AECF - FCs and ETs

Can anyone tell me, should my SR going to A school in GL for AECF, decide to leave the Navy after his first contract, which rating (FC or ET) has better opportunities for good civilian jobs? 

labradoodles, thanks for the info.  It's not that he's planning on leaving, just a worried parent that wants him to have great opportunities in life:).  Thanks for the confidence boost!

ATT is the prep school, and then they go to A school. That is much longer.  ET C schools vary a great deal, and are in a number of locations. I was an ET, my main C school was in GA and was over six months long. I went to several others between commands later in my enlistment. An ET can work on radar, communications, crypto, and much more. Think of it as "everything tech".

LAG is describing FC C schools.

Et A school is 17 weeks, FC is 19 weeks. Expect hold times between schools, and potentially while waiting for orders for C school. It can take up to a year.

Sorry this is jumpy, I am on my tablet and it hates me. 

ATT is nine weeks.  

Did you factor in the 9 weeks of ATT? There will be a week or two of indoc up front too. The orders may encompass estimated hold times too. Orders for a training command are quite fluid in reality, stay flexible, positive and go with the flow because it is not under anyone's control but the Navy. I know that is an unsatisfying answer, sorry!

Also, because FC is different than ET, and they don't know which they will be initially, the orders may be cut to reflect the longer school. In any case, she will be there longer than the states seat time, they always are.

Mine leaves for BC in 16 days, then on to A School for AECF.

My son's orders state he will be going to A school as an FC, his orders are from Jan-Jul. 

Hi everyone! I'm new to this group, so please forgive me if this was already gone over (a lot of information to go through!). My son went into BC for AECF (PIR 1/23/15) and was told he would be in GL for about 2 years for schooling. He was also told he could pick ET or FC, he was interested in FC. He said he was told at BC that he will not get to decide which one he gets. Any info on this? If the 2 years indicates what he will be, or if he does get to choose, or even when we find out? Sorry, this is all very confusing to me!

Thank you DsMom! He was told C school was in GL too, but everything seems to have changed and neither of us know whats going on! Hope to meet you at PIR! I'm going to Sarge's meet and greet, staying at Springhill Suites, and division 071.

re: Brandon's Mom question about how long in GL:

My son PIR was back on May 30th, he found out he would be an FC (which is what he wanted) about two weeks prior to graduating boot camp.  He went into GL A School and was on hold for about a week before going to ATT School, which they all have to do.  Then he went to A School at same place, they do move into a new barracks though.  He just finished that Dec. 18th.  He came home for Christmas stand-down, and went back the 4th.  He is now on hold for C School.  He thinks he will be on hold for two months.  Believes he will most likely go to Norfolk, VA as San Diego doesn't do so many FC's anymore.  He also moved into another barracks.

There C schools for ETs can be almost anywhere, as compared to FCs. None are in Great Lakes. Because FCs have specific weapons systems, the schools for those tend to back up. ETs are sometimes called "everything techs" and have a broader choice of C schools.  I went to a long one after A school, but I also went to several between commands.  One of my commands sent me to a four week C school because they needed someone trained for a specific job, and it would take too long to wait for a new sailor to come in.  I loved being an ET, so did my husband, and now, my acquired kid. 

Oops, The, not There.

Thank you ReneePChef, Tinker, and Anti M! Hopefully when I see him for PIR (Or even at the “Sailor” call) he will have more answers at least as far as ET or FC. I did not know when I spoke to him very briefly last night. I’m glad he will be leaving GL after A school, hopefully will end up someplace closer to home for C school!

And DsMom, yes will definitely have to message each other!

Thanks Ericuts! I will add it to my list of questions when I get the I'm A Sailor call. I also will let him find out on the early morning muster on his own! I don't want to hear his response to that, although honestly he is used to it by this point, so maybe it won't be so bad. Congrats on your daughters graduation!!

There are always musters in the Navy, as you advance, they tend to be when your work day or duty shift begins.  That's because eventually, sailors move out of the barracks or off the ship.  I thought being at work at 7 was a luxury!

Decades later, I am still an early riser. 

My son is graduating A school and I would like to attend.  Any tips on how to go about this?  Do they get time off in between A and C school?

