AECF - FCs and ETs

Lol All I can think about is that espiode on "Sex amd The City" about Fleet week.

Vickyrun...good for Chrissy...hope she enjoys Fleet Week...and NYC!

Sandy....sorry to hear about your mom's passing. My condolences to you and your loved ones.  Congrats to your son! Wishing him all the best in his next Navy adventure!

I thought important to share:

Regarding the release of Ali Musa Daqduq….

Two short videos…the second one is with Congressman Allen West.  Worth your time.

http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-on-allen-wests-letter-to-ob...

Also, if you haven’t already seen it, here is a copy of Allen West’s letter to Obama.

http://west.house.gov/images/stories/Letter_to_President_Obama_re_D...

Does anyone know if the Parade of Ships was recorded yesterday? I know it was livesteamed but I missed it. 

Each time they take the exam, they acquire more points for next time, so it is a little better than practice.  It is hard, to know you did well on the test, yet not have enough points to make the cut.

Studying more assuredly pays off.  There are sections on history and leadership as well as the technical stuff.  They can get study guides from the Training Officer, in fact, they MUST complete their PARS/PQS  in order to take the test.  Some do better on exams than others, which is why there are other factors involved such as awards, letters of commendation, and evaluations.  

I don't know if they still call the hands on check off list of skills and knowledge PARS, or it the study guides are still called PQS, but you get the idea. They don't have to go into the exam cold, the command does everything they can to see there is study time ... one more reason to be too busy to call home.  That's why when people worry that their sailors do at sea, experienced hands kinda chuckle.  Also why sailors learn to sleep when and where they can.

There's probably online study sites now.... I'd have to go hit google for those.

Congrats to your son Jodia and all who passsed.

Chrissy didn't but she isn't too upset, she is enjoying Fleet week. And tomorrow is her 3rd Navy anniversary.  

A very nicely done restoration and sweet tribute.

Restored from film taken 67 Years Ago along Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki capturing spontaneous celebrations that broke out upon first hearing news of the Japanese surrender.

Way back when with Kodachrome 16mm film !

http://vimeo.com/5645171

Good morning, TGIF! Wear Red today. I hope you all have a nice weekend and that you hear from your sailors. 

My son is an ET aboard one of the LHD ships.  I just spoke w/him and he told me he was just assigned to the Mess Deck for 90 days.  He said he is a busboy, clearing tables and putting tables down after chow.  His contract is as an ET.  I don't understand.  Anyone have any information that might help me understand how this works?

CRANKING - A Sailor working various jobs other then his rate (painting, cleaning, etc.) Mess Cranking in your son's case. From what I understand, almost every enlisted sailor goes through it.

The miltary is not like a civilian job, you can't say that is not in my job description. You do what you are told to do, and you do not question authority. Period.

In our ET shop, shore duty, we had to provide a petty officer to go work with security for six months as base police.  We were overmanned by one, and the junior tech who had the most common NEC (specialty) was sent over on TAD orders.  Way out of the job description, hmmm?

My son is in secf, his wife is in bootcamp for aecf,  my son is stationed in wa on the uss jimmy carter,  trying to keep informed about my daughter in laws job to be she grads on 7/20/12

She will be on surface ships, and he's subs?  That can be tricky.  They'l need to put in for the big ports which have both.  The Navy's idea of spouse co-location can be less than ideal.  My husband and I were both ETs, we saw each other a total or 28 days when we first married.  I had to choose becoming a dependent over re-enlisting so we could be together.  That's why he served 20 years and I only did nine years.  

Well, my son has been living on his ship since May 20th. He is trying to get his Sea Legs. It is kind of difficult to get his Sea Legs because his ship has only taken 4 day excursions. So when he just about gets over his sea sickness, he is back in port.

He has not had to Crank due to staffing issues. I don't want to jinks him by saying too much, LoL.

Hockeymom, Wow!!  That will be a challenge for your son and his wife. Where there is a will, there's a way.

navybluemom, what ship is your son on? My son says his ship is getting ready for INSERV too.

My ET son just received orders for Norfolk! He PIR's 7/22/11 and completed A school in April.  I'll see him next week!!

I was so excited to hear the news, that I forgot the details!! I will find out. lol

Chris you made me laugh.  I've been there myself. My Sailor left GL's after 11 months.  Congrats for his orders in Va.  We live in Va. and this Navy mom would have loved for R to be on the east coast.  Six months of C school  will pass quickly in SD though and who knows where he will end up after that.

GoldnG8r-thanks, thought this would be easier!

R's, my son is "R" as well. lol He will be on the DDG 103, USS Truxtun.  I guess I should wait until he drives to contact the ship, huh?  

R's, we live just west of Chapel Hill, NC, about 4 hr?  (That's prob close enough for him!)

BR549, yes he loves it!  We do not hear from him as much as I would like. Life is good in SD. C school is going well.   So much to do and see.   Ok, I am gonna hitch a ride with you.  LOL  When does his ship come in?  

Chris, four hours away is the perfect distance.  I know next week cannot get here quick enough for ya.

