AECF - FCs and ETs

My daughter is in love with a Spanish man and hopes to live in Spain (she spent a year there on study abroad) Hoping my son gets orders for one of these!

Yes, that is her ship; the USS Donald Cook.

It is a small Aegis destroyer,   

Son is headed for C school at Fort Gordon - thanks proudgm

I chose West Coast/Japan and got Diego Garcia, and that was as an ET1!

Sand Diego is a big homeport, so chances aren't bad.  

where do I look on facebook for pics

Anyone looking for the TSC fb page, here it is:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/TrainingSupportCenterGreatLakes

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thank you everyone for the information!  It's hard to believe that my daughter has been enlisted now for 10 months!  I want everyone to know this page has been a lifeline for me.  Thank you all for helping me get through these 10 months!!!  She knows she may not get what she put down and I know her life is the Navy now ever since she signed the papers.  Will be checking the TSC facebook page for pictures.

That wish list is a big joke. Our kids don't have  a choice. The Navy shouldn't do that stupid wish list. Our kids need to learn right away that they will go where the Navy needs them. And when the Navy tells them to go. That is part of the job.

But you never know - what if the wish list happens to match the Navy's needs? They are told the Navy's needs come first.

Actually, it is called a dream sheet... and no, out of A school, it makes little difference.  However, they NEED to know how to fill one out when they hit the fleet, because the detailers do take it seriously as possible for the next set of orders.  They cannot always fulfill the requests, which happened to me once, but I have also as good results getting one of my three dream picks.  And the place I didn't want to go was where I met my husband and love of my life.  So we should all dream on ....

anyone know which building the ET/FC A school class is held in?  we are surprising my daughter a day early and want to be waiting outside when she gets done with school on that thursday

Anti M...you've got the right attitude!

Ari'smom...Wait/hold times will always vary some. You could get a general idea from how long others waited, but you just never know!

Our ET sailor graduated A school toward the end of Sept. 2011 and got his C school orders around third week in November 2011.

Was great because he got to come home for Thanksgiving, then reported to C school on Dec. 2. Then he came home again during Christmas Standdown. It was soooo good to see him.

Vickyrun and Anti M. I agree. The Navy will try to give you your "dream sheet wish" but in the end. You will be assigned to where you are needed. 

I believe that things happen for a reason Anti M. Although you didn't get the orders you would have liked. , you got your dream man. LoL

duhhuh... you may want to try and call the school.  We always had to march in formation back to the barracks.   We did not "straggle" (leave individually).   The Navy and surprises don't mix.  I assume you're retired military or you couldn't get on base, yes?

Thank goodness for Anti M !

I forgot about them "marching" to and fro everywhere!

Duhhuh...another thought..you can post a question about what you'd like to do on TSC FB page. They always do a great job in responding very quickly to any questions.

Just wondering...didn't Chief Angie also post on this forum? or was it just on the GL school forum? Haven't seen anything from her on here lately, so I thought I'd ask. Anyone hear from her lately? We could always count on Anti M and Chief Angie to provide clear, accurate, and no beating around the bush answers! Love them both!

She still posts, but now she is retired Navy!

AntiM,

no, not retired military but i do have an id card as i take care of my 3 1/2 year old grandson with middle child is out to sea.

i did post to the TSC page.  maybe we'll just wait outside her ship for her

Helen, sounds so exciting.  We have so much to look forward to. Please keep us posted and that means pictures too.  If possible.

Arismom - son graduated mid January and got orders about a week ago - he was not expecting to hear yet but was thrilled.

Helen - what a life changing thrill!  I searched the facebook page and found A school grad to share with grandparents. Son does not realize the pics make us tear up! Now I will look for advancement pic

Helen - wow!

Helen...I've got goosebumps right along with you! Sooooo exciting!

Love the smiling pic!  Have a wonderful reunion!

They will love the sky diving....our sailor did it before he went to bootcamp! Just him, not us old farts...no way! We were just spectators!

I found this graphic, I thought it was good as the "Mom Thinks" pic is excatly the picture in my mind of what FCs do.

Vickyrun...very cute graphic!

Ari'smom... ahhh yes...May/June is just around the corner. We sure look forward to any time we can get with our sailors, don't we?!! Those few days go by soooo quickly. I feel bad for them...everyone wants a piece of them when they're home...family..friends.

Keep us posted and let us know when your sailor receives her orders!

Helen, nice pic, enjoy him, my son smiles now too....

