ET vs FC - which better for foreign soil bases/travel?

[MilSup4Life]

I posted this elsewhere but just found this group so thought maybe I'd get better understanding here.  My son just joined DEP.  His rating is AEFC but it's not designated ET or FC yet.  He wants lots of world travel.  He wants to experience foreign countries.  He's actually hoping for post assignment at an oversees base.  What we're hoping against is the only way he sees these countries is as he sails past with no shore leave or onshore assignments.  What we "think" is that ET is the way for him to go that will best suit his desires.  I'm being told by nonNavy types that ET is further broken down by category and he should choose Aviation in order to have the best options for travel and overseas bases.  Can anyone who actually knows gives some guidance on this?  Other than choosing ET, is there anything more specific he needs to do/specify for his training? 

 

Thanks for any help you can give in this.  His understanding after coming out of MEPS is pretty slim.  Too much for a just turned 17 y/o to comprehend and absorb all at once.

 

Lisa

[Connie ~Matt's Mom~]

GoldnG8 is right.  My son is FC.  He went in 7/2009 and has not been deployed yet but will be the first few months of 2013.   He has been assigned to his ship but no long voyage as of yet.  My Navy husband was in 74 - 78 in aviation (electronics).  After boot camp and A school and other training he was sent to Italy for the rest of his time (4 yrs).  When signing up for ACEF FC it was for 6 years.  ET and FC work a lot with electronics, computer, etc and that should make getting an outside job somewhat easier than some fields.  My husband has worked as civilian at Cherry Point Air Station ever since getting out of service.  It is a good time to start thinking the Navy will put you where you are needed versus where you would like to be. I wish your son the best and the more he talks with his recruiter and friends that have been in the more he will see how the system works.  

[MilSup4Life]

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about.  They did not tell him this bit of information.  He went into MEPS looking to go into the Aviation Diesel Mechanic field.  Due to his testing, they didn't even offer him this because his scores were too high.  Recruiter never advised this was a possibility.  NA told him to "look to the future and civilian work available when you get out."  Since he didn't want Nuke or Subs, this was the only other option he was given.  They told him that with AEFC he could go ET or FC, but you don't do the final designation until after BC.  At no time was it made clear that he would have no say in which direction he went. If it was, he could have chosen a different rating, such as AT, or atleast an alternate.    

Everyone understands the Navy will be telling him what to do and where they need him, but it should start with fully informed decision making for ratings.  There can't be informed decision making if they aren't clear on what his options are/aren't when he signs up.  So we'll hope for the best.  He'll surpass expectations in either rating.

[Concernedad]

Some recruiters are good and some are not. I would strongly urge  your son to research it thoroughly. It's a decision he will have to live with.

[MilSup4Life]

Thanks, ConcernedDad.  That's what he's attempting to do.  Thankfully, this group has been helping me help him find avenues to explore for that research.  He's happy, and excited, about the field, just unaware he would have no input on final rating.  Hopefully, he'll get some guidance from his Recruiting Office during his DEP, as well.  Up to this point, it's been returning from MEPS with something none of us knew details about...and no way to get answers.  Appreciate the time and concern.

[5boys (FC)]

I agree with concernedad.    My son's recruiter kept telling him nukes was the only option available, my son didn't want nukes and left.  The recruiter called him back in and said that oh, ACEF just became available.  My son is FC and says that now that he knows more about all the jobs, it is the one he would have chosen and is very happy.  He didn't have a choice between ET and FC though.  Your son could try to more insistent and patient, an option may open up for what he thinks he really wants.

It will be about another year or more before he is assigned though.  He has been at Great Lakes since Jan. 2012, for boot camp and A school.  He will be done with A school in Oct. and expects to be on hold at least until Christmas, maybe longer.  Then he will go to C school somewhere else for 6-12 months.

Good Luck to your son.

[MilSup4Life]

I appreciate the input, 5boys.  He's trying to get as much info as he can, and we're learning a lot from this site.  Take "C" school, for instance.  No one told him that he'd have that after "A" school.  All his papers say = BC, ATT, and "A" school for a total of about a year of training.  Much relieved to see they get more than that. :-) 

He's not unhappy with AECF, just confused, as we all were.  We'll get it figured out.  If for some reason, it's not what he wants, he has time to make a change...or atleast select an alternate.

Continued success to your son, as well.  We're all Navy family now!

[MilSup4Life]

He's signed on as DEP but according to all the military people in the family, it's not his official contract?  I don't know and have yet to hear anything from his Recruiter.  The frustrating part is that we had an understanding with the Recruiter that we wanted to be there for the signing.  We were at MEPS the whole time.  The Navy Advisor knew we were there, came and spoke to us, and said she would come get us before he signed.  That didn't happen.  If we had been sitting in the room, we could have asked these questions and had some clarification before he signed.  Now we're playing catch up trying to figure it out.  Same as with his Education Benefits.  He has nothing about that, yet we're told he's supposed to or he will no have none as it's not automatic.  He came home with 3 pages saying he's in DEP and gets no pay or benefits but can be ordered to active duty at any time and 2 pages stating that he will be in AECF.  That's it. 

 

It'll all work out, I'm sure.  It's the complete lack of information that's so confusing and frustrating.  So we're back to the "hurry up and wait" game.  As my husband says, "Welcome back to the military."  I figure I know where the office is and if the Recruiter doesn't return my son's calls, I can drive him there. :-)

 

[Concernedad]

Milsup, there are so many inaccuracies I read in your posts that it makes ME nervous. Once selected, it's not as easy to switch as you seem to think. If you want to switch jobs, your son will be set back in DEP. The Navy is not hurting for recruits so aren't real willing to negotiate. They kept bugging my son to go Nuke, but he wanted to switch over later to spec ops so refused. They do tend to press recruits towards where they want him, and depending on your son's age, you may not be allowed to be involved in the decision making. I'd be happy to discuss this further in a private discussion if you like.

[MilSup4Life]

I'd love to.  If I've figured this out correctly, I've sent you a friend request so we can pm.  I believe that has to happen first.  Then maybe we can get together and you can tell me where I'm going wrong here.  Our current active duty are not Navy so everything seems to be different.

Thanks

[Anti M]

I was an ET, spent a lot of time in Japan... couple tours.  And Diego Garcia, middle of the Indian Ocean.  I couldn't go to sea, women did not then.  Hubby was also an ET, on several ships and a lot of time in Japan ... to be with me.  

[MilSup4Life]

Thanks for the input, Anti M.  He's presently hoping for ET.  I'm going to encourage him to do his best at whatever they assign him and if they ask his preference when he's finishing ATT, maybe they'll put him there.  He may decide differently once he's exposed to the whole enchilada instead of a bite at a time. :-) 

[Concernedad]

So far, the only time they've asked my son for his opinion was at the end of A School, they allow them to fill out a "dream sheet". My son was told it didn't really matter much what they put on them, but my son selected based on what job he wanted to do and did get what he selected I think.

At that point, your class rankings matter, so make sure and tell your son to work hard at ATT and A School. It seems really competitive and every bit as intensive (if not more )as if he had gone to college.