PIR next week!!  Wow - the time flew by for us but probably not for our sailor.

He will train in ET/FC at Great Lakes.  So proud of him, can't wait to see him.  It's going to be a great day!

FIRE CONTROL TECHNICIANS (FT) operate, test and maintain submarine combat control systems. They participate in weapons handling functions and operate and maintain non-tactical computer systems and peripherals. They are also responsible for a huge array of weapons, which can include torpedoes, Tomahawk® cruise missiles and even nuclear ballistic missiles capable of reaching anywhere in the world.

Libby, enjoy every minute

navybluemom, Bren is on the USS Gonzalez DDG 66.  At the moment his ship is at homebase Norfolk VA.  We can't talk via skype because there is no internet on ship. What he does is go to a coffee shop that has free Wifi and he talks on Skype from there. 

Libby...Congrats to your sailor and to you too for making it through BC! You are gonna LOVE PIR!

Wishing your sailor all the best in his upcoming training.

Happy Father's Day to all!  Hope everyone is able to hear from their sailors today ...we're still hoping for that call today.

Hi Libby

My daughter will be an FC at GL, PIR 6/22..can't wait to see my sailor and wish her well on her next chapter with the Navy.  I am sure you are as proud of your son as I am my daughter..Friday can't get here fast enough.

Hello all,  does anyone know any sailors on the USS Mobile Bay CG 53?  My son finishes school in Dahlgren, VA  and reports to San Diego in July.  He is FC Aegis. 

Hi Libby, enjoy PIR! Chicago is great in the summer time! Oh yeah, when you see those big doors roll up and all the sailors march in = AWESOME!!!

navybluemom....What ship is your son attached to? Sorry if you already said, and I forgot...can't keep track sometimes! Chrisitan is on the USS Germantown....home port Sasebo, Japan. But they have been out and about all over. Just spoke to him a few minutes ago.
So thought I'd check to see if they are on the same ship!

navybluemom....for what little time he was there, he said Sasebo was really nice. He got there mid May, was only there a week before the ship got underway. They are still out at sea.
Oh yes, just love those phone calls! I'm impressed at how clear the calls are too. Just a bit of a lag time between each person speaking.
When they get back in port in Sasebo, they will be doing some maintenance on the ship, so yes, he will be sleeping off the ship, but still working, using the galley, etc.
Hope your son is doing well!

Brand new, literally just a couple of hours ago, my son went through MEPS and signed on as an E4 in the AECF.  I really have no idea yet what any of this means, so please be patient with me as I learn.  The whole thing has come as a shock to me since I wasn't told he was doing this until Friday evening and here it is Monday afternoon and he is on.

Howdy... he will be advanced to E-4 only after completion of his A school, but it is guaranteed.  He will be an E-3 after boot camp.  He may be one IN boot camp for pay purposes only, but that is a detail in the contract; they all are treated as E-1 during basic training.  In the meantime, he has a lot to learn and prepare for during DEP (delayed entry).

KylesMom, My son did the same thing, (more or less, but that's another story.lol) Check out this site, it is wonderful, be prepared for some tears, some heavy heart as he leaves, however, the heaviness lifts with each week, especially when the first letter comes. From there, it just gets better adn better...

KylesMom, start saving for PIR!! what a wonderful ceremony, and take a lot of pics.  I never asked if it was allowed, but a camera for him (after BC) will allow him to hold memories and share them with u.  I wish mine had had one (and used it).

Welcome KylesMom, I only had three weeks to prepare. She had talked about the Air Force then went Navy and was gone!

Is your son in DEPs waiting or did he leave for BC already? Be aware of "The Box", the Navy sends you his stuff back in a box (even his dirty underwear) and it looks like your kid disappered.  It made me cry.

Most moms do cry when they get "the Box".  I found it cheering.  My thinking went something like this.  "This is everything he was wearing. I know he's not naked up there in November so they must have given him Navy Clothes.  That means so far, so good".  Stange perspective?  Almost certainly!  But it worked for me!

"The box" helped me by knowing he was on his way!  It kinda of cut ties and old habits for him (some that need to be cut) so he could move forward.

I cry alot, my therapist says it is a good relase of emotions.  Nothing wrong, as long as Chrissy doesn't know. She hates it when I cry.

Reading the stories in this group makes me tear up! It makes me remember all that I went through with "the box", getting letters, the first phone call, graduation, etc.  It takes me back and let me tell you, things have definitely gotten better since then.  A lot has changed in just a short year and I can't wait for the rest of the adventure!  Encouraging people brighten my day :)

My sailor is a few weeks into A school (FC) at Great Lakes and it's a whole new adventure.  Glad we can text and chat.  Helps stay connected a little better.  Boot camp was quite an experience, but letter writing and receiving letters after about the 3-4 week kept up my sailor's spirits and mine.  The first 'real' phone call home, I just let her talk until she got booted off the phone.  Hang in there KylesMom.

My son has a ship date now...I will tell you all I am glad it is not until January 9th...so I have a TON to learn and welcome any and all advice and or tips on how to make this all go easier...please and thank you