AECF - FCs and ETs

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!

Base pay depends on how long they're in and their paygrade.  Other allowances such as BAH and BAS, sea pay, etc.  can be found with a quick google search.  Anything which is a "pay" is taxed, allowances are untaxed.  Some states tax, some do not.

https://www.navycs.com/charts/2016-military-pay-chart.html

How do they determine if a recruit will placed as an ET or FC?  My son was recently placed as an FC for his "A" School after graduation on March 18th but originally wanted ET.  Just curious as to how they determine where to place them.

I am confused...AECF is this advanced electronics computer field...apologies for my ignorance, also what is ET and FC?

AECF is a field, comprised of two ratings, Electronics Technician and Fire Controlman.  ETs tend to work with either radar, communications, navigation, or information networks.  FCs are the operators/technicians for weapons firing systems, the big sophisticated missile systems.  Both are sea-going rates.

FC is "glamorous" because of what they do, but once they go to their long C school, that is the system they are assigned to for the rest of their career.  ETs tend to be more versatile, and often go to extra C schools between commands.  ETs have better shore duty and overseas commands are more likely.  I was an ET, so was my husband and my kid (who is not my child), is an ET, so I know more about it than FC.  I am also biased, LOL.

Anti M great info! Thanks so much :) When will my son know which he is chosen for? I think that has been posted already but I cant find it :(

Sometime during boot camp, toward the end, I believe.

 When I went through, the two ratings were separate, so I had signed specifically for ET.

Blondefaith - my son found out the last week of boot camp that he was FC.

Tinamarie105 Thanks for the info!!

Well, here I am...

Son just called me from GL.  He has about a month of A school remaining.  He has received "soft" orders to SD and will be an ISM tech.

So - what do the next few months have in store?

He will get to take leave en route to SD.  His orders will have a report date, and how many days he can take.  If he wants, he can do RAP at home, assisting the recruiter, and earn back five of his leave days.  Normally they can take a week or two.  All depends on how many earned days they have available, and when their report day is. Don't worry about plane tickets, the travel office arranges that, and he pays only for his leg home.  He will be given a couple travel days so he is not traveling on his own time.  When he reports in, he does a travel claim, and will be guided through that.

I take it ISM is his C school?  He should still get to take leave.

Hi Anti M,

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated :)

Yes ISM will be his C school.  Sounds like after he arrives in SD he will go to Virginia for a while for that, then back to SD.

He was recently married in January.  My DIL's parents and I plan to go out to SD with them for about a week to help her get things going in their first place together.

It will be an adventure for us all!

Again thank you!

San Diego is a great place to be stationed.  Expensive, and driving is a must, but scary on the freeways.  I really enjoyed my time there, both as a sailor and as a dependent.  

Are they planning on renting, or using housing?  Housing is not on base at all, it is in privatized neighborhoods off base.   Finding a place which takes pets is a hassle, and large dogs next to impossible on a budget.   Also, renting near the base is not a great idea, as 32nd Street area is sketchy.  

My son was going to check with housing first.  I think he wanted to go that route if there was availability - otherwise they will rent for now.

No pets at this time, but I know they have talked about it.  Should probably hold off until they are settled in, but momma wont be around to tell them "No".  :)  ...and I am a dog lover - so probably would not anyway.  My DIL will want some company/house alarm for when my son is gone for periods at a time. 

Good info on housing locations.  GL is very similar - close to base is pretty sketchy... you need to get a good 10-20 minutes away. 

Never been to SD, but I have family in SF.  I hear it is quite different and still 9 or so hours away - but my aunt is closer than I am, just in case they ever need anything - gives me a little peace of mind.

Both my son and DIL are very excited to begin this chapter in their lives.  My son was hoping for SD.  After growing up in Iowa and a winter in GL they are definitely California Dreamin!

I was born in Oakland, in a Naval hospital.  So over my lifetime, dad was stationed in SD, I was, and my husband was.  I am such a Californian even though I do not live there now.  And I do love SF!  Yes, it is extremely different, like they are in different states.

The pace of life is faster there, and can be overwhelming if they let it.  There is so much to do!   Always check with MWR for tickets and specials for military leisure opportunities.  

Lincoln housing, you can browse the Navy neighborhoods, see which ones take what pets, and even look at move in specials.  There often is a wait list, but there is also a "hot list" which are units open right away.

http://lincolnmilitary.com/installations/san-diego-naval-complex/

Maybe adopt a dog once they get to SD, and see what breed they can have?  

We rented because I had been raised in Navy housing, and just didn't realize how much it had changed.  We also had three cats and had to lie on our rental application.  Our dog, a Shiba, 28 lbs, stayed with my MIL.  She was supposed to send her to us, but we could not find a place to rent we liked which took dogs.  

Hubby's commute to North Island was 10~20 minutes on his Harley, we lived in Birdland between Linda Vista and Serra Mesa.

No matter where they live, rental or housing, they will almost surely have Navy neighbors.

Another tip if they will be renting privately: the housing office on base can tell them which apartments/landlords are to be avoided, and can look over the lease to be sure the proper military clause is in it.