AECF - FCs and ETs

That is exciting  news Connie!!!  Is it the first grand baby?

Connie congrats!!!

Connie....How exciting!  Congrats! Grandbabies are soooooo precious!

You need to go out and celebrate!

Connie, what do you mean about "only tricare"?  It is the only health coverage unless she works and has insurance that way too.  In which case, her insurance is primary coverage, tricare covers the rest.

If you mean, can she see doctors offbase?  Maybe, if they take tricare.  It depends of she's on tricare standard or tricare prime also.  Prime requires a referral.  Standard does not, but the co-pays are higher.

today was a great day.  my 1 daughter came home from a 7 month deployment!!!!  my fc is surprising her by coming home next friday for a week!!!!  life is great today and will be even better next weekend!

duhhuh....ENJOY!  What a great Christmas Gift! My gratitude and thanks to both your children for their service.

Helen...congrats to Matt! Saw your scrapbook pics on FB...you did an awesome job! I am definitely going to get that software....probably not til after the holidays though.

Still don't know for sure if Christian will be back home for Christmas. Everybody...keep your toes and fingers crossed!

Helen....your pics of Matt always brighten my day!  Bravo Zulu Matt!

ProudGMBarb,

thanks!  jes is having some problems adjusting, trying to do too much by herself (stubborn as hell) between setting up her new house and dealing with her 3 year old but when she sees her big sister next weekend all will be good!

About the NEX gift card...just a thought...if you can't get a NEX card, maybe a VISA gift card would be also good....because they can still use it at the NEX...or to go out to eat...or to buy something at the mall, go to a movie, etc. A bit more flexibility.  Sometimes the NEX just doesn't have what they want.

with the 7 month hold, will they have to stay in GL?  my daughter is in week 2 of A school and is hoping for orders to Dam Neck, VA for C school

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/it.htm

Basically a computer tech, or possibly simply data entry.  Their CREO isn't much better than FC as far as advancement goes. The sea/shore rotation has 48 months sea duty, rather than 60.  Computers or weapons systems is the basic choice.

Anti M .....thanks

It is amazing they pay so many Sailors to basically just hang out in GL for so many months.  She said she may not get orders until March.  By March  I'm sure she will be very glad for those orders.

i hate the idea of my daughter just sitting in GL for 7 months, i was really excited about her wanting dam neck, it's only a few hours away.

i hope so!  otherwise i may have to take vacation to go see her (and i don't have paid vacation)

My daughter heard that same 7 month time frame for holds.  Nothing is ever certain with hold times.  Too much free time is not a good thing for our very intelligent and bored kids. :)

I know my son was at GL and then Dalghren for C school.  He had a long wait before he could go to C school.  I just think it's always backed up.

@ Luv1031- that is great.  Boy I would love to be that close. 

@BR549 - my son graduated BC two years ago in January.  He was on hold for a while in GL, went to VA and got his orders for SanDiego in October.  He is now on his first deployment.  I know GL isn't the most popular place. lol

Son made it to his sister's! They are happy to see each other and relaxed. He is in such a positive frame of mind, put in his dream sheet and should finish A school next month.And next Friday we get to go see them.  Hope and prayers for safe travel for all

Hi GoldnG8r...I know there are about 9 Sailors switching to IT.  25 total switched to a different rate.  My daughter is possibly going to switch.    Whatever she decides I know she will be fine.  At the present time she is enjoying her SNUFI job as base photographer.  It comes with nice perks....no watches and a parking spot.   Too bad she doesn't have a car...haha.

She was home for about an hour yesterday and off she went to a friends college graduation and maybe I will see her today.

Merry Christmas all!!

Leanne, you are correct. SNUFI does mean: Sailor Not Under Formal Instruction. My son had a SNUFI job too while on hold between (A) and (C)school.

Maddie grandma. I meant to say "Maddie you are correct" LoL.

I am just so happy because my son will be home for Christmas soon!!  My brain has gone to mush.

Leanne, how long has your daughter been in her rate? 

Hi to all. Been away from this site for awhile. Son finished C at SD and got his orders for the USS Carl VInson which is based out of SD.. He got leave to come home for Christmas and is at the airport now waiting. After his leave I guess he will get flown out to the ship [?]which is already on deployment. I'm so happy he is coming home. Haven't seen him for 10 months. Hi Sandy!

