AECF - FCs and ETs

Navy Lodge in SD = crowded.  Very difficult to get reservations.  Have her look at hotels with a military discount (book it in her name if possible).  Hotel Circle in Mission Valley is the safest place to stay. Near the base, if it is 32nd Street .. not such a great area.  Even Shore Patrol is warned to be careful there (worst watch I ever stood).

Thanks Anit M.

Anti M. How do we get on base with her. Can her i.d. get us on base? And if we are bringing her car, can we drive it on before she gets her tags on it?

We went ahead and made reservations at the Navy Lodge it is close to her ship. Thanks for the info. Hopefully things will go smoothly for the car business. But, I am so glad she will have her own car to get around. There are only 2 other girls in her class and they are both married and live off base. This will be good for her to get off base and see the area.

So glad you got into the Lodge, it really is the best place if you can get it.  

I didn't have a car in SD when I was single, I rode the trolley everywhere.  I was in much, much better shape then, LOL.  But I had plenty of friends and we'd go as a group.  

I wonder if they've improved on the parking situation.  It wasn't so bad for the dry side sailors (where the classes are), but the sailors on the ships had to park by the trolley tracks, lots of vandalism.  

Oh, by "ship" I really do mean a naval vessel.  (Drives me bonkers barracks being called ships. They aren't.  Sorry, old squid rant over now).

Nice.  Used to be the thing to do was avoid the wet side as much as possible.  Although the parking over by the trolley line was long term parking for when they deployed.  A real mess of a "park at your own risk" car lot.  

My daughter is DEP and will go to boot camp in March 2013.  Her rating is AECF going in.  I have been reading some of the posts and now have a much better understanding of what an ET vs FC is and how they really don't get a choice of which one they go in to.  I don't have a question right now but am sure I will have them as it gets closer to time.  I just wanted to say thank you for for getting this group started.  I am completely non-military so am clueless as what to expect.  

BR549, what is the Obudsman?  And, okay, is it common to be in touch with him/her?  Sometimes I get the feeling that the less I know the better (as far as R is concerned). Don't want to overstep my boundries. Anybody know what I mean?  

I will search for his ship's group on here and FB.  Thanks for that info. 

And YES!!! he is coming home for Christmas.  Will be EIGHT months since we saw him last. 

The ombudsman is a trained volunteer spouse, usually the wife of an officer or chief on the ship.  They are the liaison between the ship/command and the families of the crew.  A spouse is automatically on the list, other family members must be added by the sailor.  This way you are kept in the loop with newsletters, knowing when homecoming is scheduled and so on.  There are also Family Readiness Groups for the families, with activities and get togethers.  
As far as I know, there is no such liaison during the schools.  

Thanks Anti.  What a funny word. OMBUDSMAN. Am sure it stands for something.  Sure do look forward to a trip out west for homecoming and he hasn't even left yet.

when the bush was out last year they posted pictures each week.  don't be real disappointed if you don't see your sailor.  there wasn't one picture of mine in 7 months but another sailor (my daughter from another mother) was in the pics about 5 times.

I once again am reading some of these posts and am more lost then ever!!  My Son is in DEP but will enter Bootcamp Jan 8th...so like in less then 100 days.  I am not sure what to ask, what I should know, what I need to know. and how to accept not talking or seeing him when I wanted to.  He did tell us he has to go to Meps again on Jan 2nd, and we know he has paperwork that he is going in AECF and will finish as an E4...again...ALL things I do not understand nor know where to go to get answer's.  I feel so stupid, despite being intelligent.  Is there anyone who can help me and willing to explain to a MOM brand new to all of this and how I can not feel out in left field???  Please?  Thank you to anyone willing to take time to help me.  I am extremely proud of my Son, sad that he is leaving UW after 3 1/2 years, but I will always be proud that he has chosen to serve all of us.

and Thanks..:)

