Advanced Electronics Computer Field for Navy?
Hello, I've just recently graduated from college in this past spring, and have now enlisted in the navy. I got my bachelors in health science, but have always been interested in the computer field. I was lucky enough to get the last slot available for AECF. I'll be leaving April 2nd, 2013 and have a couple questions. 1. Do I choose to be ET or FC, or do I graduate from the A school and just get selected for one? 2. How is the training, I'm not to worried, but was just wondering what the workload is like? 3. After "C" school is completed do I immediately get deployed?
NAVY: Difference between Gunners Mate and Fire Controlman?
It depends on the type of Fire Controlman, to be honest. Conventional ones, especially on small boys (cruisers and destroyers)? Very little. AEGIS FCs? Night and day. Gunner's Mates (GMs) focus mainly on the mechanical side of weapon systems-the guns themselves, with some other expertise in electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Also, they specialize in maintenance of small arms, and nowadays torpedo tubes. Vertical Launching System GMs (better known as Square Barrels, vice the Round Barrels who deal with guns per se) are also responsible for that system, to include the electronics of it (they are a lot more like FCs in that way). GMs also learn about ammunition administration. Conventional Fire Controlmen focus more on the computer systems (there's no algebra in today's world-we have computers to do math for us, and you can't think that fast anyway), the radar systems, and the electronic aspects of various weapon systems. They also deal with missile launching system (specifically the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile Launcher and RAM). If you are into electronics, FC is a better bet. On cruisers and destroyers, Conventional FCs are in the same division as GMs, and learn a lot of the same skills (specifically with small arms). Both GMs and FCs are heavily involved in running Force Protection and Anti-terrorism efforts for surface ships. AEGIS FC (FC AEF) are a completely different animal. They deal with the AEGIS Weapon System, and depending on which career path, become experts in either the SPY-1 radar, the computer systems that integrate the AEGIS Weapon System, or the Fire Control Systems associated with. AEGIS FC don't deal as much with small arms and launchers, but are very heavily involved in electronics. AEGIS FCs tend to be the smartest of the FCs (it's harder and more demanding to get into). Hope this info helps, and hope to see you in the fleet one day.
How to become a Fire Controlmen in the Navy?
Hello I am considering joining the navy but after looking up many jobs I am still unsure of what I want to do. the main thing that interests me in the navy is. - Being able to operate and shoot the weapons on board Destroyers, Cruisers etc. The Fire controlmen rate seems like its exactly what im looking for but what scores do you need on the ASVAB and what is the training pipeline for this Occupation?
What can I expect in the civilian sector with this kind of Navy training?
I'm shipping out to Navy boot camp in June of this year under the job designation AECF (Advanced Electronics Computer Field). If I enjoy myself I was hoping to become an officer and make a long career out of my time serving in the Navy, but I'm also curious what I could expect out of a job in the civilian sector if I choose to leave after my contract has been fulfilled. There are two disciplines in AECF: Electronic's Technician (ET) and Fire Controlman (FC). An ET's job is to maintain and repair electronics equipment such as radar, communication and navigation equipment. An FC's job is to operate, maintain and repair the Fire Control Radars, mainframe computers, large screen displays, LANS, weapon control consoles, automatic gun systems and associated electro-mechanical systems utilized in weapons systems. I'm still considering my options, but I'm leaning more toward the ET discipline. I haven't decided which one suits me best, but still, I would like to know what kinds of jobs I could expect to get in both disciplines in the civilian job market and what kinds of salaries I could expect with the associated training and knowledge. It's my understanding that I could be looking at jobs starting in the six figures in terms of salary if I got out. A recruiter at my office who is a Fire Controlman gave me this impression when I overheard him talking to someone about what he could expect in the job market if he left the Navy.
Are there any navy rates that don’t get stationed overseas? I know I will get deployed, which I have no problem with, but I want to be stationed on land.
What you are wanting is permanent shore duty which isn’t a thing. Sailor’s go to sea. You said you know you will deploy and are fine with that but want to be stationed on land. Are you saying you want to go overseas and stay on land? That’s called the Air Force. If you join the Navy your base could be anywhere in the world, but have no doubt about it, you’ll be going on 8–10 month deployments. The only question would really be which oceans will you be sailing? Sailors typically do 2–4 years shore duty followed by 2–4 years sea duty depending on their rank, rate & how badly they are needed in a certain place. Now don’t get me wrong, every now and then you’ll meet a Sailor who has never been to sea, but they are about as rare as a lottery winner. Basically their billings just happened to hit every magic number they could. But who’s to say they were actually lucky? Staying on land means you can’t travel the world, no steel bbq’s, no foreign ports that most people have to pay thousands to travel agents to see. No amazing homecoming where you run into your families arms when you arrive back home. No letters written from a cramped rack in the middle of the night detailing adventures most people could never dream of. Why would you want to join the Navy and never go to sea? If you really feel that way you are looking at the wrong branch.
My Navy recruiter said that when I go to MEPS, I have to pick a job on the spot. Is this true?
Is it a true? As with all things a Navy recruiter will tell you it’s all “true”. The question is should you? And most importantly do you?The process is (at least when I did it/ to the best of my memory) is you pile into a car with the recruiter, head down to MEPS with a couple of his other recruits, take the ASVAB, get a medical exam, meet a detailer. The detailer looks at your ASVAB and if you’re 85 or higher you can have the pick of what’s available.Given there are 57 different ratings in the Navy and various specialities that cascade from underneath that, how do you the civilian with no Navy family to talk to make the right decision at that particular moment of time?IMHO, if you’ve scored well on the ASVAB you should be a FC/CT/ET. If you’re a math whiz go nuclear. Those are going to equal awesome jobs if you decide to get out. They also had the highest re-enlistment multiples.Now, the thing is, if they don’t have the job you want, you can always just leave. There is no penalty for not picking the job and committing to the date at that exact moment in time. In fact, if you do, and you change your mind later, you can still break the contract because you aren’t part of the military yet. They want you to think so, but up to the day you ship off to bootcamp you can back out without penalty.One final word of advice… DO NOT ship off as an undesignated seaman. NO NO NO! You’ll go to the boat, scrape rust, and paint stuff for 2 years, then maybe, just maybe you might get sent off to an A school of the ships choosing.
What army jobs transfer to civilian jobs?
There are a number that transfer pretty well. I got my training as a mechanic in the Navy and have had several civilian jobs in tire shops and “full service auto care” places as a result. I’ve known several other mechanics who got their start in the military (all branches).I know a Navy Fire Controlman who got off active duty and rather quickly found himself in a rather lucrative position repairing complex electronics in medical equipment. The Electronics Technician and Aviation Electronics Technician rates would work well in this regard as well.If you want to be an electrician after you get out, you could look at Construction Electrician or Electrician’s Mate.If you want to be a plumber you could look at Utilitiesman, or possibly Hull Maintenance Technician (HT). HT’s also tend to get pretty good at welding.Speaking of welding, there’s the Steelworker rate, though in truth Navy Steelworkers tend to wind up doing a lot of Builder work.If you enlist as a Builder, you’ll learn enough about framing, roofing, masonry, and concrete work to be in demand in the construction industry.I drill with a guy who just got back from Navy Equipment Operator apprentice school and went to work as an equipment operator for a construction company.I’ve known several military cooks (various branches) who went to cooking jobs after they got out.If you’re interested in trade work, and you’ve narrowed it down to Navy or Air Force, you might want to specifically talk to your recruiters about Seabees (Navy-vertical and horizontal construction), Red Horse (Air Force-horizontal construction), or Prime Beef (Air Force-vertical construction).