Introduction & Question Regarding Firing Tech (FT)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James W Prebis on January 17, 2014 at 8:51am

Glen,

Welcome aboard! My son will be graduating as an FT this March. He loves what he is doing and is anxious to hear which boat and base he will be assigned to. I have some ideas as to what he has gone through and would be happy to share this with you. We are all so proud of him!!

Jim

Permalink Reply by Ray Swarts on January 17, 2014 at 6:28pm

Welcome Glen. My son is graduating BESS next Friday Jan. 24. He is an ET-Nav. Every week, he learns some new responsibilities they will have once they are on board the Sub, not just navigation. I'm sure the same is said of FT. On this site is a good description of the different positions. My son was also given, by his recruiter, an excellent description of each of the different positions. Shoot for that matter, give his recruiter a call. I'll bet he can supply you with something too.

Ray

Permalink Reply by Thom Barker on January 18, 2014 at 9:37am

Glenn,

My son graduated BESS Oct. '12 after being a Nuke Drop. He is now a TM (old term that they hang on to for Torpedoman). His boat has been in port and dry dock since. If you have the opportunity to travel to Groton for Bess graduation, GO! It is much different than PIR. In fact, my son, wife, and I got to tour his boat while we were there. 

Blessings on your family and son,

Thom

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on January 18, 2014 at 9:45am

rating info card for FT: https://www.cool.navy.mil/enlisted/rating_info_cards/ft.pdf

Permalink Reply by Pete Ziolkowski on January 20, 2014 at 6:42am

Hi Glen,

My son John is an FT aboard the OKC and has been aboard his sub for a couple of years now.  I can't say I know a whole lot about what an FT does but I do know that they are part of the weapons division and stand their watches at the fire control station on the bridge (control room?).  They are in charge of launch systems for the torpedos and any cruise missles (if the sub has them).  Interesting they are also responsible for keeping track of all the surface activity around the boat.  They work closely with the sonar team and thier job is to keep the officer of the deck informed about any contacts.  Like everyone on a sub, FTs do different jobs which range from being food service attendents and the runner during their first underways (called cranking) to working as part of the security team when surfaced. Qualifying (getting your fish) is a big deal.  Over the last couple of years the promotion rate from E3 to E4 has been a little slow but the last couple of promotion cycles the percentages for this rating has gone up.  A lot of that has to do with available slots.  I think for my son's boat they work pretty hard.    Pete

Permalink Reply by Matthew Corbett on February 8, 2014 at 11:23am

My son graduated BESS a few weeks ago is awaiting an "A" School slot in FT also, right now he is in A.T.T. I didn't realize that there would be a gab between BESS and "A" School.  I am so proud of him, he has worked so hard and come so far in a few months.  Matt.

Permalink Reply by Scott LaPlante on February 24, 2014 at 4:59pm

My son is in A school now for FT.  He went to Groton from Great Lakes on 19-Jul, but did not start BESS until early Aug.  After BESS, there was about a week before ATT.  After completion of ATT in early December, there was a delay and he started A school in mid-January 2014.  He informed us that they are expecting to complete A school at the end of May.   He was glad to get started with A school.  There were gaps in time between all of the stages until they organized a class.   I talked to him last week, and he mentioned that they are already discussing how to make their preferences for deployment.  I warned him that there will likely be another time delay after A school.