AECF - FCs and ETs

Could be, the Navy makes for a small world!

Aegis is what my daughter is looking into doing.  don't know what it is but she seems to have decided to try that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegis_Combat_System

More info than you might want, LOL.

I was chatting with Chrissy on FB. Told her I missed her. She says "I've been gone for almost 3 years, you should be used to it by now." Nope, never get used to it, just learn to endure it that is all.

Hello everyone, my name is Sarah and my daughter just graduated from Boot Camp on Thursday and will be reporting to A school tomorrow.  She will be in the Advanced Electronics Computer Field and will be specializing as a Electronics Technician.  We are so excited for her and all that is before her.  I am hoping that I will be able to get good information and support from this group!

Hi Sarah!!

Welcome to AECF group. I am so glad you joined us.

 Great Lakes is an ever changing place but we will try to answer any questions you have.

Sarah, the first week over at the (A)school side of base is INDOC for the new Sailors. They will be learning the rules, regulations and what is expected of them as a student at Great Lakes. After INDOC week, Sailors are usually on hold for several weeks until they begin ATT.>(Apprentice Technical Training).  The time spent in ATT varies depending on whether a Sailor is an ET or FC. For a FC ATT is about Three months or so, LoL.  We will have to ask our ET moms how long their Sailors were in ATT.

Hi Sarah....Welcome! Yes...ATT is three months also for ETs. In total, ET school is just a tad longer than FC.   ET total 18 semester hours....and FC total 14 semester hours.  If you'd like the breakdown, I can post it for you. ETs school is about 2 years long (with holds, etc.).

Those are just the recommended semester hours. ETs can end up with a bunch more schooling because they have the opportunity to learn mutiple systems. Ask Anti M...I think she said she went to several C schools.

For now, though, gotta run. Getting ready for a New Years Eve party here. Been cooking all day...still not done!

Happy Happy New Year everyone. May 2012 be the best yet for all of us!

See you all in a couple days!

Enjoying relaxing time with our sailor and happy that he is happy with being in the Navy. Keep reminding him to put fun places for me to visit on that dream sheet - but we both know I have a service dog and dont travel easily...but I can dream. Happy New Year to all and thanks for the support

my son is an FC and he was in GL and Dalhgren, VA for 1 year, 10 months.  He then went to SanDiego and is now on his first deployment.  Will be gone 6 months.  So it seems like 2 years is the common figure!  I never knew exactly what his job was and this group was a great help in learning a little about what an FC does.  I'm not sure what an ET does.  If I remember right, when he picked the job he wanted he picked AECF and was told they could guarantee that, but couldn't guarantee if he would be a FC or ET.  Does any of this sound correct?  lol  Anyway, he got what he wanted so that was good. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful visit with their sailor over the holidays.  My daughter left yesterday and it was wonderful.  When she left she said I'll come home on my next hold.  Can anyone maybe try to explain this to me.  I know she has 30 days off a year but don't know when her holds will be?  Thank you

Ari'smom,  "Hold" refers to the time between (A) and (C)school. Or after (C)school. For example: My son was on-hold while he was waiting for orders to his (C) school. He was on-hold for 3 months. He was allowed to take 10 days leave to come home. My son will be on-hold again after he graduates from (C)school while waiting for orders to his ship. 

Thanks so much.  That does help a lot.  She is still in A school but says she will finish up sometime in March and then wait for her orders for C school.  

It was great to have her home but did notice a change in her since the last time I saw her in August.  Is that normal?  Am I the only mom who notices these things? Seems she took up smoking and I don't know what else.  A little upset over this but know I need to accept she's in the Navy now.

Ari'smom, just sent you a friend request.

I was an ET.  Daily work in the fleet tends to be maintaining the gear, which is communications and radar systems; and of course, repairing the gear when it goes down. (I"m leaving out all the duty and shipboard tasks).

 FCs learn weapons systems, and operate their systems, ETs are not operators.  C schools can be varied, she might go to a system school, or a handful of schools for individual pieces of equipment.  There's so may of these, I can't tell you where all the C schools are for ET.  

Hey, a mom doe snot have to accept smoking, and never at her home.  Give her hell, you're allowed.  

That 30 days of leave, yes, they get them.  They might not get them all at once, or when they want, and in the fleet, some have to carry the days over to year two before they get a chance to take them.  Also, they don't always get to come home while on hold, that is on a case by case basis.  Glakes use to never allow it, but the longer holds have changed that.

My son graduated boot camp 1/21/11 and will begin C school for ET this January 2012 in San Diego.  He has been at GL since his bootcamp; came home to Northern California for the holidays as an E4 assigned to the USS Ashland in Norfolk, VA when C school is finished.  I am proud.  That's a long way from landing at O'Hare airport to report for bootcamp in his flip flops, Hawaiian shirt and shorts a year ago. 

my son started smoking when he was in boot camp too.  I have talked to him, etc. etc.  but he will do what he wants I guess.

togo  I know what you mean about they will do what they want anyway.  

She enlisted in the navy after 3 months of College without telling me.  when I talked to the recruiter his reply was (she's an adult).  So I am proud of her but she does do what she wants regardless.

togo and Ari'smom, my son started smoking after boot camp.  Later he decided to stop. He told me he wants to be in good health and be able to pass his PFAs. He doesn't want his lungs all plugged up. After awhile most of them come to that conclusion.

