AECF - FCs and ETs

gmansmom....yes, after PIR his title will be SA. When he graduates A school he will be FC.

Congrats!

HisLadyB07....just as a reference...our ET sailor graduated A school the end of Sept. 2011, and received his C school orders the end of October 2011.

He reported to San Diego on Dec. 2 for C school, and will be there until March. Then he goes to Norfolk, VA for a little longer, then out to fleet on the USS Germantown.

Hope your BF receives his orders soon!

Actually, after A school he'll be an FCSN and when the advancement cycle gives him the contractual advancement, an FC3.

Anti M....Yup...how'd I forget that? Shows that right on the A school certificate! 

Applies to ETs as well... ETSN.

Thanks for keeping us straight!

Hey, easier for me to remember, LOL.

Son completed A school last night! So do I not address it SN? He sounded like it would be a month before he officially advances.  What is petty officer indoc?

Just use whatever you were using, and he'll tell you quick enough if you're wrong!  He's probably an SN now, You can use FCSN (or ETSN) and not be too far off.

Petty officer indoc teaches them the rights and responsibilities when they advance up to E-4, petty officer third class.  

Thanks Anti M

Anybody have kids in the 5th Fleet? They were in the news last night. I don't know if Chrissy is in that area, but she maybe near it. Her ship is actually on an independent mission, not part of a big fleet.

Sounds about right.  He can request to have you as his liberty buddy, immediate family can do that.

Vickyrun, often when a DDG is on an independent mission they will meet with a strike group and support their efforts for part of their deployment.  Nick's ship goes out independently but each deployment they have caught up with one of the groups.  Don't have anyone in the 5th fleet but we do know many well trained sailors that are part of the 5th.

How is Chrissy liking her first deployment?

gmansmom, Immediate family is allowed for phase I liberty.  Girlfriends are not.

Thanks Mary, but I don't think she wasin the area of queston. Because she said she made Shellback yesterday. Does that  mean she crossed the equater?

She is half-way thru her deployment. Not sure how she is doing but last time we chatted she seemed to be having a hard time. She won't admint it, but she does this thing where she won't talk about the Navy and trys to focus on me.

She is happy whenever she can call her son. He said he wanted to "help her fight the bad guys".  

gmans - I called Sarge at 847 212 0246 and it was better than renting a car in Great Lakes. he picked us (and my service dog) up at airport - got us everywhere early and when he was booked, had Mark from Guernee step in whom was equally wonderful

Yes, call a taxi, many good ones in the area. Be sure if you are in Chicago and going out to Great Lakes to call a suburb taxi as the city taxis charge more to go out of the city.

I googled Shellback, there is a hazing ritual along with it. That is why she said she had a sore throat and sore knees.

At least they've toned down the hazing!

I used to live in Iran, and the people are lovely and decent.  Most of them do not hate Americans.  When they ousted the Shah (who was no saint), it opened the door for the fanatics to take over. People are people, politicians are the problem!

Bravo Zulu to Matt and all the ship's crew. 

My ET son is traveling today to C school at Norfolk.  His sponsor has not contacted him and doesn't know if there is a shuttle from the airport.  Anyone know how to best get to the base from the airport around 5:00 tonight? 

Proud Navy Mom of two sailors - can I ask when your ET son finished A school?

Odi, his PIR was 5/2010, graduated from A school 4/2011. 

When R signed up for the Navy on July 1, 2010, he was told there were no positions for FC until March 1,2011.  He graduated BC April 29, 2011. Once he got up there and we learned all about the holds, I just knew that something would change and the hold time would be shorter for him. Haven't given up hope either.   I don't understand it and am sure I never will.  How do they choose who will get orders next?  Is it a seniority list, do they go by grades? Do those dream sheets mean anything? If FC's changed rate when they offered it, after Christmas stand down, does that open up a possibility for them to move up the list and reduce hold time?  Just wondering!!   We had a young man from our area leave for BC Jan. 8th for FC.  So, I really don't understand.

I understand what you are saying!  Try this one on for size...my other son is in the Reserves.  He wants to go full time and has been trying to change over for the past 2 years.  As I understand it, they are still hiring in his rate (Seabee) but they have not taken any Reservists over to full time for 3 years.  He has been told that he should join the Army if he wants to go full time!  Fully trained with many hundreds of thousands of Navy dollars of training!  Go figure.

My son's PIR was Jan 2011 and as an ET stayed at Great Lakes for ATT and A school until January 2, 2012.  He is at C school in San Diego for a month until 2/1/2012 when he joins his ship at Little Creek, Virginia (amphibious). I never had any expectations as to when schools started or completed.  Son seems satisfied so I will be too.

I think it is the Navy.  This is a commitment to be part of something bigger than yourself or your individual needs or desires.  This may actually save their lives at some point.  Being committed to something bigger than themselves is a huge movement from childhood to adulthood and is not measured quickly or by their individual needs.  What does the Navy need?

When our son signed up he was told to expect up to 2 years in Great Lakes. So far he has made good time and not had any holds. He may enjoy a break so it is not all bad to not have school for a little while. I know he would LOVE to get orders for C school soon but is fine with the wait. His PIR was April 2011

Ari'smom, My son graduates April as I understand.  He is ET as well.

