Aecf

[N@vychick]

Does anyone know what AECF "A" school is like and about how long? What is it like when u get to fleet. I cant seem to find someone in my area that has that rating my recruiter is still looking. Also is there a high drop out rate for that rating? Thanks in advance for the replies.

[MacSteve]

there is a high drop out rating for FC. The good news is if you drop FC, you usually go IT ;) a much better rate if I do say so myself. :p
I know FC A school is done all online through NKO (dont worry about it, you will learn about it in bootcamp).. ET Ive heard the schools not too hard, i work with a few ETs.

[echokilo]

im also going into aecf... ship out for boot on feb 24th, 2010. im also having a hard time getting info on whats its actually like being an FC or ET. Does any one know if i will have time to come home after boot before i have to start A school? i have been told that it depends when A school is scheduled. Any info on AECF is appreciated! Are there any ETs out there?

[MacSteve]

you will go straight to A school from bootcamp.
FC: fixing & monitoring weapons systems on ships pretty much
ET: fixing communications and computer systems

[echokilo]

ok thank you thats very helpful. can you tell me what A School is like?

[MacSteve]

no idea, I'm an IT

[BoatsBM1]

AECF;

What They Do:

Only two Navy job specialties, called "ratings," are included in the Advanced Electronics / Computer Field: Electronics Technician ( ET) and Fire Controlman ( FC). The rating in which an Advanced Electronics / Computer Field candidate is trained is determined in the initial phase of the Advanced Electronics Technical Core Course in Great Lakes, Ill. However, eligibility requirements are the same for both ratings in the Advanced Electronics / Computer Field.

Jobs performed by ETs and FCs are performed throughout the Navy's fleet of surface ships including aircraft carriers and Aegis cruisers and destroyers, and at repair activities ashore.

ETs maintain and repair electronics equipment such as radar, communication and navigation equipment.

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

These ratings comprise the basis of the ship's Combat Systems department aboard ships and are responsible for maintaining the ship's readiness for combat operations.

"A" School;

Great Lakes, IL --19 weeks--Core Course
FC, Great Lakes, IL -- 11 weeks
ET, Great Lakes, IL -- 13 weeks

After "A" school, ETs and FCs continue on to advanced "C" school. School lengths and content vary, but many colleges and universities offer college credits for these Navy courses. During a 20 year period in the Navy, ETs and FCs spend about 60 percent of their time assigned to fleet units or remote shore stations throughout the world and 40 percent to shore stations in the United States.

[echokilo]

do you know if there is a signing bonus for aecf?

[BoatsBM1]

do you know if there is a signing bonus for aecf?

Negative......If there had a been you are usually informed of any at the time of sitting down with the classifier at MEPS and it would have been entered in the contract before your signing of same.

[echokilo]

ok. what is your day to day schedule when going to school? do you have any free time?

[MacSteve]

mon-fri weekends are off

[echokilo]

thanks for the info its very helpful

[SouthBay]

AECF for myself as well! Ship out march 17th wooo.

Firecontrolman is the aim... for sure. Aegis Cruiser... hmmm...

[imnotu1]

March 17th - St. Patricks Day. I'll be sure to raise a glass for ya SouthBay!

[eboslar1]

March 23rd im shipping out to Great Lakes, AECF school after. Im also hoping for FC.

[papy]

AECF as well here i also want FC Ship 20100429

[cousinIT]

Just know that being an FC, it's really hard to get shore duty...they're mainly on ships...

[papy]

do et's get more shore duty or is it about the same?

[Jacob]

AECF here too! Ship date 20100908

[pnkpnthr2133]

Also AECF here, my ship date is 20110606 but I'm hoping to roll in come Jan.

If those who are in A school now have any info, it would be much appreciated!

[biscuit]

Err, I'm in A-School.

For AECF you're either going to be an ET or FC. Firstly, you'll go to ATT before A-School. Life is wonderful in ATT..... *coughcoughcough* Then after about two months (if you're an ET) you go on to A School where life truly is better. For FC's your time in ATT is split up... Yeah... you'll deal with it when you get here.

[jcrane92]

What is ATT?
Thanks for the help.

[biscuit]

So on your job sheet, if I remember correctly, it says you will go through two schools in Great Lakes before moving on to your 'c'-school.

ATT is Apprenticeship Technical Training, though I could've just lied to your face, I don't really remember what it stands for. We all just refer to it as ATT. You learn the basics about electricity through circuits and the such. It's not so bad, it's just tedious. I think all the classes starting up now aren't self-paced anymore meaning the whole class is ETs and you go through as a group. Used to be individual, self-paced.

Uh... I tend to divulge so much of the unknown! hehe But honestly I wish I was better prepared before I went. However, I won't tell you too much as being surprised is so much more fun.

[DK3]

Stay positive kid. You are young and anxious to get to the fleet. Continue your studies and do well when you get to you command. Think positive Shipmate!!!!

[biscuit]

Hmm.. I'm really curious how N@vyChick is doing. Her pic's bg looks like the type of BEQ I'm in and she looks like someone who was on mine... Hope she's having fun in C-School!

EDIT: Aw, I do know her! I won't use her name but she was real cool. I never knew...! I wonder if I mentioned this site if she would have remembered haha. Lucky her, I think she went to San Diego for her C-School.

