ETs

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

The AE/CF spins into two different job classifications; FCs and ETs. My husband was an FC for 10 years and our son is currently slated to be an FC however at least two of our moms thought their sons were FCs but once they got into the ATT program at GL - their sons were switched to ETs.

The initial schooling for both classifications is the same, ATT schooling at GL this provides them with basic electronics training and then they spin into their own area of specialty for more schooling.

For FCs - 60% of their enlisted time is spent at sea, I have not found how much time an ET will be at sea yet but this is what I found about the ET field...

Navy Enlisted Rating (Job) Descriptions and Qualification Factors
From Rod Powers,
Your Guide to US Military.
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Electronics Technician (ET)
General Info:

ETs are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, detect enemy planes and ships, and determine target distance. They must maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust all electronic equipment used for communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation, and electronic countermeasures.

What They Do:

ETs operate, maintain and repair the electronic, computer and control mechanisms used in weapons systems.

Detailed List of Required Duties

ASVAB Score:

AAR+MK+EI+GS=223

Other Requirements:

Must have normal color perception. Must have normal hearing.

[Carolyn M]

Glad to be here. My son loved his time in Japan. He's been taking classes to learn Japanese. He enjoys being an ET - the electronic/computer field is his strong area. When Steven was in Core school he was going to be a FC but then towards the end of Core school he switched to ET.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

I'm sure all of the moms would welcome hearing what made him switch to ET! The FC field served my husband well and I love that our son is following in his footsteps but it really comes down to what is best for him.

Was your son in Yokosuka?

[Carolyn M]

The deciding factor to switch to ET was the fact that he thought that there's not a lot of demand in the civilian world for FCs. He thought he would learn about a wider range of electronic equipment in the ET field than the FC. I don't know if he would have the same viewpoint today.

He was in Sasebo.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Sasebo is beautiful. My old FC husband would disagree with him and his skills have carried him well in the civilian world but those FCs feel strongly about everything!!!

[Carolyn M]

From the pictures that Steven sent Sasebo is pretty. He sent some pictures of the city looking down from the mountain.

I'm not sure if Steven would even agree with his own opinion from back then. He was young at the time. :)

[Jackie]

Welcome Carolyn, Did your son go to C school in GL or somewhere else?

[Carolyn M]

He went to C school in San Diego. At the time he went ET C school was not offered at GL.

[Jackie]

The reason my son picked ET was he thought that he would have more choices when it came to shore duty stations. He heard that there are not many places for shore duty as an FC. I don't know if that is the case or not.

[LynnDear]

We are not from a Navy family and didn't know about shore time etc. Wade has taken apart every electonic thing in our house growing up and TRIED to put it back together. This gave him a chance to do what he loves and get paid for it. He won't let me sent him a computer because he is trying to build one. He is excited when he learns enough facts and can apply it to real life. Navy is as real as it gets. When he called he said he was glad he chose the Navy. He was a DEP for the Marines. He took the asvab with the Marines, trained with the Marines. Just before leaving the recruiters helpers got into a fist fight trying to see which one out ranked the other. He said he didn't want to be around that mentality and walked next door to the Navy office. They took him in with a smile. Best decision of his life. The Marines came to my house totell me to talk to him because they did all the work and the Navy was just lying to him and can't keep the promised they offered to him. Well so far, the Navy has done their part and Wade has done his.

[Carolyn M]

LynnDear - Glad to hear that the Navy is working out for Wade. When Steven was in Core school after boot camp I mailed him his computer. He didn't have it for very long until he sold it to one of his buddies. He wanted to build his own computer. Steven has learned a lot about electronics in the Navy. He'll starting talking electronics to me and very quickly it goes right over my head. :)

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Oh LynnDear, I never knew that Wade was DEP for Marines. What a story! So glad he came to his senses!) just kidding!!! My dad was a Marine and although he is almost 80, he is still a proud Marine but if I could pick a branch for my son to be in - Navy wins hands down. I am probably a tad bias after 10 yrs as a Navy wife but I think he is in a good place now

[Nancy (aka nwig)]

It's true that shore duty billets are limited for FC's. As far as I know, the only way to do anything remotely related to their jobs in shore duty is to get an instructor billet at one of the FC schools or at GL. Other than that, it's either barracks management, being an RDC, or recruiter duty (which my son swears he'll never do after do Recruiter Assistnance while home this last time). I'm sure there may be some other shore duty jobs, but not much chance of shore duty related to the FC rating. Of course, there is also IA (Individual Augmentation) that may count for shore duty as well, but again, not likely to be doing duties related to the FC rating.

But fortunately, for those who don't mind sea-duty, the Navy is making it possible for extending sea-duty time (with extra pay) for certain sea-intensive ratings (which some NEC's in the FC ratings are). And so my son will more than likely look at either an IA tour or extending sea-duty if he can, unless he can get an instructor billet when it comes time to look at doing shore duty.