AECF - FCs and ETs

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For families that have a loved one serving the Navy as an FC or an ET. This is the place to share and learn more about their jobs and schools.

For subs - look for the SECF group.

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Anti M

The base does shuttle them out to the airports for stand down, but they have to sign up. NEVER book the earliest flights, and get them back to base a day early... never, ever book the very last flight. While you want every minute possible with them, you also don't want to get them in hot water.

Sep 8, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

navyblumom, my son is FC and he has orders to Dam Neck, VA. for (C)school. He is looking forward to the adventure.

Time is going fast navyblumom. I can't believe mine has been in for over a year. Where has the time gone??

Sep 8, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Welcome Ar'smom. We are glad you joined us. My son is an FC and the first part of his (A)school was in the Day. Then after Christmas he had night school. There are positives and negatives to night school. One positive thing is that you don't have to go to early muster. The thing that my son didn't like was not having his Friday night to go out with friends.

Sep 8, 2011
Anti M

LOL, not going out on Friday night with friends can be a positive... just not to the sailor.

Sep 8, 2011
Deb (FC Mom)

Anti M - especially these days after listening to the chat given to the sailors just before Labor Day liberty.

Sep 8, 2011
Navymom

Thank you Navy moms for welcoming me to the group. My daughter has been getting nervous about coming home for her first time during xmas so all of your information about the flights and the taxi information is really helpful. The only other time she has been on a plane was when she first went to Boot Camp (lol). Probably why she is so nervous. Anyways I will relay all of this helpful information. I know for a fact she is not looking forward to night school, she told me she doesn't want to talk about it.

Sep 8, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Lynne, "Meh" means So, So... But I bet your son did better than what he thought, LoL. It is always the way. When you think the test went great. It turns out not so great. However, when you think you did "Meh." you did great.

Sep 8, 2011
Anti M

When it rains in SD, driving gets really dangerous. They drive faster to get away from the raindrops! Seriously, no rain means the oil builds up on the roads, so when it does rain, the surface is slicker than snot as the residue lifts.

LOL, the base will always get power faster, they have their own emergency generators and power plants. Heck, every ship there has a power plant on board!

Sep 9, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Anti M. we used to live near SD. I know what you mean by people driving faster to get away from the rain. People's cars aquaplane all the time and there were so many accidents when it rained.

Sep 9, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Well, today is the day my son leaves for Dam Neck. I think I am more excited about it than he is at the moment.

BR549. How lucky you are to see the ship return. What fun!! Do you have any photos to post for us??

Sep 9, 2011
TXNavyMom

Connie-Congrat's on your son's upcoming wedding. I am waiting for our son and his fiance to decide if they are going to get married here in TX at Thanksgiving or if she will be going to GL for them to get married. Just a small wedding now with the big wedding to come later.

Sep 9, 2011
TXNavyMom

Connie, I guess we as moms must be reading the same "handbook" I said the same thing to Jayson. Of course his reply was didn't you get to have a "wedding" when you and dad got married 30 years ago? My answer "yes,but our wedding didn't cost as much as the engagement ring you bought'". I guess I'll just smile and nod and be the good mom. This could be difficult. lol

Sep 9, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Connie, I am so happy for your son. Can't believe how fast kids grow.

Connie, my son was out waiting for the bus to take him to the O'Hare 1.5 hours before it was due to leave, LoL. When I spoke with him on the 7th, he was not that excited, but as time passed, I think it actually struck him that he was really leaving for (C)school. Now he can't wait to get there.

Sep 9, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Connie, make sure you take plenty of photos of your son's wedding. Will they have a Navy Chaplain marry them?> (Sounds kind of funny)

Sep 9, 2011
R'sproudmom

Helen, that wounds great. Experiences he will thank the US Navy for many times. Wondering about the King Neptune thing!!! Tell us more later.

Sep 10, 2011
Odi_Ship09_Div140

Watching the news today is making me sad. I thought today was declared a National day of Service - to do something for others. You only hear of the tragedy, not of this. I decided to not go to church (a picnic in the park today) and go in to work but spend some extra time with clients (developmentally disabled adults that are medically fragile)...one lady loves to be read to and I never have "time".

