Electronics Technician (ET) & Fire Controlman (FC)

Personnel interested in applying for Advanced Electronics/Computer Field should be seriously interested in pursuing the challenge this highly technical field offers. They must be mature, ready to take on significant responsibility, and willing to apply themselves.

The Navy's Advanced Electronics/Computer Field (AECF) offers extensive training in all aspects of electronics including computer systems, radar, communications systems, and weapons fire control systems such as the Navy's advanced Aegis radar and missile system. The standards for selection for enlistment in the Navy's Advanced Electronics/Computer Field are competitive.

Enlistees enter as E-1s (seaman recruits). Advancement to pay grade E-2 (seaman apprentice) will be made after successful completion of recruit training. Advancement to seaman (E-3) will be made after completion of all advancement-in-rate requirements (including minimum time and course work). Advancement to petty officer third class will be made after successful completion of initial school training and after all advancement-in-rate requirements (including minimum time and course work) are completed.

Advancement to E-3 and E-4 is contingent upon maintaining eligibility in the Advanced Electronics/Computer Field program. Eligible personnel may be paid an enlistment bonus and a possible re-enlistment bonus later in your career. All bonuses are in addition to Navy salary and allowances for food and housing.

AECF Job Descriptions

Only two Navy ratings are included in the Advanced Electronics/Computer Field: Electronics Technician (Active Duty Navy Enlisted Manning Code (EMC) B420; Full Time Support (FTS) EMC K070) and Fire Controlman (Active Duty EMC B310; AEGIS EMC B311). The rating in which an Advanced Electronics/Computer Field candidate is trained will be determined in the initial phase of the Advanced Electronics Technical Core Course in Great Lakes, Ill. Eligibility requirements are the same for both ratings.

Jobs performed by ETs and FCs are performed throughout the Navy's fleet of surface ships including aircraft carriers and Aegis cruisers, and at repair activities ashore. ETs maintain and repair electronics equipment such as radar, communication and navigation equipment. FCs 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. 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.

Prospective Electronics Technicians will attend approximately nine weeks of basic electronics followed by ET "A" school which is approximately 42 weeks in length. Both phases of training are located in Great Lakes, Illinois.

A prospective Fire Controlman will attend approximately nine weeks of basic electronics followed by FC "A" school which is approximately 20 weeks in duration. Both phases of training are located in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Sea tours and shore tours for Sailors that have completed four sea tours will be 36 months at sea followed by 36 ashore until retirement.

Sailors in the FC rating can expect to spend more than half their career on sea duty assignment. Sea tour lengths for the FC rating will not involuntarily exceed 60 months for Sailors with less than 20 years of service (YOS) and 48 months for Sailors with more than 20 YOS. Shore tour lengths between sea tours will be set to 36 months long. Manning conditions at sea may require the need to request sea tour extension or shore tour curtailments to ensure all sea duty billets are filled.

Qualifications, Interests, and Working Environment

Advanced Electronics/Computer Field applicants must be U.S. citizens eligible to meet security clearance requirements. Must be High School Diploma Graduate (Tier I), High School Graduate (Tier II), or have completed the 10th grade of high school (Tier III).

Adversely adjudicated drug abuse offenses will not receive waiver consideration.

Applicants may not have used marijuana within 6 months of attending class "A" school. Use of stimulant or depressant drugs, narcotics, hallucinogenic, or psychedelic drugs are ineligible within one year of accession. Any history of drug or alcohol dependency is ineligible. No LSD use within 2 years prior to enlistment.

Normal hearing and normal color perception are required. Important qualifications include knowledge of arithmetic, the capability to understand modern computing devices, the ability to speak and write well, function as a member of a team, do detailed work and keep accurate records. Additionally they must possess some physical strength and good manual dexterity.

Electronics Tech and Fire Controlman ASVAB Test requirements.

Personnel in the AECF ratings are paid allowances (BAH, BAS, etc. if eligible) and billet pay (sea pay, flight pay, submarine pay, etc. if eligible), and basic military pay based on years of military service and paygrade.

Credit Recommendations

Electronics Technician (ET):

In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category: three semester hours in basic electronics laboratory, three in AC circuits, seven in solid state electronics, three in electronic systems trouble-shooting and maintenance and two in electronic communication.

Fire Controlman (FC):

In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category: three semester hours in solid state electronics, three in electromechanical systems, three in digital circuits, two in microwave fundamentals, one in electronics laboratory, one in digital laboratory and one in radar maintenance.

Page written and maintained by NCCM Thomas Goering, USN (Retired).

If you are seeking information about joining the Navy, feel free to contact me.