Hey KylesMom--you are in the exact same boat I was!  My son left college after 3+years and is ET, just finishing boot camp. First, go thru this site (N4M) and there are ALOT of newbie sites that will give you good info.  When your Sailor leaves for bootcamp, just stay busy! (Also go to the blue candle site and go get a blue candle.) Time will go by faster than you expect, just start saving for PIR trip (you will get that info late in bootcamp when he has dates.)  just keep reading and asking questions. alot sorts itself out over time!  just always remember, your sailor is growing ain more ways than you know when he leaves,and he is going into an adventure he will really enjoy (at least my son really likes)!  He will have his moments, and so will you.  it's ok to let him see you cry.

kylesmom, I'd suggest not making the same mistake I have. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself. While there's obviously nothing wrong with following this thread, you're probably going to find the answers you need more on the Boot Camp pages. If your son is still in DEP, there are a lot of things to deal with long before you get to this portion of his career. As a potential ET or FC, he's more than a year away from getting here.

I'd look for Craig on this site. He helps those in DEP to get the answers they are looking for. Good luck to you and your future sailor.

Thank you to Connie and Chris Rays mom for the welcome and to concernedad, I am sorry if I jumped ship by joining this group to early.  I joined because of the paperwork my Son brought home and showed me that he was going to AECF...I said I had a ton to learn, so if I am not in a proper group, I apologize and will leave, and I have no idea who  Craig is or how to find him either, so I suppose it is in my best interest to find a different place to ask questions and learn.  I would rather be alone and learning then to feel demeaned and spoken down to concernedad, and your message was received loud and clear...I am not welcome here.  Thank you for making a new Mom feel even more stupid!!!!!!

KylesMom, I am sorry you read into the advice that you aren't welcome... you are!  It is just there is so much to know along the DEP journey and the boot camp journey that you;ll need those resources too.   

I was an ET and can answer some questions.  Your recruit will be an Electronics Technician or a Fire Controlman (ET or FC).  No choice it is assigned to them during boot camp by what the Navy needs.  School is in Great Lakes and is quite long, there's more to the training than A school.  Apprentice Technical Training first, then A school, then orders to a C school in another location.  This can take up to two years.  Yes, he can come home during that time around the holidays or after A school.  You can go visit after he earns his liberty privileges.

E-4 is an enlisted pay grade (E-1 through E-9).  Everyone is an E-1 (seaman recruit) in boot camp, even if they are paid E-3 by their contract.  Yours will jump to E-3 (seaman) after boot camp, and be guaranteed to step up to E-4 after successful completion of A school, although he will wait until the rest of the Navy advances that cycle.  He'll then be either an ET3 or an FC3 petty officer.  

I hope that helps a little.

Here is some more info I hope you can use:

Craig is retired Navy and runs a terrific site to help your sailor prepare to enter boot camp.  His tips and tricks and information will prepare your future sailor for success in boot camp.

http://www.navydep.com/forums/index.php

There are a number of boot camp groups here, and new moms groups, and when he finally ships, and you get his graduation date, groups will form for that specifically.  

Welcome aboard.

Thank you AntiM...to be totally honest....I have no idea what is what!  I thought with my Son bringing his paperwork home that said AECF meant more then it apparently does?  I am learning and thanking everyone who is helping a total green new person to learn anything knowing my Son leaves in 91 days.  Not knowing what the paperwork means or when it is appropriate to join groups or forums or what to even ask....it can make a person crazy

Hey KylesMom-don't go anywhere!  Not knowing what, how, when, or whee to ask questions is the only way to find out!!!! I was military myself, and I did not take concernedad's advice as you did-he took the time to let you know that he was where you are, and (at least in my mind) was trying to let you know that there is a lot more info, more basic (pun intended!) info for you at this stage. Becoming prepared for bootcamp and the emotions that go with that, then PIR (WOW, tremendous experience), then the schools and long trek.  Don't let anyone scare you  away or stop asking questions.  Anti M is a TERRIFIC source, other Mom's have gone thru what you are, and we all were there.  I was Army, so Navy "stuff" is way different for me!  Just take a breath and enjoy each stage as you go.  My son could not wait to get away from home, but his letters were great, and he learned we weren't all that bad after all!