They often fly them out, unless the ship is ported in a place where they'd need a passport to get to them.  It can be quite the hopscotch.  If the ship will return sooner than later, they may end up in a TPU (holding unit)... same as Glakes, cleaning and standing duty and too much time on liberty.

AntiM [ missed you!] so if the ship is out for 7 months they would fly him out when it's in port somewhere? That was his understanding but then who knows? He has been on hold for 6 weeks since graduating C. His orders got "lost" and the ship had already left. He was happy to finally get his assignment. Even happier that they are allowing him to take leave to come home for Christmas. Me too!

My sailor is home she came home today and now she is out getting her tattoo.She just finished ATT and will officially graduate on thursday after she gets back to school. then wait to start A school. My Son will be home after christmas but they both will get to see each other for a few days. So happy havent seen her in five month and my son a year. hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a happy holiday

@lori, they will find a time to fly him out, and yes, they tend to meet the ship in a port.  I don't think they helo them in at sea, not unless it was some sort of emergency.  My nephew met his sub in Bahrain, but he had a passport in hand from before he was a sailor, the guys who didn't had to wait until the Navy pushed theirs through.   That's yet one more reason I encourage all new sailors to get their passports on their own, it makes life simpler.

My sailor just arrived home. This is going to be a great Christmas.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Thanks luv.  I know they didn't used to do it much, and it does depend on how close the ship is to where the helos are.  Their range is somewhat limited.  

Have fun Sandy!

We picked our sailor up at midnight- he was bumped up to first class on the connecting flight! And fed all the beer he liked! He has had his passport since before he went into the Navy. Something we did for our whole family. He doesn't know when her will join the ship yet.

Sandy- i know the excitement you are feeling! I couldn't stop hugging my boy!

Happy Holidays. To those who have thier sailors home; Enjoy!

The rest of us will muddle thru.  

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming. They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, In a 47 man berthing, cramped one and all.

 I had come down the ladder with presents to give and to see inside just who might perhaps live. I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

 No stockings were hung shined boots close at hand. On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land. They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, and a sober thought came into my mind.

 For this place was different, so dark and so dreary. I had found a home of a Sailor, once I saw clearly. A sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.

 The face was so gentle, the berthing squared a way. This was the United States Sailor today. This was the hero I saw on TV, defending our country so we could be free.

 I realized the families that I would visit this night, owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownup would celebrate on Christmas day.

 They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, because of the Sailor, like the one lying here. I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve at sea, far from home.

 The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, “Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.”

 “Defending the sea all days of the year, so others may live and be free with no fear.” I thought for a moments, what a difficult road, to live a life guided by honor and code.

 After all it’s Christmas Eve and the ships, underway! But freedom isn’t free and it’s Sailors who pay. The Sailor say’s to our country “be free and sleep tight. No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this
night.”

 The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night’s cold chill.

 I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, commanded, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas, and all is Secure.

Vickyrun- I had read this on another site. Who ever wrote this did a good job. It is very moving and the first time I read it I think I got a little misty eyed.

Merry Christmas to all. 

Vickyrun, thank you for sharing with us.

Merry Christmas to all my Navy family.

Merry Christmas Navy Moms..

Wishing you and your loved ones a Wonder-filled Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy 2012 !

You're welcome. I'm wishing for a phone call from a certain sailor. That would be a great Christms present. Since she has not called me at all this deployment.

Vickyrun, praying you get a call from your Sailor.

FC = fire control, which has nothing to do with firefighting and everything to do with weapons control. Your SR will be learing all the computer programs that control the weapons on board. C schools are where they learn about one special weapon. The kind of ship depends on the weapon. 

gmansmom,

there are 3 locations for C school, San Diego in Cali, and Dam Neck and Dal Green in VA.  there are quite a few different weapon systems to learn.  it just depends on what system where they may go to school.  my daughter is leaning towards Dal Green.

Just got a Christmas card from an old Navy buddy, our neighbors in San Diego.  He's still in the Navy (we were retiring, he was at his first duty station).  He's an instructor for Aegis in Dalgren!  Well, was, he'll be transferring next month.  I knew he was still Navy, just not what he was doing.   PO Thomas.  So some of your FCs might know my old neighbor!

I can't believe the baby we used to sit for is now in high school.  Wow, been ages since we saw them.  My hubby would pick up Brendan when he was crying, and he'd stop, even his mom couldn't get him to settle down that fast.

Sorry I didn't make that clear. In A school they learn all the weapons. Then they go to one C school and learn more about one weapon.