Insight please

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Permalink Reply by Paige on November 19, 2010 at 9:15am

Michael, I apoligize for my delay in getting a response back to you. I have a crazy work schedule and it's sometimes difficult finding the time to log onto the site. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the IC rate. My son is an IC3 waiting results from his E-5 advancement exam. He graduated boot camp at the end of August 2008. After A-School, he attended 4 C-Schools and is currently stationed in San Diego, CA on the destroyer USS Howard. On the home page of this group, there is some general information about IC's and the types of equipment IC's work on.

Thank you for electing to serve in the U.S. Navy. Congratulations to you for achieving E3 thru your JROTC program. My son was in the DEP for a year prior to leaving for boot camp and made E3 as well. Both programs are very valuable in helping to prepare recruits for their entry into active duty. Again, please ask any particular questions you may have and I will do my best to answer them. My son has also been a good source of information for me and I will ask him when I am uncertain on how to respond to specific questions.

Thank you again for joining our group!

Paige

Permalink Reply by Michael Bruce Emory on November 20, 2010 at 12:09pm

thank you, i have few ?s. what did your son think about boot camp in the physical and mental aspect. What is the A school and C schools length. Will i be able to come home after boot camp, and is the advancement good for this job? thank you in advance.

Permalink Reply by Paige on November 24, 2010 at 10:11am

Michael, good to hear from you. Again, I apologize for any delays in my response to your postings. My son completed boot camp with very little difficulty. The year in the DEP helped immensely in preparing him for boot. He has always been physically active, so he had no problems in that area. The other training also covered in the DEP in regards to learning Navy policies and procedures as well as learning to march properly was also a big asset. Mentally he handled boot camp fine. He had a strong and positive attitude throughout most of it. He had some frustration in the first week during all the processing of the recruits. But, those feelings are very common for most every recuit.

Before officially starting A-School, you will attend a class called SCC (approx. 1-2 weeks). Following SCC will be ATT which is a basic electronics course (self-paced approx. 2 months or less). Then you will start A-School for IC's which will take about 5 weeks to complete. Sometimes there are holds between the schools if there is a back log of sailors waiting to start.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to take leave following boot camp. Once you have completed A-School you will have the opportunity to take leave assuming C-School, if you have any, does not start immediately following A-School. However, if you are attending ATT or A-School in December, the school will be on stand down and the Navy command encourages anyone who can to take leave for the holiday break (approx. 2 weeks).

You will not find out until around the end of your A-School whether or not you will receive orders for any C-Schools. Orders for C-Schools come along with your duty station orders. C-Schools are given based on the needs of the sailors assigned ship or shore command. For example, my son received orders for the destroyer USS Howard. The Howard had a need for IC techs with specific training, so my son ended up with 4 different C-Schools each followed one after the other. Fortunately, while in C-School he would get time off for the various holidays such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc. Once he completed his final C-School, then he reported for duty on his ship. The length of the schools varied from 2-3 weeks to a couple of months.

Currently, the advancement opportunities are not the greatest for IC's. However, this is true for almost all rates right now. A lot of this has to do with government reductions in the Defense budget. Billy learned yesterday that he did not get promoted on this advancement cycle. He will be eligible to test during the next test cycle in the Spring. There are alot of factors considered in the advancement process. Simple passing the exam does not guarentee a sailor will be promoted. Factors include: Test scores, performance evalution scores, points earned for awards received, length of time in the Navy, and the number of open billets for that particular rate and rank.

Hope this info will help you. Again, please continue to ask any questions you have. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!