SECF - ET & FT & STS

Only in port hitomi926; that's for phone, I wouldn't count on internet in other than the homeport, unless they have it for their phone.

My son is on a fast attack and the only time he can contact me is when he is in port on dry land. When the sub is on "mission" there are no outgoing submissions.

Mary - My husband is in A school right now and all of the guys that he knows got the rate that they wanted. I think that as long as the scores are where they should be there's a really good chance you will get the rate within SECF that you want as long as there are enough open spots.

Hi Mary - Sorry to hear that you married an RO ;)...as you probably know there are also the FT and ET-Nav rates that are part of SECF. Your son's chances of getting ST are pretty good, since a boat has about as many STs as the other two rates combined - so just based on the numbers, he's more likely than not to get ST. He will find out which he is about a month after getting to Groton and beginning BESS (sub school).

Mary, I think most get the rate they want. My son was given his 2nd choice, but is much more happy than he would have been with his 1st choice. He is ET; his first choice was FT. He was disappointed at first, but is very satisfied now. Sometimes the instructors know them better than they know themselves.

Laurie - Congratulations on his Sub School graduation! It is not as big of a deal as PIR. It is lots smaller and only lasts about 45 minute to an hour.

Is your son going to be based in Hawaii or is he just going there to visit his girl? If not Hawaii, where will he be based? What sub is he assigned to?

Have a great weekend everyone.

ET is Electronics Tech; COMM is Communications.

Welcome mom of drew!

Hi everyone long time. Just wanted to say we received an news letter from our son sub with helpful info and to our surprise our son's name was in it. Seems he must be doing something right lol because he received a Letter Of Commendation Award. Just wanted to share.

Received an email from my sailor today. First one in several weeks so I was excited!

Congrats to everyone!!

Congrat Chasity! I hope all is well while you spend time together!

Gloria Congrats! Is your son on deployment? Who wrote the newsletter?

Not on deployment at this moment but out doing sea trials.....the newsletter is from his sub...I think every sub has a newsletter for the family members.

I have not heard of a newsletter for Kerry's sub, but the OMB will email info if needed. We also have a page on Facebook that she uses to pass some info on to us and share pics, etc.

Hi everyone - my son just started bootcamp two weeks ago and has a PIR of 10/15. He is in the SECF program and will be attending A school in Great Lakes just across the street from Bootcamp. Can someone refresh my memory on what ET/FT & STS stand for? Also, how are your boys liking this field?

Electronic Tech; Fire Tech; not sure but think STS is Sonar, but don't know what the last S is for!!!

welcome newnavymom - Rhonda is basically correct, the second "S" stands for "submarines". There is a lot more information on that if you click the links up above for BESS and SECF in the Discussion Forum. Also, you were given bad info on where your son's "A" school is - unfortunately, it's not uncommon for recruiters to be misinformed, and for recruits to get bogus info in boot camp. Following boot camp, your son will be off to Groton, CT for the rest of his training (Basic Enlisted Sub School, Advanced Technical Training, Tactical Computer Network Operator, and SECF "A" school), which will last a combined total of about eleven months. He will learn which of the SECF ratings he is assigned 3-4 weeks into BESS.

Mark, I have a question for you. What does SECF stand for???? I can't remember at all.

Mark, thanks for the information. Do you have a son in the Navy? Yes, the recruiter told me that my son's A school is across the street from Great Lakes. Yes, I do understand that recruiters always do not have the correct information. Any idea when my son will find out he's going to CT?

Submarine Electronics Computer Field -- Rhonda, scroll up to the links above and it tells more about this field.

My son just joined this week and his job will be a QM,Quarter Master. Anyone know about this job?

@jaredsmom...I don't know anything about a QM. I would like to learn about it though....

I know my son had to qualify to be a QM. I thought the position was served by several who all have to qualify to stand the watch. Don't know if there is a rate for QM.

Hi newnavymom - Yes, my son is a sonar tech, and my profile should be viewable to members of the site. I'm not personally a fan of private profiles - it's hard to help people out when you can find no information out about them, and people have a tendency to ask for help, but give none of the info you need to help them out. Anyway, there was a Quartermaster rate on submarines when I was in, but they changed sub QMs over to the ET rate ten years or so ago, when they changed a number of ratings. I'm not sure if there is a QM rating in the surface Navy. At any rate (lol), there is still a watchstation on subs called Quartermaster of the Watch, as Rhonda mentioned that is stood by the Nav-ETs. Their job is maintaining the charts (nautical maps) on board, and keeping current the ship's course and position on the charts. They can eventually qualify as the ANAV, or assistant Navigator, a senior position that carries a lot of responsibility.

Actually all submariners go to Groton for Sub School. A school is in Groton for all SECF rates. Some go on to other schools after Groton as far as I know. Some of the other rates for subs go to other locations for A school, but ETs, FTs, and STSs graduate A school in Groton, unless it has changed in the last 3 years. And Sub School with BESS, ATT, Techno and A school lasts for 9 months +/- depending on ACU (awaiting class up) time after each class is completed.

There are no "A" schools in either Kings Bay or Bangor, although the Missile Tech "C" school is in Kings Bay.

