AECF - FCs and ETs

Navybluemom...Christian will be on the USS Germantown. It's great that the Navy agrees with your son...Christian loves it too (so far!). Makes things a bit easier for us knowing they are happy!

I should mention that Christian is our grandson...but is really like a son to us...he lived with us for some time. I can't complain about anything...he is always a pleasure to be around. He tries hard to spend a little time with everyone when he's home (both sets of grandparents, friends, his mom). His dad was my son, but he is deceased.

Vickyrun...I think boys are easier to please than girls! lol.

We just spent some time looking at pics when he was little, and now he is outside mowing the grass! He's a sweetheart.

A young man who will look at baby pictures with grandma and then mow the lawn?  You'd better hold on to him!!!  He's definitely a keeper!

jacqueline....Yup...the pic of him naked in the bathtub got a pretty good reaction!  I told him I was gonna show all these pics to his kids when he has a family! Isn't that what grandmas are supposed to do?

duhhuh, thanks for understanding. Chrissy joined the Navy because she did not want to live with me after her divorce. She wanted to work and be indepent, The recruiter promised her a not just a job but a career. Even tho it has been rough at times, I am glad she did, the Navy has been good for her.

ProudgmBarb, I don't know about sons, I only have three daughters. My ex thought girls would be easier. Lol I think maybe he was wrong! But I love my girls, I am very proud of them.

vicky,

jessica's reason for not living with me, etc. isn't because she wants to e independent (i get texts, calls and emails all day every day) asking what's the number for this, how do i do or get that, why won't this work, etc.  she doesn't want to live with me for 2 reasons:  1- we are SO much alike but i have learned how to play nice with a majority of the world and 2 - i am about the only one that will raise the bullshit flag on about 90% of the stuff she pulls.  now, she'll tell me she's grown and that she can take care of herself and her son but at the same time she can't find the phone number i searched for to get him the more at four program or how to go about signing up for college, etc. 

and no, boys are not easier than girls, i have 2 girls and 1 boy, they're just late n doing the same crap, lol

Duhhuh, your daughter sounds alot like mine. Chrissy was like that during her divorce and when she first joined up. Needing me but not wanting to admit it. But she is more indepenent now. And she should be, she is 27! 

i thought that after 5 years in the navy and a 3 1/2 year old would make her more independent.  she is when it's convenient, lol

Chrissy is back in America. I couldn't go to the Homecoming, but she called me she was very happy. She got to get her car out and drive around a little bit.

Duhhuh, Chrissy is a single Mom. Her 5 year old lives with his father and the step-mother. Is your daughter married?

no she's a single mom, bd''s in too, in san diego , but has not contributed anything but sperm and some child support.  my sugar butt has everything he needs, including a "daddy" that loves him (he's not in a relationship with my daughter) but she doesn't see it.  she just wants what she wants, when she wants it and done her way, lol

GoldnG8r...welcome to the world of "sh*t happens" ! lol.

Our ET sailor (in AECF) had (is having) a similar experience due having been to San Diego and Norfolk for C school. Somehow his advancement to E4 (PO3) fell thru the cracks too. He is home on leave right now, and leaves for his ship early May, and may not hear anything before then.

But he is pretty cool about it...says he's not worried...thinks he will get back pay for E4 from the time when he should have been advanced (had TIR this past Feb).  He is much more relaxed about this stuff than us Moms are !

Half of...My son had less than 3 months between A school and start of C school and felt very fortunate.

Hi all, well Chrissy is getting settled in Virgina, she is finally liking it there but California will always be where her heart is. She gets leave next week.

Is there always leave after C school? I planned on going to the C school grad but son said dont bother he will be coming home. He knows travel is difficult for me.

Vickyrun...glad to hear Chrissy is settling in.  Hope you get to spend some time with her soon!

We are enjoying Christian's visit...but time is flying by.

Hi All!  I'm new here.  My son PIR'd on 4/20 and is at GL for A school until November. 

My daughter graduated FC A school Apr 6th, 2012. She said they are talking that it could possibly be October before they receive orders for C school.

NJ - that would be the best Christmas gift ever!  He was supposed to be an FC but now he is going to be an ET...does that happen alot?  What's the difference?  and what is ATT school?

It does happen as one or the other rate fills up.  An ET works more on communications gear and radar (and more), while FCs work on weapons guidance systems.  Both are sea going rates.  
ATT is apprentice technical training.  The electronics for ET and FC are essentially the same, so they all go through identical training early on.  Physics is physics!

Ruth...congrats to your son, and welcome to this forum! As you already can see by the previous posts, both ETs and FCs can have night school. And yes, ETs school is just a tad longer overall than FC. They both are great rates. If things are still pretty much the same, you can expect your son to be at GL for about a year.

NJ...you made me chuckle about ETs being techie like at the Apple Store! lol. They might be techie but much more hands on and waaay more knowledgeable about electronics than Apple Store!

If you have any questions, give a holler. There are lots of experienced Moms here. They have helped me learn a lot. Our ET sailor's PIR was 1/14/11, and he just finished C school this April. He was at GL until mid Nov. 2011.