Sep 11, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Helen, I hope Matt has a great date with the King, LoL

Sep 11, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

I will never forget September 11.

God Bless America!!

Sep 11, 2011
TXNavyMom

Will never forget the friends I lost and all those that I didn't know. God Bless America and God Bless and Watch over our Military.

Sep 11, 2011
Mary, Proud Mom of Nick

Sad weekend for the news, I think I watched every minute of it yesterday and wondered how many of our sons and daughters joined the military as a result of 9/11. Nick was in 9th grade in the NROTC program when we were attacked and I know it had an impact on his decision.

Hope everyone is well and is hearing from their sailors.

Sep 12, 2011
Sandy's_sailor son

Helen, I enjoyed reading the article about Shellback tradition. Have you heard from your son? What did he say about it?

Mary, I know what you mean. We don't have TV out where we live so I watched 9/11 videos on UTube. Cried all day.

Sep 12, 2011
xxpaprincessxx

My husband got verbal orders guess were headed to Yorktown Virginia =)

Sep 13, 2011
Proud Navy Mom of Two Sailors

My son is an ET. He passed A school in Great Lakes almost 6 months ago and has been waiting for his C school orders ever since. Has anyone heard of being on hold this long??

Sep 14, 2011
ProudGMBarb

Chief Angie...I have a question for ya...or rumor....to confirm or not!

Our sailor will be graduating A school (ET) toward end of Sept. It's floating around that ET orders are on hold until February because there are no funds to get them moving ????

Guess I don't understand that....since other rates that are graduating have been getting their orders. Can you help confirm or deny this to be true?

thanks a bunch.

Sep 14, 2011
ProudGMBarb

Thanks Denise and BR549...

Denise, I didn't realize about the fiscal year date....now I know! Thanks!

So it pretty much makes sense that even though there always is "some" holding period....it also can be affected by the time of year they graduate A school. Closer to the end of the fiscal year means low funds!!! Oh well. Was hoping he wouldn't have to spend another cold winter at GL.

The TSC on facebook is also always so gracious and helpful. Of course, Denise, you already told me the same thing! Here is their reply to my question:

>>>Currently ET orders, like many schools, are on hold until after the fiscal year of 1 October. Orders will again begin to process as soon as funding is received by the cognizant organizations. We won't have to much more info until then. Hope that helps!/em>

Sep 15, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

Barb, most Sailors are on-hold after (A)school. I noticed that some ETs have received their orders with in 3 weeks in the past. "Lori proud mom of a Sailor's" son is one example. However, most Sailors can be on hold for Months. My Sailor was on-hold from May 6th to Sept 9th.

The best advice I can give your son is to get a job as a SNUFI> Student Not Under Former Instruction. This will make the time on-hold not so boring.

Sep 15, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

I saw the photo of your son Helen. Matt looks really happy. What an adventure he is having. Not that many civilians get to travel and see the world like that.

Sep 15, 2011

ProudGMBarb

Helen....awesome photo. Would you like a copy of that photo for your scrapbook? If so, I can send you the original....nice bigger size where you can see his face! (I can snag it) And if you want, I can resize it for you to post here. Let me know!

Sep 15, 2011

Proud Navy Mom of Two Sailors

Thanks ladies, I'll try to be patient.

Sep 15, 2011

Vickyrun

Chrissy is excited about leaving on her first deployment on Monday.

How soon after they leave do you send the first care package?

Sep 16, 2011

Anti M

Don't forget the last four of their SSN after their name!

Sep 17, 2011

duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

if it's going to a ship you don't need the last 4 of their social

Sep 17, 2011

Vickyrun

Ok thanks

Sep 17, 2011

Anti M

You don't NEED it, but it sure as heck helps if the package goes to the wrong FPO/APO. I was in the Navy overseas, trust me, packages go astray and that last four helps them get to where they are going if they get lost.

Sep 17, 2011

ProudGMBarb

Connie....Congrats to Matt and his beautiful bride! And congrats to you too..you now have a lovely DIL! Wishing them both lots of love, happiness, prosperity, good health, and many years to build beautiful memories together.

