there, and he still can stay incontact with everyone else. Thats what cell phones and computers are for. Hope all is well with you and the family. My best to Ron.

Welcome to the group Melodie.

Groton is definitely a beautiful area; I visited it for the first time when I spent a week with my son last month. Are there a lot of things to do? Maybe not so much, unfortunately. :) On the other hand, it's easier for a young sailor to stay out of trouble...

Slight correction its Submarine Electronics Computer Field. Which has ETs (Electronic Technician in Communication or Navigation) FTs ( Firecontrol Technician) and STS (Sonar Technician Submarine). This info is in ( http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/secf.htm) Hope this helps.

The online community of sub CSs would be pretty small, Lavetta; I think there is a group for CS in general, but not subs specifically. The sub moms group is very active, and is for all rates on a sub...

Well I spoke to my son earlier so far it seems his flight to Pearl will be on August 22nd, 2 days before the date he has to report. Just glad he will be home before he leaves.

Welcome moonblossom happy to have you! :)

Deana, what boat is he on?

By that time they should have their blue card. Which means that they can stay off the base for the weekend. No father than 300 miles from the base. Also they should have time added up to be able to go on leave (home). If I remember right.

Mary - last Christmas, EVERYBODY, and I mean everybody, including my son, two weeks out of boot camp, was entitled to take a week of leave if they wanted. I think they can also stay there, pull duty, and save leave on a sort of half-shutdown. The schools shuts down for a two week period, and leave is given to either the first half of the period (covering Christmas), or the second half (covering New Year's).

Laurie,
The information guys get in boot camp about what's coming up later downstream is even less reliable than recruiters. You can be confident that if he is SECF, he will be in Groton for roughly eleven months after boot camp, and will be able to take a week of leave sometime over the Christmas/New Year's period. Hopefully, holiday travel this year will be way easier than last year was around here. Joey will have seven weeks of BESS, about a month of ATT (Advanced Technical Training), about a month of TCNO (Tactical Computer Network Operator), then about eighteen weeks of "A" school - all in Groton, and with some hold periods (1-4 weeks) between the four training periods mentioned above. That is for the ST, FT, and ET-Nav guys. ET-Comms (or Radiomen), which he may wind up in, has a slightly different, but very similar schedule, which is also in Groton for roughly the same time frame.

He can have all his gadgets from the beginning in sub school. The earliest you can get them to him is if you can meet him at the airport in Chicago. He won't know his mailing address for a couple days at sub school. You may also be able to make arrangements with a Groton Mailbox store to ship a package there for him to pick up when he arrives.

They can't wear regular clothes for a week or two, I think. Not sure if they're allowed to have them before they can wear them.

They have wireless internet in the barracks, some rooms don't get much of a signal - most apparently go in with their roommates and get it from the cable company.

SECFs find out during BESS which rate they will specifically be trained for. They submit preferences early in BESS, but from my son, and most others who have posted on the topic - it seems to be pretty random who gets what - though the Navy decides how many of each class will be a given rate. Recruiters and people in boot camp have no idea who will get which SECF rate.

Well the countdown starts 4 more days before our son leaves to Hawaii. Excited and happy for him and also a little sad but more happy than anything else. We know he is going to love being there and starting a new adventure on his sub. Will keep everyone posted. :)

Well my son is on his way to his new duty station Hawaii. It sure was hard to say goodbye. I did not want to let go when I was hugging him. Couldn't stop crying. His dad held up pretty good. I'll feel better when he lands in Hawaii. Boy do I miss him so much.

Thanks Jack. My son arrived safely to Hawaii. Flight was long and he did sound tried. The barracks he's in are not bad from what he said. I just wanted to say thanks for all the support. When he sends me pictures I will post them.

The guy at GL is way off - all the SECF training is in Groton; your husband will spend approximately eleven months there, unless he is one of the few that get a "C" school before reporting to their first boat.

Hello EllenB, SECF stands for.....SUBMARINE ELECTRONICS / COMPUTER FIELD. If you have any other questions just ask away. :)

OH EllenB these are the ratings for you.
ET COM - Electronics Technician ( Communications )
ET NAV - Electronics Technician ( Navigation )
FT - Fire Control Technician
STS - Sonar Technician ( Submarine )
Hope this helps. :)