[jcrane92]

Hey Biscuit, I was wondering if you could give us some more info on the types of things you'll be learning at A school. How challenging it is and things of that sort. How are you doing thus far, if you don't mind me asking? Is it more hardware or software type stuff that you learn? And, though it is the military :P are you having any fun? Ever get any time to go see chicago?

Thanks!

[wantedSEAL]

Hi, I left MEPS yesterday and just picked my rate.. AECF baby ship date for bootcamp is 20110815 was wondering two things... is there any way i can get shipped out earlier than that, and also is there anywhere i may be able to study for some of the school i will be attending before hand even pre bootcamp

[DK3]

Don't worry about studying for A School. Get through Step 1 before worrying with Step 2. Step 1 is Boot Camp. You're recruiter should have given you your DEP study guide, if not, ask for it or better yet, download it from here:

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/pdfs/Recruit_Trainee_Guide_rev_A_July_2009.pdf

Additionally, you need to be able to pass the physical work. In other words, work outs, push ups, etc.

So, what I am saying (and am kind of repeating myself), it's wonderful that you are wanting to get ahead for A School, however, don't put the cart before the horse. You might get to A School and get told you can't have that rate because something they found when they do another physical. That does happen, it did to me.

Congrats on Depping! Ask whatever questions you have, we will definately answer them for you if we know the answer.

[wantedSEAL]

Hey thanks, yeah haha ive read the DEP book front to back alread and im not really to worried about bootcamp cause i have been trainin with a SEAL motivator for about the past 5 months to be told at MEPS yesterday that my hearing in my right ear DQ's me for the SEAL contract :( . but thanks for the info sir

[DK3]

Great!

Do you have your memory work done? Can you recite your general orders out of order on demand?

[wantedSEAL]

No xD those are some things i do still need to be working on. i may end up getting beat alot in bootcamp for that, but i have been working on it today a bit. if you have any secrets to help you memorize them better i would be much appreciative to know them !:).

[jcrane92]

I run PT for my DEP shipmates. And I just tell everybody to work on their GOs and the Creed during the week. Flash cards work well. Or do the old write, read, speak. I would just set aside a half an hour a day to lock yourself up in your room and study. Not just GOs but your whole PQS. Anyway, I was talking about PT, whenever we doing anything that I can get them in a position that really hurts (like down on push-ups or leg-lifts) I will ask one of them a general order and if they can't remember it we do 8-counts. As you can imagine, we are getting pretty good at them. So, I would recommend working on them while you work out. I can't count how many times I have seen someone who would other wise know their 10 general order forget it after doing 25-35 push-ups and trying to hold themselves off the deck while trying to remember it.

[DK3]

Yep, that sums it up JCrane.

When you get to Boot Camp, you are going to be under both physical and mental stress. The better you have everything memorized the easier it will. You don't want to draw the wrath of the RDC's. They will try to trick you up. If you have the physical work down, great, but don't forget that the memory work is equally important.

[wantedSEAL]

Awesome, thanks gentlemen. I have been studying my GOs and creed over and over since i read this. i figure by my ship date 20110815 i should have these branded into my mind pretty well.

[DK3]

Yep, unfortunately, you have plenty of time to do that don't you?! :(

Make sure your recruiter is aware that you are more than willing to ship out earler in case a slot opens up and he needs you to ship NOW. It's always possible. Then, I would keep a bag packed with all of the stuff you have to take to Boot Camp and keep the cell phone on.

[jcrane92]

Still trying to rez this thread. Anybody with news on ATT, A School, or C school.
Here is a simple question, I think: What are the living situations like? I realize it is the military, you have racks and small CLEAN spaces. But the chief at my office has shown me some on the new HM schools in development right now, and they are sick. A pool on the top of the building and like really high tech living spaces and junk. :P

I completely understand how busy everyone is. And I remain patient. ;)

[wantedSEAL]

oh yeah i have plenty of time ... i'll be sure to tell them that at my dep meeting tomorrow. ... i have no clue about the living spaces , but i may take HM if they have it like that xD haha

[DK3]

The barracks are simple. 3 or 4 guys to a room, or at least it was when I was at A School a looooooooooong time ago. Community shower and head.

It may have improved by now, however, it wasn't bad at all compared to Boot Camp.

[biscuit]

There are a few different types of barracks here in TSC Great Lakes.
The one I'm in there are 5 people to a room, a little kitchenette type area (no oven!), private head, and decent sized closets.
I know there are ones like DK3 mentioned still running (sucks to be those guys, haha).

[DK3]

Really? They are still using those old barracks?

[biscuit]

The Enterprise and Ticonderoga in TSC Great Lakes? Unfortunately, they are being used. Buut, there's not much choice, there aren't any other places to put people.

[b.brehm]

I know this is quite an old thread.. but rather than start anew I thought I would just post here instead.

I'm shipping in February to boot camp as an AECF and it seems that everyone is "gunning" for FC. That was my hope as well. Anyone know why the dropout rate is high for FC?

[PonyUp]

We pretty much all wanted FC, I however got ET :( School is tough but we didn't get picked for this job because we are dummies. :)