For A school, you need to let your sailor know you are coming. They must escort you on base, no passes.  It is very low key, little more than a few salutes, maybe a speech, and then they pass out certificates.  Ours was held in the hallway.  

Usually they take leave after A school, about a week.  It will depend on the C school though, some do begin right away.

Got the "Sailor" call tonight, hooyah!!! He also got his orders today and he is going for FC, which is what he wanted. He said a school will be 173 days and that was as much as he knew right now. Hopefully will find out more about any stand downs or C school!

Christine, your sailor can put in for a chit (not sure of the name, drawing a blank) where he can go and "work" in the recruiting office he left from for 5 days. Approval us usually based on when he needs to report for C school and when the classes start, additionally if his recruiter and/or recruiting office gives the ok. Its a way to get a few more days at home, but its not a completely a vacation because he may still have to "work" but those days won't count towards leave, which he can use after C school.
Brandon's Mom, usually stand downs are the last two weeks of the year and first week of the year...about

FC A school is always longer than stated seat time!   There are always some hold times waiting to class up.

He can take leave after A school, and yes, unless it is the holidays, he can use RAP (recruiter assistance) to save leave days for after C school.  The stand down for training commands is roughly two weeks over Christmas and New Years.  Can't use RAP over Christmas.

does anyone know if they are living on base at San Diego if they are allowed to have their car on base?

32nd Street base?  Parking on base is limited, there is some, and if they are in the Beacon, there is assigned parking.  There is a lot of parking by the trolley tracks, and a couple parking structures.  That base is divided into wet side (the ships) and dry side (the schools and barracks, recreation facilities).  Pain in the ass to park on base, most park just off and walk over to the wet side. Dry side, expect to walk a bit for parking also.

Short answer, yes, they can have their car, but do not expect to park it close to where they live or work.

Thanks so much for the info my sailor is trying to decide to keep his car from high school and take it to San Diego or sell it

A car is useful in SD, and opens up a lot of activities during his time off.  Is this for C school or will this be his duty station?  

This is going to be his duty station. He plans on living on base.

I hope he can get into the Pacific Beacon, it looks really nice.  I think there is a wait list though.

Hi all,

My son just completed MEPS, and has decided on (ACEF), I'm really not sure what this is all about so any and all information would be helpful. thanks

Austin's Mom, what sort of things do you want to know?

Hi all, Today is Chrissy's 30th Birthday. I have been a Navy Mom for almost 6 years. Missing birthdays and holidays is still hard.

Hello. My son's PIR is May 22, 2015 and he is going to A school at Great Lakes. Anyone else have a SR going?

My Son is also in Great Lakes for ET school. He just finished ATT and started A school 2 weeks ago.

<See my new profile pic with Chrissy! I had  a good visit with my two sailors yesterday. I got to talk to them more since it was just the three of us. They had fun, we went wine tasting to 4 rooms open downtown , and they took me out to dinner at Bella Rosa. She bought me a bottle of wine and a wine glass from my favorite Scott Harvey. They spoiled me! I just loved showing my new son-in-love our historic downtown. They went back to Sac after dinner, as it is closer to Aidan and my oldest daughter.

Thanks DSMom, my daughter Chrissy is an FC2 and my son-in-love Aaron is an FCC. Chrissy is on the USS McFaul and is going out on her 2nd deployment soon. Aaron has shore duty.

Do join the Japan Moms group(s).  Some of us never leave, LOL.  The 'Pan Moms are terrific.

My son finished A school at the end of March.  Was supposed to go to C school in VA.  He was supposed to come home for 2 weeks before C school.  2 days before I expected to pick him up from the airport he called to say they changed his orders.  His hard copies have been torn up twice...he remains on hold since A school graduation and has been waiting 3 weeks for the latest hard copies.  A little frustrated to say the least. :(  Is this normal?

Perfectly normal.  Unfortunately, he is in the Hurry Up and Wait phase.  

I hope they straighten it out, billets come and go and they can't give him orders if it is all fluid.  The first of the month should see new billets, so he should hear better news then.

Thanks Anti M...

He got a verbal this week that he is coming home June 1st.   No hard copies yet.  But I am hopeful.