Electronics Technician (ET)

Electronics technician (United States Navy) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Electronics Technician (US Navy) ) "ETMS" redirects here. For the aircraft monitoring network, see Enhanced Traffic Management System . This article is about the naval rating. For the general occupation, see Electronics technician . This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source . Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page . Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. (December 2009) Electronics technician Rating insignia Issued by: United States Navy Type Enlisted rating Abbreviation ET Specialty Technical The United States Navy occupational rating of electronics technician (abbreviated as ET ) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel ( BUPERS ) to enlisted members who satisfactorily complete initial Electronics Technician "A" school training. Contents 1 History of the rating 2 "A" School and "C" School Training 3 ET subcategory specialty areas 3.1 Surface 3.2 Submarines: radio and navigation 3.3 Nuclear 3.3.1 Training 4 See also 5 References History of the rating The electronics technician rating was originally established as radio technician in 1942 during the height of World War II . The rating badge adopted was that of the established radioman rating, and remained until 1945, when the rating name was changed to electronic technician's mate. In 1948, the Navy changed the name of the rating to electronics technician, and a new rating badge was created, both of which are still in use today. [ 1 ] "A" School and "C" School Training Surface ETs must complete Apprentice Technical Training (ATT), followed by Electronics Technician "A" School. Non-Nuclear ET's attend ATT and "A" School at Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois . Submarine ETs (navigation and communications) must complete Basic Enlisted Submarine School, ATT, Tactical Computer and Network Operator, and "A" School at Naval Submarine School in Groton, CT. Nuclear ET's attend "A" School at Naval Weapons Station Charleston in Goose Creek, South Carolina for Nuclear Field "A" School. While the Surface ET's "A" school was originally very hands-on, it is now entirely conducted through self-study computer based training with 7 hands-on labs used to demonstrate the student's aptitude with the equipment they will be working with once out in fleet. Nuclear ET's "A" school is extremely hands on with a curriculum that includes basic math, basic electrical theory, electrical fundamentals, digital microprocessor design, and instrumentation and control equipment. Nuclear ET's endure eight hours of lecture and labs five days a week for six months with extra study hours ranging from voluntary to thirty additional hours per week. Once "A" school is complete, most ETs move onto a "C" school to learn more in-depth knowledge of electronics for one specific system used aboard ship. This earns them a DNEC, which is further used to determine where they will be stationed after schooling is finished. ETs may be in training for 2 years or more and the rating often requires the sailor to extend their enlistment to 6 years. Non-Nuclear ETs are responsible for the electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, detect enemy planes and ships, and determine target distance. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust all electronic equipment used for communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation, and electronic countermeasures . Nuclear ETs are responsible for the electronic equipment used to monitor and control the nuclear reactors onboard US Navy vessels. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, adjust, and operate all nuclear electronic equipment responsible for safe operation of the nuclear reactor(s). ET subcategory specialty areas Navigation Electronics technicians work on an assembly piece for the stern plane angle indicator aboard the submarine USS Annapolis Surface Surface ETs maintain and repair electronics equipment such as radar , communication and navigation equipment. ETs can also perform the function of an IT by operating and maintaining computer networks depending upon what billet (job) they serve in. The ET and FC (Advanced Electronics Computer Fields) 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. Entry rates PO3-PO2 (E4-E5) specialize as electronics communications technician, electronics data systems technician, or electronics radar systems technician. PO1-CPO (E6-E7) are electronics systems managers. [ 2 ] Submarines: radio and navigation Submarine ETs are divided into two distinct job functions, radio ET(R) and navigation ET(V). Radio ETs are responsible for maintaining, operating, and administrating the submarine's radio communication and ESM equipment, systems and programs, including the submarine's masts and antennas.