Hi I'm new at this stuff..just wanted to know if anyone knows how long after PIR I might have with him. I heard that he would be a G&G...

If he is G&G it could be a few minutes to a couple of hours.

If he is not G&G you will have the weekend. When my son had his PIR nearly 4 years ago, we were able to spend the rest of day Friday until either 7 or 8 pm (can't remember exactly) and all day Saturday and Sunday from about 8 am to the same time each night.

Welcome!

@ Rhonda, so how does the recruit find out if he is a G&G? Will he get a day notice, weeks notice?

BonnieMae - if you got your information from the recruiter, very few of them if any give the right info on A school. I learned this from other members on N4M.

newnavymom - I don't think they find out until maybe a week before PIR. You are not given much notice about it. But, he may not find out until after BattleStations which is their final test usually just a few days to a week before PIR. I would definitely make plans to be there for PIR, grad and go or not. It is awesome to see.

Thankyou.. I'm just not sure how long to reserve a hotel & airplane tickets for.

Bonnie - my son is ET and was in Groton for all of his schooling. He graduated Sub School in Oct. '07. I have not heard of any of the 3 rates going to school anywhere else.

I finally got a call from my sailor today....first time since July! I was so excited to hear his voice. He also told me he received another award while he was out. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for a part of his job over the last 6 months. I am so proud of him!

@ Rhonda...Congratulations are in order for your Sailor!1 That is wonderful that he received a Medal. So your son was in Groton for A school also? My son is at Navy Bootcamp right now with a PIR of 10/15. His recruiter told me his A school would be in GL's; however, from what I'm hearing here, he will be going to Groton.

@timsmom - Yes, my son was at Groton from Jan - Oct of '07. If your son will be a submariner Groton is where he will be.

Thanks for the congrats!

Hi everyone. First off I want to thank all the new member to our group. I've been pretty busy with work so I haven't been around. Glad to see everyone is seeing or hearing from their sailors. My son got back to Pearl Harbor a few weeks ago he went hiking and loved it. Boy the pictures he posted on facebook was amazing ...I will post some on my page soon. He also received a letter of commendation for his division. It was a nice surprise. In a few weeks he should be getting his dophins. We can't wait. Wishing the best to all our sailors God bless.

@ Rhonda- Congrats to your son a NAM is excellent and goes towards advancements...

I haven't been on in a while just finished moving from Bangor and finally arrived here in Guam.. My husband likes his new boat and is having fun haha...

navywife85- My son is getting ready to move to Bangor, How is it? Congratulations on your move to Guam.

Thank you Maria,-He isn't on a sub yet, he graduates from "A" school in Oct, then he is scheduled to move there. It is so far from Fl. I thought that he would be going to Kings Bay, Ga. We lived in Seattle when he was small, I remember it being a beautiful place. I am just going to have to catch the train from Fl to Seattle. Your son is a Chief, that is awesome.

@ Maria, that is great that you son loves it and he is the Chief! How long do they stay down in the sub? Do you hear from your son often?

Yes, my son is at bootcamp right now and has a PIR of 10/15/2010. Nesper, where is your son right now? I'm so confused about where my son's A school will be...I've heard so many different scenarios. I'm not sure if my son will be on a boomer or on an attack sub....

@ Maria...wow, that is a long time to stay under the water. Did you son like it?

Maria-I want to always think positive, I am scared to fly, so I will have to catch the train. I have lived in Alaska and Seattle, but if I have to fly, I don't think I am going to be able to do it.It's just too far. I love my son and his family, joining the Navy was one of his best decisions, but I have to catch a train to visit them.

TimsMom- My son is still in Groton. If your son is still in boot camp his next stop will be Groton, for BESS, after graduation then "A" school.

I saw that, I just don't have the nerves to fly. In fact we drove to Great Lakes for his bootcamp graduation. The last time I flew I got so nervous, the other passengers were nervous.

@ Nesper, was your son a grad and go? What program is he doing? ET, FT. STS?

Yes, he graduated on Friday and by Tuesday he was in Groton. His job is called a Fire Control Technician, it's not like a fire man, its 1 2 3 fire..... (I thought it meant he was a fire man).

@ Nesper, yes, I thought the same thing that a Fire Control Tech would be a fireman...however, I think you mean he fires off the weapons...how often does that happen, I wounder? Is that what it means? I obviously have a lot to learn.

@ nesper- Bangor was nice rained a whole lot and it was cold but loved the mountains hiking was our favorite thing to do..the rain never bothered me until i was wet and cold haha.. is your son married and kids? if so the schools for the base are great my son loved them...

Navywife-Thank you. Yes he is married and has a baby daughter. He told me everyone is telling him its nice. I lived there when he was a baby and it rained a lot of the time, but I do remember it as being a beautiful part of the country, so now I am going to start looking forward to my visit. Again Thank you.

Timsmom I have a lot to learn, I am always on the internet. I just found out that he will be on the USS Nebraska. He is gonna be on a boomer, I've got to learn about that.

Maria, so when they are on the subs, did you have any means of communication?

Maria, I really like your picture! Wasn't that hard not being able to communicate with your son?