Where is your C school?

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Yes, the day is finally on us that we are now seeing orders for C school!
I understand for the FCs, C school can be located in:

1) Dam Neck, VA
2) Dalgren, VA
3) San Diego

I believe the location is determined by which system they will be operating on.

Do we know where C school is for our ETs?

Has your sailor been to C school yet? If so can you tell us which one? How long it lasted and did they get leave before starting C school or head directly there from A school?

[FC3 Thomas]

You also asked me what I knew about this. I posted it on your page, but figured that the whole group could use it. This is what I know about FC "C" school names and locations. I don't know exact lengths. Most are usually anywhere from 2 months to 9 months. Assuming that the new FC doesn't have to start "C" school IMMEDIATELY, he or she should be able to take leave. Usually it's 15 days or until they have to be there - whichever is shorter. It is my understanding that all training bases shutdown around the holidays though, so your sailor should be able to come home then as well. Unfortunately, sometimes classes start 5 days after the sailor gets orders and they have to make it to their school in 5 days (or the safe amount of time for driving), but they usually try to prevent this from happening.
"48E" (radar) - Damneck, VA
"ACNT" (Aegis Computer Network Technician) - Dahlgren, VA (this is my job)
"ACDS" (AN/UYQ21 data display) - Dahlgren, VA
"Aegis Computer" - Dahlgren, VA
"Aegis Display" - Dahlgren, VA
"ATWCS O&M" (Advanced Tomahawk Weapon Control System Operator & Maintenance) - Damneck, VA
"AWS" (This is Aegis Weapons Systems and is a school for a first class or cheif after being in the fleet) - Dahlgren, VA
"CEC" (Cooperative Engagement Capability - radar) - Dahlgren, VA
"CIWS" (pronounced "sea-whiz"; also known as Mk15) - Damneck, VA OR San Diego, CA
"CV/CVN Computer" (computer tech for carriers) - Damneck, VA
"FCS/ORTS" (Fire Control System operator/Operation Readiness Testing System operator) - Dahlgren, VA
"FFG Computer" (computer tech for frigates) - Damneck, VA
"FFG Display" (display tech for frigates) - Damneck, VA
"Fiber Optics" (usually in conjunction with another school) - Damneck, VA
"HWS" (Harpoon Missile Weapon System) - Damneck, VA OR San Diego, CA
"LHA ACDS" (AN/UYQ21 for amphib ships) - Damneck, VA
"LHD Computer" (computer tech for amphib ships) - Damneck, VA
"Mk23 - TAS" (Target Aquistion System) - Damneck, VA
"Mk31 - RAM GMWS Maintenance Modules 1/2" (Rolling Airframe Missile; Anti Missile Defense Weapon) - Damneck, VA
**For "SeaRam" the new verson, one must take RAM and CIWS**
"Mk57 - NSSMS" (sea sparrow) - Damneck, VA
"Mk86 - GFCS" (5" guns) - Damneck, VA
"Mk92 - FCS" (76mm guns on FFG) - San Deigo, CA
"Mk92 Mod 2" - San Diego, CA
"Mk160 - GCS" (the new 5" guns) - Damneck, VA
"NFCS" (Tomahawk) - Damneck, VA OR San Diego, CA
"SPY" (radar) - Dahlgren, VA
"SSDS Mk2" (Ship Self Defense System) - Damneck, VA OR San Diego, CA
"SSDS Mk1" (Ship Self Defense System) - Damneck, VA
"SWY-X" (TAS; RAM; NSSMS) - Damneck, VA
"TTWCS" (Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System - the new version of Toms) - Damneck, VA OR San Diego, CA
The ones that have schools in VA or CA usually will send sailors where the next class is or where the Navy sees put. I've never heard of anyone getting to choose that part of the orders, but I also haven't been around forever, so I'm not sure. I don't know a whole lot about most of those, but I do know a little, and can try to find things out. I know that wikipedia has a lot of information about them. Also, NKO (your sailor should have access) has a community web page for each "C" school. Almost all of them have an FC1 or FCC (chief) that will answer questions on a forum/post board.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Jennifer, thank you so very much for all of this information. I had no idea that there were so many different schools when I ask you. Appreciate the time that you spent on this!

[FC3 Thomas]

It is also my experience that ETs have a wider variety of locations. I'm not sure of the locations, but I can try to find some out. I'm on a base of all FCs now, so this may take a little research, but I'll see what I can do. Also, the 15 days leave is as long as the sailor is moving inside the U.S. (CONUS - continental US). Otherwise, it's usually 30 days delay authorized as leave.

[FC3 Thomas]

Oh, and one last detail, when they tell your son or daughter that Damneck, Dahlgren, and Norfolk are all near each other, they're wrong. Damneck is much closer to Norfolk than Dahlgren is. Dahlgren is about 135 mi North of Norfolk - I drive it every weekend. Damneck is closer to Norfolk, but I'm not sure by how much. I just know that it takes about an extra half hour and is on almost the same route. If it's in VA beach like I've heard then it's only about 20 or so miles from Norfolk.

[FC3 Thomas]

It wasn't much trouble, it was just finding it all. It's not a problem at all. Like I said, anything I can do to help, I'll do. I know my mom was lost, and if I can help someone else's mom to understand more than my mom was helped, I'm preventing anyone else from having to go through what Mom and I did with all the "not knowing". Like I said, I'll look into ET schools, but I don't know as much there since I don't have the first hand experience or the same resources.

[Jackie]

Thank you for all this info Jennifer. Yes Damneck is in VA Beach. It is about 20 to30 min. from Norfolk. When we lived in VA Beach this is the Beach that I would take the kids to.This is a small base but it was very nice.Little Creek is in between Norfolk and Damneck.

[Kellie]

I LOVE THIS SITE =) it really helps me a lot =) my fiance is still in basic and will grad on 9/12 and then goes togreat lakes for A school, not sure yet where his is C school will be, but by reading the other post i guess we wont know until its almost here, lol. but he is an ET. =)

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

He must be excited Marsher - he knows his future! (and gets to leave GL). I didn't realize that they receive their orders for both school and ship at the same time. Thought those sea duty orders came at the end of C school. Bet you have already done your homework on the Truman!

[Nancy (aka nwig)]

Yes, Marsher, a very good thing.....lol

And Mary, like Marsher said, since ET c-schools are typically shorter, they usually get permanent duty station orders with c-school orders. Now, if an FC were to have a short c-school (like another mom in our group, forgot the name) then they too will get permanent duty orders with school orders. But usually FCs have longer c-schools.

[Anti M]

My first C school was six months long, so it came as a set of orders all by itself, Secure Voice School on Ft. Gordon, GA (army base). I would be surprised if that system were still in operation, but it well may be. Required a top secret clearance before we could begin classes.

I also attended shorter C schools, some between duty stations, some while I was attached. Mare Island is closed now, I also went to San Diego and Atsugi for training. It is not uncommon for a C school or two to be part of a re-enlistment incentive or part of a PCS move. The new ship often sends sailors to extra schooling before they arrive, depends on needs and how much is left in the training budget. The more C schools an ET has, the more options on orders are open to the sailor.

The time between A and C schools varies a lot, as does the time between C school and report for duty date. Depends on when the next class-up occurs, or when the ship is due to deploy, or if the billet needs a sailor ASAP.

[Seabee Dtr]

I was wondering how long FC C school is. Anyone know?

[Nancy (aka nwig)]

It really depends on what system it is. It could be as short as a few weeks or as long as 8-9 monhts.