PIR 10/15/10

Is it Rank or Rate? He's E1....I think he will go up in Rank (rate) when he gets to A school. He is in the SECF program.

Wow! I'm so jealous of you guys with your recruits staying in GL because there's HOPE that you'll get to keep him for an overnight! Mine might be a Grad & Go because they seem to do that a lot with his rate, IT, and the schools in Pensacola.

I'll still keep my fingers and toes crossed for your guys though! ;)

Great speech Dana!!! You're right. This IS what I want for him! I just SO want him to succeed. Anything else I have to deal with I will handle... as long as he is self sufficient and succeeding.

Rate = Job Rank = where you are on the totem pole - E-1, E-2, etc.

Exactly! Independence! I'm not sayin' I'm not kickin' and screamin' my way through it though! And I know I'll still get the "I'm a big boy now" speech from hubby when I try to "do too much for the boy!" :) hehe... I'm still his momma! :)

winniesam - YES! We all NEED a letter!!!!!!!!!

Tim's recruiter showed us the standard living quarters ...they are awesome.

Dana- so then should we be asking about his job field? I'm not sure what rate my son will be, but I know he's in the ET/FC job field... So confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto... LETTER! Yes, please... throw us moms a bone here! ;)

I'm constantly getting the speech about how I need to let my son grow up, he wants to be independent. I know....it is just so hard as a mother.

Pink, you son is in the same job field as my son...it is the SECF program and they have the choice of doing the ET/FC or ST job.

Really?! SO COOL! What is ST tho? and do you know what SECF stands for?

I obviously didn't get a lot of info. before hand! LOL!

Good question....I just know that is what it said on his contract. I think Dana knows...also there is a group for SECF - ET/FT/STS jobs. It might help us to understand more. I think STS has something to do with Sonar. Please correct me if I am wrong -- anyone?

Pink...I do know that you have to score high on the test to get that job....my son says "mom, it is a good job"....

ET = Electronics Technician ( I was this rate)
FC = Fire Controlman (Or maybe FT now - Fire Control Technician)
ST= Sonar Technician

Submarine Electronics / Computer Field (SECF)

Advanced Electronics / Computer Field (AECF) (I was in this - no submarines for me and went to school in GL)

My sons friend is going the sub route and his school is in Groton, CT.

ET & FC are great jobs but require a longer enlistment period due to the length of school required. My son was adamant about only doing 4 years and really wanted the IT field.

Nuke is the hardest school... and the longest. No thanks. Not for my kid. He would hate all the schoolwork for that.

Dana, I am so impressed that you did ET school!! What type of a job do you do now? Are you still in the military? Or how does that work?

All the jobs in the Navy are important!. Especially the cooks! LOL! :)

My grandpa was GM in WWII. It's a proud and distinguished rating. :)

Oh... I believe that the ET's and FC's train together at first and then later a decision is made which route your Sailor will take based on needs of the Navy and their interests. I THINK. I could be wrong abut that, though, so don't quote me. :)

LC Girlfriend - Thanks for sharing that! I rest my case. It's a HARD school and takes a lot of dedication and BRAINS to get through it!

No, not in the Navy anymore. I have a desk job... renewing Industrial Process Control contracts for a big company... it's very glamorous! OK... not so much, really! ;)

Victoria - Sounds like he's a smart guy. Video gamers often are! I married one, too.... LOL... and raised one... not sure how that's turned out yet, though! :)

Here's a cool article about Power School. LINK

I just cannot help but wonder how my son is doing...I sure hope he is not the one in the group going against the grain and causing all your boys to do more push-ups. He is a good kid, I just worry...I would hate to get to know you all and then find out my son is the troublemaker.

My son is Nuke. Age 18, just graduated from high school. Got a 95 on the ASVAB at age 17 without having taken physics or anything other than basic, basic high school math. So I'm hoping he can tough out this program. We've heard the drop-out rate is anywhere from 60 to 90%.Scary. But so worth it if he makes it through.He really wants it, so we're behind him all the way. And if not, well, he's in the Navy for the 6-year enlistment, which is also quite OK with him, and with us. My dad was a Seabee. The Navy, as far as I'm concerned, is the "civilized" branch of the military!!

Victoria, same as my son..he's smart, I just hope he has the discipline and drive to really want it. He made the decision to join the Navy on his own....we as a family had no idea it was coming. Tim my son has a best friend who has finished in a year in the corpsman program.

Dana - you're a lifesaver again!! My son is the AECF... I don't think he has any intention on going on a submarine at 6 ft. 8 in tall!! He did have to sign up for 6 years active instead of the usual 4 so this is all starting to make more sense.

Newnavymom - good to know it's considered a good job! Who knew my non-student could score high on the ASVAB?! I knew he was smart, just didn't like to study!!