LOL, learn "hurry up and wait" and "needs of the Navy" and you have the core principles down pat.

Wow, I try to offer some useful advice and I'm a bad guy. OK. well one less person I need to try and help.

Hello. Our son came to GL 10/3 for bootcamp. Once he graduates his field will be AECF. I just want to say this site is awesome! I am so thankful to have others to talk to in regards to all of the things I don't understand yet. I appreciate all of the wonderful comments and advice that I have read on here.

Hello, my Navy4Moms "sisters".  This is my 1st check-in on this page.  Navy4Moms was my solace as my daughter went thru BC at this time last year.  My daughter is an ET3 and will be transferring bases. Moving from Great Lakes to Kingsville.  She is coming home on Saturday.  1st time in  8 months.  Of course, the entire family is thrilled beyond words.  No one more than me!  But my emotions are all over the map.  It's hard to describe...almost like being scared for lack of a better word.  My stomach is in knots.  I have no appetite...which really isn't a bad thing as I do have some weight to lose!  I have an ache in my chest that I can't describe and my heart races.  I find myself with tears rolling down my cheeks for no apparent reason.  I know there has got to be some of you who understand what I'm talking about.  How did you make it through without completely losing it?

Navybluemom - Thanks for your words of encouragement.  You are so right.  Hit the nail on the head so to speak.  We've been apart for so long the last thing she needs is a wacked out Mom.  Normally, I'm one strong chick which makes trying to make sense of all of this even more puzzling. But your right...this isn't about me.  It's about her.  Being strong for her.  I can and I will be.

Maja, wine helps. I worried alot, too. I didn't relax until she came home from her first deployment.

Maja, no... it's about you too.  Oh, I totally agree that you want to stay strong for your daughter.  But my Navy For Moms friends taught me that a few well timed meltdowns are part of that strength.  I too like to be strong, logical, and in control.  The more I tried to hold on to that when my only child left for the Navy the more fragile I felt.  Accepting my feelings and having a big ole blubbering fit and then finding comfort on these pages was the best thing I did for both me and my son.

But of course my sailor never knew about the fit.  He just knows I talk about Navy For Moms all the time!

jacqueline-rn - like you, my ET is my only child.  Thank you for sharing your feelings/experiences with me.  At least now, I don't feel like I'm losing my mind.  I knew my Navy4Moms "sisters" would understand.

So yesterday, there I was after lunch shifting into gear for my afternoon at work.  Then this vision appeared in the doorway to my office.  A beautiful girl in a US Navy dress blue uniform with a smile from ear to ear.  It was my baby girl.  She surprised the entire family by coming home a day early!  Well, almost the entire family...a couple people knew. My "scream" brought my entire office running my way!  I threw my arms around her and sobbed.  Can't hardly describe the feeling.  Shock.  Happiness.  Like being in a dream.  Haven't stopped smiling, inside or out, since!

When my SR finishes BC and goes to A school, how frequently do they get time off to see family and how long do they usually have?  We will not be going to graduation because we want to give time to her husband and kids to spend time with her.  We want to go up later and see her while she is in A school.  She will go to A school in GL.

They are usually off at Christmas and everyone leaves.  My son is done with C school and I am dreaming he gets to come home before he leaves for the other side of the world

Great Lakes has a liberty limit of 300 miles, so unless you live within that circle, she won't get to come home unless allowed to take leave.  A school students may only take leave at the Christmas stand down, or immediately after school.  Maybe at Thanksgiving, but it isn't a good idea to burn leave days right before Christmas.  

