I can definitely break down FC for you, since I'm in that field. You have 2 different sides of FC world, Aegis and Conventional. I am on the Aegis side so I will go throught that first.
FCS (Fire Control System)
-Deals basically with all aspects of the SM2/3 missiles.. lots of gear associated with it. Everything from old school computers to newer baselines that have blade servers and touch screens.
-Theres 2 types of FCS nec's COTS, AND MILSPEC
-COTS deals with Baseline 7+ basically just newer gear that is a bit easier to deal with and troubleshoot.
-MILSPEC (MilitarySpecific) Has older computers from the 60's 70's but pertains to most of todays DDG'S and CG's
SPY
-Deals with the Spy radar. The eyes of Aegis and the ship as a whole. Has incredible range and can simultaneously find and track 100+ targets.
-There are a bunch of different versions (tracks) of Spy and depending on the track you'll be put on a different ship. I believe the newest version is the Spy-1D/V .. It will be on the newest DDGS.
-Lots of work in this field, long hours, but you get recognized a lot because the Spy is one of the most important pieces of gear on the ship.
Computer
-Deals with the computers that talk to all the FCS gear. Glorified IT's here. Don't work much with weapons or radars. To my knowledge the computers you'll be working on are the UYK-43. A very old tanky computer that is quite reliable. Also believe computer techs are on the less modern ships as well alongside the FCS Milspec techs.
-Pretty easy job from what I've been told. Mostly on call waiting for things to break down.
ACNT (Aegis Computer Networking Tech)
-On more modern gear. Like the Computer techs a glorified IT. A lot of work on routers, Linux, and all kinds of computers. Don't know much more about this one but hear it's a pretty good gig.
DISPLAY
-Work on the CRT displays that reside in all of our work centers/CIC/CSMC. On call like the computer techs mostly. Not much work with weapons or radars like ACNT and Computer.
Thats all of Aegis. Just remember, within each of the different jobs there are multiple "tracks" meaning the newer the gear, the higher the track. So most people shoot for the newest gear. If you want this, work hard for a good GPA in A-School. You pick your C-School orders based on GPA rank.
Now, for the conventional world. I don't know a whole lot, beings I'm Aegis but i'll give it a whirl
CIWS
(Close In Weapon System)
-Of course, the always popular CIWS. Awesome machine. Shoots 20mm rounds 4500 rounds/minute. Includes its own FC radar also .. so it's a pretty demanding /rewarding job. Theres schools in both San Diego and Norfolk. CIWS is on almost every ship we use today. From Carriers, LHDS, Cruisers, Destroyers.. So there's tons of oppuritunites.
Tomahawk
-I'm sure you'll hear a lot about Tomahawk tech going through ATT/A-school. They get a rep for being the laziest and doing the least amount of work. It helps that there really isn't much to their gear.
-Used to require a Top-Secret clearance but from what I've heard doesn't anymore.
-Missiles that were used in Gulf war, Libya, Syria were all Tomahawk. Pretty frequently used system.
RAM/SEA SPARROW
-Kinda gets foggy at this point. On the orders we picked from I believe these were grouped together as SSDS (Ships self defense system) Basically more missiles that protect the ship. We rarely test them from what I've heard. Only met a couple techs that worked on this system.
MK160 (5 inch Cannon)
-Very well-known gun. Most frequently fired beside the CIWS. Glorified Gunners Mates.
-Work a lot w/ the Gunners Mates and sometimes get their work loads.
That hits the majority of NEC's that I've seen given out from A-School. There are a couple more, like MK-92 (3 inch frigate version of MK160) but all frigates are being decommisioned. And a couple other jobs that work on ET type gear such as FC radars on carriers. (48E). I might have forgot a few others, but that is basically the FC world for you out of A-school.
As for ET's its mostly Communications and non-FC radars. Maybe an ET can come on and give me their version of this breakdown.
Any questions e-mail me at
cody.bahrke@gmail.com
FC3 Bahrke