Hi Victoria, The bonuses are nice, but one thing that looked great about Nuke is that we've heard 22 nuclear plants are going to go online in the next decade. Most of them on the East Coast. So if our guys do the 3 re-ups and get the great bonuses, and then get out, they have wonderful jobs waiting for them. It's just the really brutal school that stands in the way, unfortunately!!

newnavymom - LOL! Haha... I cannot lie... that thought has crossed my mind as well. Not to worry! Pushups never hurt anyone! So whether it's my kid or your or someone else's... it's all good. ;)

foaling-lady ... As a former navy girl... I can't argue that point! :) Your son will do fine if he tries hard and works at it. Just stay positive and keep the encouragement flowing. Tell him to always ask for help before he falls behind!

Victoria - Way to go! He'll need your support and it will be worth it in the end!

Newnavymom - my son's best friend is in the Navy too - in cryptology. I think that's what helped my son decide. So proud of our kids!

suwil68 - I can see you are still giddy over that call! Good for you! :)

Now if the rest of us could just get a measly letter or SOMETHIHNG... come on... I'll take a 5 min call... anythng! LOL!

I think the ASVAB is great for pinpointing what future Sailors will be good at and getting the right fit.

My son is going to be a Yeoman. Does anybody know much about that? When he went to take his ASVAB he had absolutely no idea what kind of job he wanted. The Master Chief at MEPS sort of steered him that way. He himself started out as a Yeoman, so hopefully he got the right advice!

I'm new to the group but encouraged by all the posts I'm reading (when I get a chance) and all of the helpful advice and information. It's nice to know you're not alone in this journey. Hopefully I'll get more time to check in and I really hope I can get to know some of you and meet up in Great Lakes. I'm so anxious to get news from my son and to see how he changes over the next few weeks. Praying for all the recruits and families.

Welcome, Tracie! Our son's are in the same division! Hope to get to know you! :)

Have a great weekend ladies! I will be thinking about all of you and hoping that letters come, or even better, phone calls. I will be back on when I can be in the next few weeks to check in and see about any updates.

Justinsmom - Yeoman do a variety of clerical type jobs. I would say they would be like an Administrative Assistant or an Office Manager. It's another great job in the Navy - there's a lot of paperwork and a LOT of people to keep track of! I'm sure he'll learn some good skills he can put to use in the civilian world, too! :)

The Navy, like an other service, has certain jobs that need filled at different times. They keep track of how many people do what jobs and they try to not have too many of a certain Rate.

I believe that the Navy is the only service that recruits know what job they'll do before boot camp. I think in the other services, you find out after you graduate from basic training. That's kind of cool, right? I ♥ US NAVY. :)

MeganMcK- thinking of you, too! Keepin' our fingers crossed for call & letters! :)

DanaMN - Thanks for the welcome. I am so proud of all of these kids! Hopefully a letter or call will come soon. I know he's in good hands. Think of all the great stories we're going to hear in just a few short weeks!

LOL - I need to get some new pictures! My recruit is the one on the left looking like he just got off leave!

Have ya'll noticed there just aren't many Div 346 people in here? Where are they?

Tracie.....Welcome. Our kids are in the same division. Don't feel bad I haven't done any pictures yet. I'm a cartoon character!! FYI..no letter or call yet either. Just the little 3 liner military issue Dear Mom Letter. I'll take it for now.

Desiress Mom, its all good doesn't matter what division, we can all still meet!!

OK... 343ers... I f you haven't Private Messaged me with your recruits real name, you need to (if you want of course.... no pressure!) so I can put it in my letter to my son tomorrow. I tell him whenever I meet another mom... so he can search out the kid... not sure if he will.. he's kinda shy... but I hope he does. You moms are all so great I want him to meet your kids!

I bet my mom wishes she had the internet when I went to boot camp!

DanaMN - I'll message you my son's name. Glad to hear your son's shy also. Mine insists he's not but the kid who goes to the movies in the afternoon because no one is there now has dozens of roommates!! Wonder how he's doing with that :)

Tracy,

Not a clue where the 346ers are, Ill send something in a letter to my kid about the website to pass along the info

My sons rate is HM he wants to go green side

So about these honor graduates.....what all is involved in getting that award? Also what are the lil rope thingies red, blue,yellow ones...what are those for?

Red ropes are RDC's... I know that. I think black ropes are those in the performing division.

Good night all. I'm going to go sleep away some hours so I'll be closer to 41 days when I wake up! :)

Good Morning 10/15ers!

I hope today brings good news to someone... or no news at all as well all know is good news, too! But I prefer the latter! ;)

Happy Friday!

TRacye....Rope thingies??........LOL

can someone explain the Ship / Division numbers? I see so many ship 12 with different division #. I don't exactly know what that means. My daughter is ship 12 division342. Is everyone in her division going on to the same A school?

Mary - Each division is made up of Recruits of all different Rates so there may be some going to the same A School, but maybe not.

Here's a picture - maybe that will help. :)

FYI... BEQ stands for Bachelor (or base to be politically correct) Enlisted Quarters.