I experienced holds in A school ... 30 years ago!   The training pipeline is long, the commands put in their manning requests and needs years in advance.  Those needs must be funded, the schools must be funded, the military's budget gets held up, so do the students.  The manning projections take into account the drops and academic fails, as well as the retention (re-enlistment) variables.   The quality of recruit is better, so in the long run, more sailors are staying.   And then there's random crap like the furnace in the training building crapping out, or a lack of qualified instructors when something happens to the ones who are supposed to be teaching (illness, separation, etc).

Why keep filling the lower ranks?  Because the way the Navy is structured, you need more junior sailors than senior sailors, so as they advance and separate, you need new young ones.  You can't have all chiefs and senior petty officers, you need the new kids as well.  

Thanks everyone for trying to help me understand this new life :)

Chris - That's great I wonder if they know each other.  How does he like night school?  She doesn't at all.  She can't wait to finish so she can get her orders for C school.  She also said the hold for ETs isn't long at all for the C school.  She wants California.  What about your son?

I'll ask if he knows Ari.  He likes night classes, as he has always been sleep in and stay up late kind of guy!  Ray keeps to himself and getting info is like pulling teeth.  I think he said something about California, or even VA, so I don't think he has a definite desire.  He has mentioned that there is no merit basis for assignment, (I was army, and the better students most often got the choice assignments, even if it wasn't "official") so he's going with the flow.  I don't push, I want him to talk with us and share, and he will on his time.  I do know he will be glad to get out of the Chicago area!!  He has grown and changed of rate better, so i am just enjoying that, seeing him happy.

I'm sorry Ari's Mom, I did not let you know that I was corresponding!!  I was talking like I was on IM! lol

Ari'smom,  Ray does not know Ari :( however, he is may know who she is as he is way better with faces than names.  Ray is pretty quiet, and reserved.

Good morning, Today is my youngest Daughter's Sweet 16 Birthday. She has already said she won't join the miltary which makes me happy. One is enough.

Vickyrun, Hope u enjoyed the big day!

BR549- that is wonderful news! My son was flown out to his ship the USS Carl Vinson on tues morning. At least I think it was tues. The time difference is so weird that I can't figure out what day they are! He is an ET and had been in almost 2 years by the time he got his assigned ship. Also had SD for C. I know what you mean about being nervous and excited. My son said he wasn't real nervous, so I told him I was enough for both of us!

Wonderful news for you both. So nice when they finally get to a ship and all thier hard works in school pays off.

Yesterday I got  a late Christms present from Chrissy, a sovenir spoon form the island they were at. It has a Dodo bird on it. That is a real bird!?!

Lori and BRN ...Navy life begins NOW for them.  All of the schooling behind them and now they get a chance to put it to work and doing some cranking too but they will be seeing the world soon.  Best wishes to them both!

BR549--great news.  My son is an FC and he is on the Cape.  He left on it for his first deployment on December 7th.  He was in the Navy for 2 years before he got his 1st deployment as well.  I guess they will be flying him out to the ship.  Wonder where they are?

Hi all, It has been a while so I 'm just checking in. Chris has been at sea about 4 months now.It has been exciting for them. The misson they were given seems to be a success and they have been given alot of praise. The picture below is one he sent the other day. He has just been OC Sprayed and now he has to wrestle someone to the ground. Part of training to capture someone. This past month they had Crossing the Line ceremony so this Polywog is now a Shellback. Then the Sec of the Navy came for a visit to their ship. Since he is on a smaller ship the Secretary was able to get more time with sailors. Then Dan Rather's crew on HD net paid a visit and the ship got to show off what they do. It is suppose to air in March sometime. After all this excitement next week he will begin his cranking. So I guess part will be done on the ship and when he returns he will finish at port. They are talking 3 more school this summer when he returns also so hopefully the schools will be on the east coast. Alot has happen for him and he want be in 2 years until the end of May.

Vickimed- cool photo. Congrats on him making Shellback! Very exciting.

Mary- I was told that he probably won't do cranking right away but will be given time to "adjust"- does that sound right? The time difference alone will be 12 hours for him! That sounds like a huge adjustment just that. From SD to the Middle East. But you're right- Navy life REALLY begins for him now!

Connie- I have heard it called TAD [temporary assigned duty]. I just wonder if the newbie [ he's just joining the deployed ship] is put immediately into "cranking" or do they give him some time to adjust to life on a ship? If the deployment is for several months do they go to the job they have trained for or have to wait for the next deployment? All questions my son had no answer for.

Lori and Connie, I read somewhere that when you join the ship your name goes to the bottom of the list and when your name become at the top you will do your cranking for approx 90 days. Chris said his is about 4 months but he is on a smaller ship. So I guess it all depends on the ship they are assigned and how many are on the list. Some of my son's friends say the best cranking is while in port which the last half of his will be in port. We use to own a Subway in Florida and Chris worked the store alot. Hopefully all the skills he learned there will get him through. LOL. 

togo, one of our other FCs moms (Lori) has a son on the Cape, you may want to connect with her.  Your son will certainly be working with her son and he has been on that ship about three years now.  I believe the ship has a facebook page..

Vickimed ----------------Chris is getting some great experiences on his 1st deployment! 

Cranking in port is advantagous because alot of sailors don't eat on the ship when they are in port.   Our son did the Officer's Wardroom and it was very beneficial to him.  Generally cranking is about 90 days but it really comes down to the needs of the ship.