She'll have normal time off once she earns her liberty privileges, so you can visit, but she can't go home if you live out of bounds (maybe with special permission, but that's complicated and unusual)

Thank you for your comments, it is always good to know what restrictions we will be dealing with.  Since we have never dealt with military we have lots of questions and are so happy that we have someplace to ask those questions.  We are planning on coming to the Great Lake area since we live too far away for her to come here.  Do they usually have weekends off during A school or will I have to wait until she actually starts school to know when she will be off?

When she gets to  Great Lakes, she will have indoc and they'll tell her about her liberty phases.  The first two or three weeks she can go off base on the weekends but has a very early curfew.  In phase two, she can wear her civvies, and her curfew is a little later, and she can be offbase in the evenings during the week.  She can have full overnight weekends in phase three.  

She will also be on a four day duty rotation, so some of her weekends will not be free.  You'll need to coordinate your visits with her, because she can't leave base if she's on duty, and she can't visit while she's on watch.

Hey Anti M.  You have reiterated a concern I have.  My son says there is a possibility that he may be able to catch a ride home over Thanksgiving with someone that works at Great Lakes.  He is Phase 3...but I asked him about the 300 mile limit.  We are more like 700 miles away.  Does it make a difference if he is traveling with someone that works there as far as his miles restriction?

It does not make a difference.  That "someone" has no business encouraging him to break the rules.  Maybe he can ask about an "out of bounds" chit which lets him exceed the limit without going on leave.  I bet he's thinking no one will know.  

For the record, I exceeded my liberty limit a couple times and no one found out, but we didn't have FB and GPS to trip us up.  

A surprising number of staff don't understand the liberty limits once they get on shore duty.  Don't give up, just tell him to do it right and put in a request chit to go out of bounds.  They approve them all the time at Goose Creek (I've been told), maybe he can catch his COC in a good mood and get it approved, especially if he can show who he's riding with.

Came home from work tonight with the sound of music blasting from my ET's room.  What used to make me nuts is now music to my ears.  She leaves on Friday.  Then has 4 days to travel from GL to Kingsville for C school.  Not happy at all about her driving by herself.  I just know I won't rest until I know she is safely on the base.

Anti, I'm confused. My son came home from GL twice. Once for Christmas and once after A School. He made arrangements through the base and we are far more than 300 miles away.

No doubt he was on leave... which has no miles limits.  The 300 miles applies to liberty, not leave.  The Christmas stand down requires they use their leave days, as does the break between A school and their next assignment.

Mary, Proud Mom of Nick - Kingsville is about 40 miles south of Corpus Christi, TX.  I think it is a naval air base.  Could be wrong about that but my ET will be studiying air traffic control communications and equipment.

Well, this was probably the fastest week I've had in awhile.  My little girl is already back in Chicago bound for Texas.  I'm so excited for her and she starts a new chapter in her Navy life.  But the ache in my chest tells another story.  I think I'll chill just a bit once I know she's made it safely to the base in TX.  Hopefully, she'll be there by the 1st of the week.

My ET's journey from Great Lakes to Kingsville has officially begun.  All 1360 miles of it.  She is driving...alone.  Which is the part that has me freaked out the most. Please pray for her safety.  Thanks.

Maddie grandma to AK - Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I never knew of the Sailors Rescue List.  Man, does that ever make me feel good.  Knowing that extra "security blanket" is there for my ET is invaluable.

MT ET traveled from Great Lakes, IL to Little Rock, AR yesterday.  Got about half the journey under her belt.  Is headed to Houston today.  Please keep her in your prayers.

MY ET arrived safely at the Kingsville Naval Air Station around 12 Noon yesterday.  Phew!  An absolute sigh of relief.  Haven't heard from her.  Suppose she is busier than heck which is fine by me.  I am really excited for her as she starts this new chapter in her Navy life.

Maja, our Sailor drove from VA to San Diego in April.  I know what you went through while she was on the road.  He took his time and saw so many landmarks.   

Mary, your news just reinforced what we have been told about the FC rate.  Hopefully the 18 months of schooling will pay off for all our FC's and ET's.  R is assigned to a new destroyer also.  Not sure when he will be deployed.