Ari'smom, It is hard to estimate hold times. I will say this though. It is very likely that your daughter will be at Great Lakes until June 2012. My son is an FC and he was at Great Lakes from June 2010 to September 2011. FCs seem to be on hold for longer after (A)school. 

jackie,

how wonderful for you son!  my sailors would have either cried (they're both girls) or yelled back, lol.  guess your son got punked!  CONGRATS!!!!

Hi! My son will be PIR Feb. 10th. he is AECF but not sure about Fc or ET. Not knowing this yet can I determine where he will be going to A school. Tried to look it up if I'm not mistaken ( and I probably am LOL) he is going to A school in the Great Lakes?

Thank you for responding so quickly Goldn8r! Now I feel better! I needed that! I'm about 20 minutes from Athens and 15 from Commerce. Nice to meet you! I know Waycross!

Jackie congrats on his CAP!  Always great when that happens.  Hurray for your new ET2!

So happy for John and what a great story he will be able to share with his grandkids one day!!!  Congrats to him Jackie, I know it was well deserved!

Hope everyone is enjoying their new year - wishing each of you much love, happiness and good health in the year ahead!

Hi to all you Mom's out there!

I'm new to this group.  My daughter will be studying/training for "ET" at Great Lakes.  She PIR'd on 12/2.  Any other 12/2 alumni out there?

To Arismom:  It seemed forever before my son knew anything about where C school was to be. He did not know where C school would be until just before the Christmas leave (almost a year after PIR).  I do not know if he was able to choose where C school was to be.  He said he was asked which ocean he would prefer...he said Pacific then he was told he would have the Atlantic. I do not think there's much choosing in the Navy.

To Jackie: congratulations to John.  What a wonderful story.  Congtatulations and how very proud you must be.  Hope my son, John, will have those stories to tell too. Thanks for your well wishes.

Well may daughter is back is in G/L after two weeks. hated to see her leave. But my son is home for a week from VA. he is on the IKE. She hopefuly will start A school soon. just passed ATT before coming home.miss her already. Jackie great news about your son congrats!

Congratulations Jackie and family. Bet the ones toruting him enjoyed themselves!

My daughter will be graduating from Boot Camp this coming Friday and will be attending A school in Great Lakes for ET. She said she will be there until August 6, and doesn't know where C school will be afer that. I am so thankful for this site as there are places to follow them on their Journey and get lots of helpful information.

As an ET, she won't know about her C school for quite some time.  Just settle in and make the most of Glakes, there's a lot to do if she explores what's available on base, and when she earns her liberty privileges, off base.

Congrats to your son, Jackie. I don't know about the way they told him, kinda mean. I hpoe they don't do that to Chrissy, she would freak out.

Hey Ladies I have a quick question: I know most Wives of AECF get to live with their husband after basic... and everyone talks about how to get moving money and him getting paperwork done... my question is what if you will already be living in the GL area BEFORE he even graduates basic? will he have to get different paper work?or will it go faster since i will already be established there? I dont care that we wont be getting financial assistance (my work is moving me up there). Has anyone been through this? Thanks!

The paperwork is the same (assuming you're married already).  He can't get it started until he graduates and checks into the TSC side.   It might go a little bit faster,  because you won't have to house hunt.  However, he still has to submit the same Live Ashore packet and earn his liberty privileges to stay offbase.

Heathers Mom and Daddys Little Girl:  My son was PIR May 2010 and has been in A school and then on hold at Great Lakes since then.  Thankfully he just rec'd his orders to leave for Norfolk in mid January.  Great Lakes is a great base and the schooling is wonderful...but 20 months is a long time! 

GoldnG8r--yes, the Aegis C school is in Dahlgren. My son went there for 7 months and then was sent to SanDiego and is now on his first deployment.

I went to C schools after I was an E-5.  As long as he's in the fleet, he receives evals and can do his courses for advancement.

Proud Navy Mom of Two Sailors - Good luck to your son inNorfollk.  My daughter PIR's on 6/17/11 and I don't think she has any idea she is going to be there that long.  You're right 18 months is a long time.  She said she should finish A school sometime in March.

Jackie - Congratulations to your son - what a great story.

our sailor just got orders for CIWS in San Diego. leaves March 5. new stuff for me to learn about! =)   Boot camp grad was 2/18/11, FC  A school grad 10/7/11, so not too bad of a wait, but he's ready for the next phase!

Goldng8r, the Dahlgren school is in Dahlgren. It is a small town on the Potamac river about an hour from Fredricksburg, VI.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Dahlgren,+Virginia&hl=en&ll=3...

My husband is in FC a school right now we're looking at a mid-march graduation. does anyone know what kind of holds there are right now for orders?

My daughter is set for a mid march FC A school completion too. She said the rumor is 3-8 months hold time.

GoldnG8r, I know if I go back and search, I will find your sailors PIR date but would you mind sharing it with me?  R's was 4-29.  Looks like some FC's are getting orders a little sooner than I expected.  Thanks!

Alway's, your daughter's orders are great news!  I know she was excited. 

My son is leaving GL this Friday, 1/6/12 to go to C school for ET in San Diego..  His PIR was 1/21/11.  He is just short of a year at GL but he is an E4 now. He is thrilled about this movement in his career. Perserverence furthers as it is said.