AECF - FCs and ETs

My boyfriend is currently in GL. He in A school right now and gets his orders tomorrow. He was supposed to graduate on September 25th, but they ended up switching his graduation date from A school to the week prior to that. ( I barely found out today.) I had already booked everything and was just waiting for September 25th to come around.

I was wondering, how long are they usually on hold after A school Graduation? I believe he is going to C school, i'm just not sure where...i'm pretty bummed that I may have just wasted my money for nothing if he leaves for his duty station, the week I'll be in Illinois.

Not everyone goes on hold after A school, only those who are waiting for orders. They usually depart soon after to go on leave.   Maybe he could spend his leave time with you?  Perhaps the airline would let you use your ticket some other time, to a different destination?

How long is the training for ET? 

Seat time: 9+ weeks of ATT, then 19 weeks of A school. With hold times waiting to class up, nearly a year in Great Lakes.  C school times vary, and those are all over the country.  Assigned C school depends on what the Navy needs, so no way to predict what that might be.  Nearly two years in school in some cases.

Thanks!

I heard from my SR today and he mentioned something about an ATT or AT school as well as A & C school.  What is the ATT or AT school?  Thank you in advanace!

ATT is Apprentice Technical Training and is like an electronics prep school.  This gives them the basic building blocks before A school.  It is self-paced, but in classes with them all tracking about the same tempo.   Then A school.   C schools teach a specific system or types of gear, and are not located at Great Lakes.

Thank you Anti M! 

Hello, My son is in his second week of ATT (ET) school.  He's holding his own on the new material.  Are there any "tricks of the trade" to help him?  He's stays after class everyday but are there other resources that could help?

Wow that's a long wait....  I hear that's the Navy's motto.. "Hurry up and wait".  My son had to wait too, but I believe only for a week.  Good luck to Alex!

@Lauren .... there is not much to do other than what is provided by the school.  ATT is pass/fail, so as long as he grasps the concepts and passes the tests, he's good.  A school will offer extra study sessions, and they do give a GPA which may be handy when time for orders.  He should be very careful not to accept study guides other students have compiled, one going around had test answers and some sailors were accused of cheating (someone issued test answers in the back of one such guide).   If he needs help, he should approach the instructors.

Ah, they've changed that again,  thanks for the info.  

Hello all. My son just left for BC last Monday. I am trying to figure out what he may need for ATT, A & C schools. That is, is there anything I can get him for the Barracks or school (i.e., Laptop, printer, organizational tools, etc.)

My questions may be out there. I really just have no idea what to expect and the closest reference I am drawing from is college dorm life! Any and all advice welcome and appreciated. Thank you for putting up with me as I try to turn my sad but proud heart into something positive.

The Navy schools will not let him use personal electronics to study, but laptops are great for relaxing downtimes and communication with family.  He will have to pay for wifi in the barracks, they usually split local service in a room.  As for stuff for his room, they have sheets and issued blankets.  He'll probably want his own pillow, and maybe a personal blanket (although chances are he can't leave it on the bed).  

My son has completed FC A school and is waiting on hard orders for C school.  He says he has soft orders for Tomahawks,  where will he go to school at and for how long?

Hi all, Does anyone know what CSCS is? And what does MTS mean? Chrissy said "Got my orders to go to CSCS and when I called to speak with my sponsor got informed that I'll be going to instructor school asap so I can work on my MTS!!! Freaking amazing for a second class to have this opportunity!!!!"

Center for Surface Combat Systems, Dam Neck VA.  

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=67902

MTS = Master Training Specialist 

Tomahawks are taught both in San Diego and Dam Neck.  Several months, three I think.

Yes Thanks, it means Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS)and Master Training Specialist (MTS). But she said it is not the one in DamNeck, it is the one in Norfolk, VA. She was sent home form deployment and was not doing FC stuff, she was on light duty, then doing Yomen stuff. Then she got these new orders. She seems real happy about it.

That is an outstanding set of orders, especially for an E-5!  

does anybody have experience with booking flight using military discount?  which airlines are best to use, etc.?  thanks for any help!

