FCA – Fire Controlman Aegis

	Fire Controlman Aegis	FCA
	Fire Controlman AEGIS (FCA) provides weapon direction systems employment recommendations; perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on digital computer equipment, subsystems, and systems; operate and maintain combat and weapons direction systems, surface-to-air and surface to-surface missile systems, and gun fire control systems at the organizational and intermediate level; perform the operation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting and repair of: RADAR, computers, networks, data display systems and integrated weapons system components.

Fire Controlman Aegis are technicians responsible for the operation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting and repair of the Aegis Weapon System and the Aegis Computer Suite, which includes one of the most powerful air-search radars deployed at sea around the world, the SPY-1. The AEGIS Weapon System provides theater, air and sea missile defense. AEGIS technicians are knowledgeable in basic electronics, digital fundamentals,
synchros, servos, RADAR principles, and computer fundamentals.

AEGIS technicians serve in both Ticonderoga Class Cruisers and Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers working on BMD/SPY RADAR, FCS/ORTS, Q21 Display, UYK-43 Computer and AEGIS Networks. Unlike other ratings, in addition to operating weapons systems, Fire Controlman Aegis troubleshoot and repair the weapons as well. They also work on computers, networks, data display systems and integrated weapons system components.

What they do:

Inspect, test, align, and repair micro/minicomputers and associated peripheral
equipment, data conversion units, data display equipment, data link terminal equipment, print devices, and system related equipment;

Make analysis for detailed systems, computer programs, electronics, and electronic casualty control;

Operate associated built-in and external test equipment; load, initialize, and run
preprogrammed diagnostic

Operate the Aegis Weapon System, which includes one of the most powerful air-search
radars, deployed at sea around the world, the SPY-1, as well the MK99 Fire Control System, used for terminal guidance of Standard Missiles, and the Aegis Computer Suite.

Run performance and testing routines for digital computer equipment, digital subsystems, digital systems, and overall combat systems.

Advancement

Enlistees enter as E-1s (seaman recruits). Advancement to paygrade E-2 (seaman apprentice) will be made after successful completion of recruit training. Advancement to
E-3 will be made after completion of all advancement-inrate requirements (including minimum time and course work). Advancement to paygrade E-4 (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 both E-3 and E-4 is contingent upon maintaining eligibility in the Advanced Electronics Computer Field.

Career Path After Recruit Training

Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of this rating through on-the-job training or formal Navy schooling. Advanced technical and operational
training is available in this rating during later stages of career development.

School: Apprentice Technical Training, Great Lakes, Ill. 11 weeks of basic electronics and electronic circuitry safety, digital theory, microcomputers, fiber optics, test equipment and trouble-shooting techniques. 

Self Paced Computer Based Training and laboratory application with written tests and
practical laboratory performance tests.

FC Strand: Great Lakes, Ill. 20 weeks of 2-D and 3-D radar, Troubleshooting procedures, Missile and Gun System Ballistics, Firecontrol Basics.

After "A" school FCAs continue on to advanced "C" school. School lengths and content vary, but many colleges and universities offer college credits for these Navy courses. AEGIS Ashore Billets count as Sea Duty. Sea duty billets in 7th Fleet AOR, 6th Fleet AOR and 5th Fleet AOR are extremely arduous, with ships being out of homeport well above CONUS average. AEGIS FC can expect to do one overseas tour in a career. They can also expect to do a shore tour in Dahlgren, VA.

Over 1,000 men and women currently work as FCAs in the
Navy. Opportunities are excellent for qualified candidates.

Qualifications and Interests

Fire Controlman Aegis must be U.S. citizens eligible to meet security clearance requirements. 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, good manual dexterity and normal color perception.

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