PACT / Undesignated Sailor

[kforbs126]

Originally Posted by Texasailor2015

If you are a PACT Airman/Seaman going in as an E-3 does it still take a full year at your command before you can strike a rate?

It's 6 months if you strike for a rate that doesn't require A school. 1 year if you strike for a rate that requires an A school. Typically if you go to an A school you'll end up with new orders.

[BloodyPheonix]

Thanks for that Kforbes, didn't read far enough down the Career Waypoint for that one.

Electronics
AT - Aviation Electronics Technician
Electrical
AE - Aviation Electrician's Mate *

Mechanical
AD - Aviation Machinist's Mate
AME - Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety
Equipment)*
AMH - Aviation Structural Mechanic
(Hydraulics)
AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic
(Structures)
AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician

Miscellaneous
ABE - Aviation Boatswain's Mate
(Equipment)
ABF - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)
ABH - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling)
AC - Air Traffic Controller*
AG - Aerographer's Mate*
AO - Aviation Ordnanceman
AZ - Aviation Maintenance

Administrationman
PR - Aircrew Survival Equipmentman*

* Class "A" technical school required

This gives you an idea as to what needs an A school for A PACT as I've seen one for S PACT around here.

[Agrias]

There's ATs here that haven't went to A school.

[BloodyPheonix]

Might be old info I think the date stamp was October 2012 on the pdf. I'll edit the post. Thanks man, I'm having a bad time with this thread. I'm 0 for two already. I'll spend some time finding something more recent to see if other stuff has changed or if that was just a typo.

[Agrias]

The thing is most of what we do in the real world and what they taught us in A school is different. A school was totally pointless for the job I'm doing. So OJT replaced the schooling.

[BloodyPheonix]

I can understand that, and I can see it being way more effective for commands to train on the job. Do you know if it's common for A school to be so different than what you do on the job or if your command is a bit different than most?

[Agrias]

Most rates would probably tell you A school didn't do anything. It's not uncommon for people at your first command to tell you to brain dump A school. Most A school isn't that long so it doesn't matter, but AT school was like 7 months, which made it especially bad. There were some relevant information, but overall I think they over - taught us what we needed to function.

[Chief J]

Originally Posted by Agrias

There's ATs here that haven't went to A school.

It was the same thing when I struck a rating. You pick your rating, take the test, then become that rating. However, you will usually not go to A school until after you transfer. It will be all OJT.