Be sure to check other prices, the military discount is not always the lowest price, and is not available for every flight, or is limited to X per aircraft.   Usually these discounts are not published or online, you must call the airline directly.  

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/travel/airfare-discounts-for-american...

Can someone share the link or remind me approximately how long A-school is for FC rate? I am aware of how many days/week ATT school is for. Thank you!

20 weeks

https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/rating_info_cards/fc.pdf

FYI, when calculating the # of weeks in classes, don't forget to add in the weeks on HOLD.  Alex didn't start his ATT right away, he was on hold for 4 weeks prior to ATT.  He has 4 weeks left of ATT, then on hold again before A School actually starts.  Once he starts A School, we should get an actual date for his A School graduation.  He even stated that once he graduates A School he will get his 2 week leave and then have to return to GL for hold again before even going to C School.

One question, after A School when they go back on hold. Do they get transferred to their C School location and then go on hold or do they go back to GL and go on hold until C School is ready for them?

At Great Lakes.

My sailor's PIR was the middle of November, 2015.  He's been on hold since then waiting for A school to start in AECF.  How long is his hold?  Is there a way to find out when his classes will start?  

Nope.  He has to wait for enough people to finish ATT to fill a class.  That can only be guessed at.  

Alex is currently in ATT and has 3 more weeks to go for AECF - Fire Controlman

Thank you Anti M :)

Happy Tuesday! I am new to the group. My son leaves for GL first of February. I am proud and scared and sad that he is leaving but hope that it is the beginning of a wonderful career and lots of growth and adventure.

Hi..I can't believe it but it was a year ago in February that my son left for GL. I remember those exact feelings that you are experiencing.  Trust me....it does get better.  My son is now in Groton and will graduate sub school 1/21.  He will be in Pearl Harbor Feb.  I too am proud, scared and sad but seeing my son now is magical.  He is so very different in many good ways. It is definitely an adventure!!

Good morning. My daughter will be attending ATT school after BC. Can someone explain what that entails please? Will she be able to have her phone/electronics?  Thank you.

ATT is the "prep" school for A schools with electronics in the job description.  Yes, she may have her personal electronics, although wait on big items like game systems and TVs.  Phone and laptop/tablet are fine.  She cannot use them all the time, such as during school.  

Thank you Anti M. My husband kept telling me she couldn't have electronics. I win! :)

After PIR, she'll go check into her barracks.  She can have her electronics that evening.  I have not heard of them needing to wait to use them at Great Lakes, just that there are limits when they are in uniform, and never in the schoolhouse.

My son just went through PIR this weekend and has moved to the TSC side of GL. He said it could be a month to 45 days before he starts his school.  What sorts of things would he be doing in the interim?

Hi Promise,  I am by no means an expert but my sailor's PIR was Nov of 2015.  He's been on hold since then.  He's had opportunities to "phase up" (gain privileges), does "watch on his ship",  and goes out on "working parties" (cleaning or whatever needs to be done).  There is liberty on the weekends.

Thanks, ScootersMom.  All my Sailor said was that he would probably have to clean around the ship. He didn't know anything else about what to expect.

I spent time on holds long ago; little has changed.  I cleaned, did office work, shoveled snow, painted.  Some at the barracks, sometimes at other commands like the old dental office.  The best one was when I got to work in the school ET shop, learning to solder on the circuit boards the students had been practicing on.  

Just got to talk with our Sailor for a few minutes.  He said he would probably be on hold until May.  Finished indoc today, but he sounds a little frustrated that he will have to wait so long for school to start.  He's going to be an FC. Are there not many graduating from RTC going into AECF FC school right now?

They learn during boot camp is they'll be FC or ET.  Towards the middle/end, but they do know by PIR.

Welcome.  I was an ET, it is a great rating, very versatile.  Your son is an E-3 right now, so he is an ETSN ( ET seaman).  He will be an ET3 (E-4) after he completes A school.  He'll get teased if he gets mail addressed as if he were a petty officer before he is one!