AECF - FCs and ETs

My FC who had PIR Oct 5, 2012, and started A school in Dec is expecting to finish FC A school in May.  anyone on this same schedule? When can he get some leave time after that.  he expects to move to a new ship and be on hold up to 6 mo or so waiting for C school assignment. He is first in his class in grades.

Janie, He probably won't have leave after A School and will be granted leave after C School, but right now you never know.

Since he is FC he will most likely move ships ASAP after  A School, I am guessing he will be moved to the Cole for his hold time.

The FC are currently on the night school schedule, ET's and FC's switched  at the beginning of the year, so now FC's don't finish class until approx 11pm. The FC's, who have comped out of A School become day walkers, and are moved from the ship so they don't disturb the sleeping vampires.  

Congrats on him being first in his class right now, that is an accomplishment!

Thanks for the info Ellen0502. He is hoping to have some time to come home (Florida) after he finishes A school in May, but knows he must first move to new ship. He used all his leave time at Christmas before starting A school, so will have limited days now.
Yes, I knew they changed to nite shifts just as his class started. He gets more sleep this way than before. His ship is the USS Wisconsin. All nite class. After A school he will have to re-adapt to revele in the mornings! I think he wants Dahlgren for C school.

Just read my post wow, let me fix that "he probably won't have much leave time after A School"...

I think he may have built back up to about 10 days by May.  Can anyone here give a probably finish date in May for FC class that ends then? Then he will have a quick move to a new ship before he can leave.

They earn 2.5 days each month, so he should have a ten days on the books by the end of April.  

Henry M. Jackson  ( SSBN 730 )

  now has a group on  Navy for Moms

Click Here to visit the HMJ ( SSBN 730 ) Group on NFM

Hi! It has been awhile since I've been "active". Long story, Short:  My ET does not seem to be doing ANYthing that is in the job description! He has been in for 2.5 years and I just thought he might be doing more Electronics and Technician duties rather than  "driving a bus"!  I keep thinking, maybe he's not applying himself, or it will change, but time keeps marching on... Anyone have words of wisdom for an old Mom who feels 'out of the loop'...

(I need to be more active obviously, but I constantly hear: "let the boy live his own life"...)

Needs of the Navy.  One of our ETs was sent TAD to base security for six months once.  It happens.  It sucks.  Sounds like he's a duty driver, which isn't unusual.  In our ET shops, we all took turns doing that (except me, I can't drive well enough to pass the test....LOL).   

I hear ya, I'm sure it could be much worse :) 

I know he is gaining invaluable experience while doing whatever he needs to do, and he is getting paid well. I'll bet Anti M would tear up the road (yikes). Thanks for reminding me! 

My daughter has done many things in the Navy. Including duty driver. I think it is good for them to learn to help out where needed. She just reenlisted, so she must like it.

If they get housing for their family while in ATT school and then A school do they get to live with their family or do they have to stay in the barrecks while taking these classes?

The rules for Live Ashore change often.  They can live offbase if they put in the Live Ashore packet and get it approved, earn their liberty phases (have to be at phase two last I heard), and always be on time, and keep their grades up.  The privilege can be rescinded.  They have to stay on base on their duty days (always double check that one).

rohitskap... I was an ET, and I don't have answers for you.  It sucks, but there's not much to be done now.  I think you could strike for ET, after a year, but I am not certain.  I don't think many of the moms here can help you out. Angie might, she used to be an NC at Great Lakes.  I'll make sure she sees your post.

Have you tried asking on reddit r/navy?  

http://www.reddit.com/r/navy/

rohitsakp.....My son actually went through a very similar situation to what you are going through. He's an ET, and while at ATT school (in the top of his class) had something like you described happen. If you'd like to discuss it privately, you can send me a friend request. 

FWIW, I believe you can request free legal service. 

This is just a sad situation.  It makes me worry for all our loved ones in classes that they need to be aware of what other's are doing around them as far as looking over their shoulder's....uuuggghhh

My thoughts exactly MyKidsInNavy!  I forwarded the post by the FC to my sailor.  He is finishing FC A school in a few weeks and is top in his class too. I'm sure the Navy has told all of them plenty of times what to expect and how to react, but again fore-warned is fore-armed. It is a wake up call to see how drastically one brief moment can change a promising career. My heart breaks for her. There is no time to decide what to do when it happens. One has to have already made a decision and be ready with auto-reflex to do the right thing without hesitation in every situation. it is a career choice. In bigger decisions to come, these sailors must already know how they are going to react instantly..no second thoughts even when the realization of the consequences of firing that missile is facing them. This is what they are trained to do,..and preparation for instant reaction is to be ingrained. It is a critical.

MyKidIsInNavy...Its sad but true, association can get us in trouble too, every new sailor that i meet at my barracks I advice them not to do anything which they think is wrong and report or just not be part of something like this. Only I know how much shame I feel for myself, from being hey U need to be like this sailor top in everything to be Hey u shouldnt be like him...even though all say i dust myself off and move on the Navy has taken everything from me but I am not bitter about the navy just feel disappointed that I had to pay dearly for something which I didnt at all benefit from..I dont understand how someone with Electronic engineering degree and software engineer can be an asset to the navy by doing Undes job all day.

Thank you Anti M..I was just trying ask here because i thought there might be someone from here who has been or has someone in this situation or atleast get some advice from people who were in the navy previously.

Concerndad..I have send you a friend request.

More for my own info, but is there not any career counselor's or advisor's available to speak to?  I would hope there is some sort of a designated kinda guidance counselor thing who can advise and guide you rohitsakp?