Sep 19, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

Connie, I am glad you had a great time at the wedding. Matt and his wife look very happy. :)

Sep 19, 2011

Deb (FC Mom)

Connie Great picture! congratulations to all of you. Another new phase in everyones life :-)

Sep 19, 2011

Vickimed(AECF-ET)

Hey Moms!! Chris graduated C school last week and does not need to be in Washington until next month but he decided to go ahead and leave on his cross country trip instead of taking leave. He wants to save up his leave time. Well I had this dread feeling that we Moms get. Its a 3000 mile drive across the Rockies. Well 2 days into his trip he has a blow out of his tire. No hotel around on a Sunday late afternoon. Walmart is the only thing around and the tire section is closed so he had to sleep in his car in the Walmart parking lot. He didn't sleep well and this morning he has to buy a new tire and drive another day. As a Mom I know this is a learning experience but I am a basket case knowing that he is making this drive alone. I just do not have that easy feeling. As Moms maybe you understand. If you would say a prayer for a safe trip.

Sep 19, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

Vickymed, will say a prayer!!

I know just how you feel. My son wants to drive to NJ from Dam Neck to my cousin's wedding in October. I am having nightmares thinking of him driving through big cities.

Sep 19, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

Connie, we live out in the country. There are only 7,000 residents in our little town. We do drive to Colorado Springs everyday. However, it is not as bad as Norfolk.

His flight back to great lakes left from Denver International. He hated the drive there. Wonder what he will think of Norfolk.

Sep 19, 2011

Vickimed(AECF-ET)

Maddie thank you for the info on the Sailor rescue site. I will check it. May come in handy as he continues on with his trip. I am not worried so much with his driving its those crazy things like tire blow outs or snow in the rockies. Even the other guy that bothers me. Chris grew up driving in ATL. I have not seen worse traffic except LA or DC. They really have ATL beat. Thanks everyone for the prayers. Last I heard he was in Wisconsin heading for Minn.This is day 3 of an 8day trip.

Sep 19, 2011

Vickyrun

Fair winds and following seas to the USS Donald Cook;

Sep 19, 2011

Deb (FC Mom)

Vickirun - great pic, glad you posted

Sep 19, 2011

Anti M

When I was a kid, dad's orders took us cross-country more than once. Mom didn't drive, so he did it all himself. Never did take more than 4 or 5 days, but that was when Navy docs still handed out "pep pills" in the 60s. Mom took "diet pills" then too, used to stay up all night decorating my lunchbags for school. Yikes.

These days, hubby is a trucker, he can legally drive up to 11 hours before he must take a break. Not everyone can do that! Breaks are good, there's so much of America to enjoy along the way, why rush it?

Sep 20, 2011

Mary, Proud Mom of Nick

Weddings, graduations,, orders and first time deployments ,,,,our (their) lives will never be the same again!!

Congrats to all!

Sep 20, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

Vickymed. Love the pic of your daughter's ship. Right now I could just be a stowaway.

Sep 20, 2011

Anti M

Nayblu, jump onto the Japan Moms group, there's a lot to know before he goes (like his phone won't work there). Or.... he doesn't need a passport, but I wouldn't be caught overseas without one! Sasebo is really quite nice.

Sep 21, 2011

Sandy's_sailor son

navyblumom. Wow, Japan!! It would take me awhile to get used to that too. I think it will be a great experience for him.

Sep 21, 2011

Anti M

Navyblu, I was stationed in Japan for a long time, Yokosuka, but my hubby was in Sasebo. While it is very expensive, it is a wonderful culture and very safe.

Yes, a long farewell deployment is common. When the ship is decommissioned, he may or may not get another ship in Sasebo, or he may be on the decommissioning crew. There's a lot of variables with that scenario.

Sep 21, 2011

Mary, Proud Mom of Nick

Sasebo is smaller but beautiful, it is going to be a wonderful experience for your son. Congrats on the orders!

LUV - silly boy indeed!!! FYI...when your tine comes for a Tiger cruise, you have to have a "sponsor" your son cannot sponsor a female, only males so tell him to be nice to the girls on the ship so one of them might sponsor you. :-)

Sep 22, 2011