Vickyrun-too funny, forwarded it to my son for a laugh as well.

Good morning, Thank you.

I emailed Chrissy yesterday , still waiting for a reply. Also still waiting to hear back from her Ombudsman. Anyone have any ideas about what I can do for Chrissy, if there is no family member able to go to Homecoming?

Vickyrun.  Love that picture.  Forwarded that to my daughter for a good laugh.

ProudGMBarb - You are so right about sharing them when they are home.  I remember Christmas break I had to have her pencil me in between her friends and her cousins.  I hope this time she won't be as busy.

Vickyrun. .. ask her if she doesn't have duty for homecoming.  Sometimes the single sailors will volunteer to take duty so the married ones can go home with their spouses.  Everyone forgets the ship doesn't just shut down, there's always part of the crew working.  But it is good of you to try to have something nice for her.  Sometimes the USO does something for the singles too.  

AntiM, How do I contact the USO in Virgina?

vicky,

will she be coming into norfolk?  if she doesn't have duty or anyone going to homecoming i can be there friday, saturday or sunday to meet her if you want.  take her out to eat.  hell, if she has a few days off i can bring her down to my house, i live on the outer banks in nc and my house is always open to the sailors.

carol

duhuh - what a heartwarming offer - not my sailor but thanks for reaching out.

well, the offer stands for anyone that has a sailor in the norfolk area.  i grew up an air force brat and dad was always bring the single guys home for a good meal or just a place to hang out for awhile.  my daughter is stationed in norfolk and i'm only 1 1/2 hours south on the beach.

Thanks, Mary, I just got back on this morning.

Yes, when a crew/work center is running well, they know who needs what and will work with each other to make sure everyone get a fair shake.  

Thank you Mary for the ph. number And thank Duhhuh I will keep you in mind. I just need someone to greet her and give her the lei, once I find out how to order it. My brother Paul lives in Arlington, VI so I am trying to talk him into going to Homecoming. but I am mad at him since he never went to visit Chrissy before she left on her hsip, Maybe I will just have Mom "put the screws" to him. I already talked to her and she is mad at him too. MEN!

If she does have duty, Can't Paul or one of her friends just give her the lei then she can go back to work? I lived in Hawaii for six years, the lei tradition is know to me, very important, it is what I want to give her. Yes, she gets leave about a month after Homecoming, but the lei has to be given after she gets off the ship.

Mary, Happy Birthday to Nick. Chrissy's 27th Birthday is on Friday. Her first birthday at sea. I agree, How did our babies grow up so fast?

Duhhuh....thank you for reaching out! Navy Moms are the best!

Mary.... Happy Birthday to your son! Sounds like your Birthdays are close to each other? Hope you have a wonderful time together in Hawaii...take lots of pics to share with us!

Feb. seems like a busy birthday month!  I celebrated mine yesterday! The best gift was an awesome telephone chat with our sailor! Every time I talk to him he sounds more mature...the best part is he sounds content and happy.

Vickyrun...Happy Birthday to Chrissy on Friday!

Yes Ladies..all our sailors are growing up! Wishing them all lots of happiness, success, safe adventures, and joyful homecomings!

I don't think we'll ever see any ships pullling into any ports here in Arizona, but if there is anything I can ever help with...give a holler!

My son just received orders after graduating in December from "A" School. Next week he will be heading to Kingsville TX for 2 years. In MAy is is scheduled to go to Pensecola FL for a few months og "C" school. This is all so new to us. I am hoping he loves it. So far he seems very happy with his naval career and is exited to get on with the next leg of his journey. Any advise or words of wisdom is welcome.

wow helen, looks like loads of fun!

momcarla, i didn't even know there was a navy base in tx until you posted this, lol.  congrats on the orders.  mine finishes a school end of march beginning of april then the wait starts

Helen - WOW on that tiger cruise

Congrats on orders momcarla!

Helen...WOW...what an experience! Great pic....sure can see the motion!

Momcarla...Congrats on your sailor's C school orders! The next chapter begins!

Mary...Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Connie....can't wait for baby pics!

Good morning, I am a Happy Mom today! I got to IM Chrissy last night and it was morning her time, so I got to say Happy Birthday on her birthday morning. I was crying tears of joy. Good thing it wasn't skype. She hates to see me cry. But I am happy. I was on FB hoping she would come on and she did! She liked the video I sent her and the pic. Then I lost her, but that happens.