I spoke to the career counselor who said to take it positively and make the best out of it..apart from that no guidance from anyone

wow....I am saddened as a Mom.  Obviously you have learned from your mistake, but you should be able to seek out proper guidance.  I will wish you the best and get a message off to my own Sailor to be aware of surroundings the the importance of it.  I guess the difference is, you said you knew it was happening, but stayed quiet to "fit" in.  Which is also disturbing.  EVERYONE there fits in, you all passed your tests and earned your rates

Yes the Fit In part was the biggest mistake I did.. I didnt want to ruin his career and stayed quite and got punished and my dreams crushed for it, the sad part is I dont think he gives a damn about what has happened. True saying Better to have one good friend than 100s of these friends.

Thank you for sharing your experience Perhaps some good may come of it in that several are now letting their sailors know what a very important issue this is and how serious the Navy takes it. I'm so sorry for what has happened.  Wish I had some good and promising advice, but I can't offer any.

rohipsakp, pick yourself up and dust yourself off. you can reach your dreams another route. make the best and do your best in whatever is decided.  your career is not over, just a different route. I feel for you, but you need to (and seemed to have) learned to take care of yourself, forgive yourself, just don't forget the lessons life teaches.

rohitskap - your experience was a bad one and I know you need advice, but your participation here makes me uncomfortable - for you as "talking out of school" might not set well??

Angie..No I am not looking for any shoulder to cry..I know where I went wrong and suffering for it and probably will suffer all the time I am in the Navy for a mistake. I was just looking on advice on how the whole undesignated thing work and how to strike since some people say it take 6 months to strike for E3 and some say 2 years. Also I was confused when some of the 1st classes say I can strike for anything, at the same time I hear that it is upto the command if they want me to strike and in what rating. Thank you and Sorry if I have offended anyone.

Here is a good discussion about going undesignated:

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/going-undesignated

I hope that will answer a few questions.  

Thank you Angie, Anti M and All other Moms. 

Angie..Yes I went to PSD and I am going undes. There is nothing that I can do but keep a positive attitude and try to be a great sailor.

Rohitsakp-good luck 

My sailor had PIR 5 Oct 2012 and had time for ATT school before he took 10 days Christmas leave. Very quickly after return from leave he began his A school for FC. He is due to finish that FC A school next month. So roughly, from early Jan to mid May is the number of weeks for A school. Sorry I don't know the dates to be more accurate. Hope this helps with your calculations.

I saw this on FB this morning and just had to share with you all.

Hello everyone. Made it home to Michigan from Norfolk with a side trip to McGuire AFB in New Jersey. My sailors Cooper Mini was fun to drive even when surrounded by 15 semis through the tunnels of the PA turnpike.

This is a first deployment for us. Didn't expect the intensity of the tears as the ship pulled away from the pier. Was delighted with the Harbormaster's White cowboy hard hat. Recieved an amazing tour of the engine room from an EN1. I asked him how many mom's asked to see that area? "Ah...none" was his response. Having spent 8 years working as an engneering technician at a nuclear power plant it was the one thing that I really wanted to see. This is the EN1's sixth deployment, and after spending time with him during my tour, I felt so much more serene about this part of my FC3"s naval career. Chuckled when I asked how fast she would go with those powerful gas turbines at full power & after a brief pause was given the PC answer that was allowed.

It was an experience to help organize & pack his seabag the night before deployment. I am now an expert on folding T-shirts and am getting better at rolling "sock weapons" as I fondly refer to them. Discovered that he had forgotten to grab his bag of body wash, deodorant, shaving creme when he carried evey thing onto the ship at midnight the night before deployment & he had to report for cranking duty at 0500. His sister is sending the package to him as I was at her house when the discovery was made.

Was so happy that only 2 weeks in my son posted some pictures on his FB page of Portugal & Italy. Now if he will continue with regular updates for the next 9 mo. all will be splendid.

It all started to hit me when we were at the lawyers office (while he was home for a brief standown) arranging power of attorney. Really hit me while observing small children saying goodbye to parents!

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel was another dicey experience and I understood what Logan was saying when he told me that the first time he did a tunnel he kept telling himself it was just a tunnel thru a mountain, HA!

I am just so damned proud of both my sailor son & AF-wife daughter (who is working on joining herself).

I know that I rarely post but I am always lurking (as opposed to stalking) here  and love the community of this group. A very special thank you to Anti M & Angie for continuing to participate & share their vast/valuable knowledge & experience.

p.s. Anti M, I checked out a link to the burning man festival a while ago, very cool.

Took me 12 shots to get one this clear, midnight delivery of seabag...

Just before leaving the ship deployment morning...

FCs with R2D2, mine is 3rd from the left...

And finally, There she goes (sob)...

Okay, promise that I'm done for now.

Deb, thanks for the pics! My son's best friend deployed yesterday as well (from FL) and I teared up, don't' know how many boxes of tissue I'll need when my son goes! We need to get stock in Kleenex. ha

Deb, thanks for the great story and pictures.  

Mary - Charlevoix...No response to emails yet but between pictures he has posted on FB and updates from the ombudsmen it has been interesting so far. He requested that I make sure to bring his sister along for the homecoming :-)

Have been busy switching his insurance & plates back to MI (was CA) and although we are the 3rd highest in the nation it's still a BIG savings over what he was paying. Have gotten real good at faxing POA documentation!

Thankfully my busy season is just beginning & I won't have time to see straight much less worry about what is going on over there until after Labor Day.

Mary, PMoN - He took care of suspending his phone and is letting me use the Mini while he's gone (what a great kid!) and I have fun driving it when not working. He got hit just before leaving SD so this summer we'll get that taken care of...

MY PIR 5 Oct 2012 sailor has finished his FC training in GL and is on his way soon to Dam Neck, VA and the USS Leyte Gulf  He says his system is FCS Cots. Can someone help me understand what this next school is please?  He is learning a missile system, but I dont know what it is. thanks