Hi ladies, Been a while since I've been on.  Welcome to all of you new Mom's.  Hang in there. Even thought the time varies for each Sailor, the GL's chapter of their life goes very quickly!!!  My FC left for BC on 3/1/11.  He is in route as we speak to SD for C school. Prayers for safe travel would be appreciated. 

Thanks BR549!! We are considering a visit but it is so expensive no matter how when or where we go.  Can we go six months without seeing him? Probably not.    We are gonna have to wait and see.  

Is there a NFM's group for while they are in SD?  Or maybe a FB page?

Hello to all. I've been gone from the site for awhile now. My school has only 2 weeks left and I can finally find a life outside of studying. I've tried to keep in touch with the groups but have stayed pretty much on my son's ships site when I've had the time. Homecoming for him is not to far away now and the excitement is running high. He is stationed in SD so we will be going there for the first time when the ship returns. His C school and hold time was almost a year there. But a much nicer place to be than GL!

To answer your question R'sproud mom- there is a group for SD on NM. I don't think it's nearly as active as this one though. Your son is going to love SD!

Chrissy survived her 7-month deployment, got back to homeport safe. Then was in a car accident. Her back is hurt, I hope she feels better tomorrow she gets leave.

Riding in a car is actually more hazardous than most days on a Navy ship.  Unless they're on the flight deck!

Thanks navybluemom, I am glad they have good medical care in the Navy. They gave her three kinds of pills, so she is flying out today and her father is picking her up at the airport, She has two weeks leave.   

AntiM, that maybe true but I am still going to worry next deployment. Lol   

Sailor arrived in SD yesterday and is already liking it.  After six days on the road, I was so releived to get the " I'm hear" call.You were right BR549... he is gonna be happy there.  Already has a season pass for Padre's  (I think that's the team) baseball games. Says it is an easy three mile walk.  He was heading to the airport to pick up a buddy starting C school with him on Monday.  So glad he has his truck and can really check out the state. Any Mom's on here with Sailors starting C school on Monday?

Does anyone have any information on NS MAYPORT. We are getting stationed there. I would like to know what surrounding areas do you live at? I am looking to live off base. Any information would be helpful!

Jacksonville is awesome sammy! that's where we want to get stationed! you'll love it there :)

Hi Mary...good to hear from ya. We know you're always with us...even when you can't post!

Wow.. how exciting about the filming of the movie on Nick's ship. Looking forward to seeing the movie. All the best to Nick!

R'sproudmom....wishing your sailor a great stay in SD and much success in C school! Time will start to go fast now for him.... faster than in GL!

Very exciting about the movie, I love films with Navy in them!

Mary..ProudMomofNick...what ship is your son on?

Went to the movies today to see Avengers, and saw the previews of Battleship...they talked about how they wanted to use as many real sailors as possible, and the sailors were eating it up!

Chrissy has been home on leave. We are having a wonderful time. She doesn't like to talk about the Navy but that is ok. I understand she needs to relax. it is so great to have her home. The first day was surreal, I kept staring at her. I am so thankful.    

Vicky...enjoy enjoy!

We just got back from seeing Christian off at the airport. He was upbeat and looking forward to his next adventure, so that kind of made it a bit easier to say goodbye.  At least I keep telling myself that! lol. Soon he'll get a taste of what the Navy is really all about. I don't think they can really tell for sure whether they like it or not when they are just going to school. It's off to the fleet now!

Happy Moms Day all!

GoldnG8r...I received the email notification of your post, but when I came here to the forum, it didn't show up. Hmmmm...strange. Anyway...congrats to your son for qualifying on the 9mm firearm! So nice to hear those good updates!

You asked where Christian was going. His ship is out at sea right now, so he'll have to wait on base til it gets back into port...Sasebo, Japan. He started off with a wonderful flight adventure. First part of his fllight was delayed an hour which made him miss his connecting flight. Had to get completely rerouted and spend a bunch of time at airports!

Vickyrun...hope you're still having fun with Chrissy and still staring! Hope you had a great Mother's Day.

Thanks all, Chrissy is flying back to VA today.

Shore duty will depend on whether he's Aegis or non-Aegis.  Aegis is pretty limited, he could end up as an instructor.  Can't do that for a whole career though.  

navybluemom....I'm so sorry about your son's hearing test. Did he have any hearing problems before he went in? Any idea what happened?  Let's keep our fingers crossed he can stay in and still be doing something he loves. (((((Navy Mom Hugz)))))

Congrats on the frocking!   

GoldnG8r...Congrats to your son! Yup, I would think being frocked by the CO...and being the only one would make it very special and memorable indeed!

navybluemom...I'm holding your son in my thoughts and prayers.

navybluemom-you've raised a great young man! that attitude will take him far into wherever he ventures. but we'll still keep him in our prayers! we always worry so much more than they do--until they are in our shoes. lol

GoldnG8r-hope you get to see those pics, I'm glad you get to share in his joy.  I don't' think they know how much we live thru them!

Chrissy is going to Fleet Week in New York City! She left on her ship today, I am so excited for her and a little jealous. I was born in Highland Falls, NY when my Dad was at West Point, we left when I was two, and I have never been back there.