AECF - FCs and ETs

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.

Connie- I would love it if my son had to do some cooking! Being the youngest and having 2 older sisters he never got a chance at home. 

So if they do cranking for 90 days and it's a 7 month deployment than he won't get a lot of time learning what he was trained for right? Do they all expect that when they leave?

those weeks will go by quickly Mary. If you get to the North shore there is an incredible catering truck called Opal's in Haleiwa - our favorite restaurant anywhere

Mary, should I ask my son to put me in touch with his ombudsman? Is that how I get updates? He never said anything about adding me to a list. Hmmm.

I had a wonderful surprise this morning when i looked on the Vinson's FB page. They had a "deck" party and I got to see a picture of my son! I was so excited- I did the "happy dance" for the first time since I heard him call and say "I'm a sailor"! Seeing a photo of him on his ship makes it more real to me. "There he is" I kept saying! 

Mary- how wonderful you get to go to Pearl Harbor and be with your son. I'm sure he's every bit as excited as you are!

Lori go to the Uss Carl Vinson friend page. Their will be a place that ask to join. You will tell them who your son is and they will verify. This may take a couple of days. Then you will get a message welcoming you to the page, These pages are closed only to family and friends of the sailors on those ships for OBSEC reasons.and are controlled by the Ozbudsman. Also "like" if you haven't yet the Vinson page (govt organization) They post pictures and let you know what is going on while they are deployed. 

Vickimed- I'm confused [sorry,old brain]- I am a friend on the Vinson FB so I can comment on it [ I did when I saw a photo of my son]. Is that what you're talking about? I don't see anywhere to let them know who my son is though. Are the 2 sites different? 

Hey Lori, Go to the top search bar. Type in USS CARL VINSON friends. Then search. A whole bunch of sites come up. Some are closed. You can ask to join . They will check your info out then get back with you. Before I began writing this I went to it to make sure it was similar to my son's ship. There are several for you to chose from. Chris's is a much smaller ship so not as much to chose. I also noticed a website...Vinsonombudsman.org for you to check out. Hope this helps. I do know how it feels when they are deployed and you look for any info and pictures that might be posted. 

Mary,proud mom o fnick--I have already talked to Lori.  She is great.  Thanks for giving me that info though.

Just a questions, what is cranking?  All of the guys have to do that when they get to their ship?

togo,
cranking is anything, and i mean anything, connected with the mess deck.  it can be set up and take down, clean up, serving, prep and cooking.  everyone goes thru it at least once.  my daughter hated it, she had clean up.

even dishes

Vickimed- i'm going to try that -thanks! I'll let you know what I find. I didn't even know such a thing existed. 

If cranking was making coffee or cooking steak my son wouldn't mind that at all!!!

cranking sounds like fun.  lol  How long do they have to do it, do they have to do it every deployment? I'm sure my son hates it too.

that sounds good that they keep them updated. Thanks for the information.  I know what you mean about them doing anything the Navy wants them to.  when he was waiting for C school he had to to something with the paint.  I think they were rubbing it off with a chain or something. 

jacqueline,

i have 2 daughters in the Navy.  one is getting out in june after 5 years and i have one in A school in GL.

I know what you mean, Connie~Matt's Mom~.  My son's calls and letters from boot camp showed so much maturity that I was afraid I wouldn't know him at PIR.  Well, he has grown a lot.  But the X-box kid is still there, I'm relieved to say.  I'd miss him if he were completely gone.  I'm not quite ready to give him up yet. :-)

duhhuh58   Ship10

I noticed your comment about your two daughters being in the navy.  You have one that is getting out after five years.  I have one that has been in almost a year and she is in A school in great lake studying to be an ET.  she should be finishing A school in another month.  Did your daughter that is getting out after five years enjoy her time.  Did you notice that she changed a lot?  Are you excited that she is finishing?

It is quiet on here. I may not comment much (feel I know so little - son just finished A school) I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice and fellowship. You really helped me to not be discouraged as he was in school.  I know the Navy is the right choice for him. His confidence shows that!

Chrissy earned her ESWS pin today!

Congrats on the ESWS!  Excellent achievement.

Sorry to hear about the seabag.  I hope he had it labeled and tagged.

ari's mom,
as to whether she enjoyed it or not depends on what day (and sometimes what hour) you ask her.  now that she's been turned down for renlistment (which she has beens saying she didn't want to do) she depressed she can't reinlist.  change, none where i'm concerned.  she has learned how to support herself (don't know how long that will last after june) but she doesn't treat me or act any better around me then she did before she went in.

my other daughter is also in GL at A school studying to be a FC.  they probably know each other.

My son just started ATT school on Tues & he just had PIR on 1/13. I am grateful he did not have to be on hold but a week. I expect that after ATT & A school there will be a big hold before C school. Is there another website that the newer moms use? During BC our group was very talkative & I'm kinda of having withdrawl from all my N4M friends. Or do I just need to chat more often??? Thanks!!

BTW-I had no idea what cranking was or that they even had to do it. When my son finally gets to that stage I hope he has to cook. He did a ok job at cleaning up but never really learned how to cook. Always thought he would use a mocrowave & use paper good. lol!

Hey, gmansmom!  I did getyour e-mail.  Thank you!  I'm so glad that they've started ATT school.  I never heard him complain but I think that being on hold too long right out of RTC would be demoralizing.  Is your son ET of FC?  Mine is FC.  Why did he make this career choice?  Because he "wanted to shoot the big guns".  Sheesh!  I suppose it's a step up from killing zombies but sometimes I worry.  Does he know that he is not in the middle of an X-box game? 

Just wanted to clear something up since I seen this several times. When they do the cranking in the galley they don't really cook. They assist the cook, peel potatoes, that sort of thing.

Cranking can also be laundry, or serving in the officer's mess.

FCs have a solid background in electronics, so anything in that field.  Not quite as versatile as an ET, but still very employable.  When they separate, the go through a program called TAPS, which helps them transition to civilian life, including appropriate fields of employment.