4 yr VS 6 yr (ATF)

[kaicyr]

So hold up...will my job options as an IT ATF be any different than that of a regular 4-yr IT? There must be a reason they want people to sign for 6 years, and send them to extra schooling.

[kforbs126]

Originally Posted by kaicyr

So hold up...will my job options as an IT ATF be any different than that of a regular 4-yr IT? There must be a reason they want people to sign for 6 years, and send them to extra schooling.

4 year IT's also get C schools. They are suckering you into a 6 year deal. Personally I would do 4 and see if you want to stay in then reenlist. Depending on what orders you get, ship, shore, squadron, etc depends on what "C" schools you get.

Honestly if I could do it all over again. I would not have signed a 6 year contract.

[kaicyr]

Originally Posted by kforbs126

4 year IT's also get C schools. They are suckering you into a 6 year deal. Personally I would do 4 and see if you want to stay in then reenlist. Depending on what orders you get, ship, shore, squadron, etc depends on what "C" schools you get.

Honestly if I could do it all over again. I would not have signed a 6 year contract.

You were an IT? Why do you regret it?

[Craig]

Originally Posted by kaicyr

You were an IT? Why do you regret it?

Kristen is an ET. However, she works side-by-side with IT's.
What she was actually talking about is the 6 years compared to the 4 years. To me, I agree with Kristen. It's always better to do the 4 year because you will only be a couple month behind the 6 year sailor as far as rate (rank).

I can't find the post now, but we had an IT here at NavyDEP and we talked about not taking the advancement in "A" school so you can be a 4 year sailor. Let me try to find it because he's traveled that path, and he know's the scoop. You can't pass hearing it from something that has already traveled that path.

[kforbs126]

Originally Posted by Craig

Kristen is an ET. However, she works side-by-side with IT's.
What she was actually talking about is the 6 years compared to the 4 years. To me, I agree with Kristen. It's always better to do the 4 year because you will only be a couple month behind the 6 year sailor as far as rate (rank).

I can't find the post now, but we had an IT here at NavyDEP and we talked about not taking the advancement in "A" school so you can be a 4 year sailor. Let me try to find it because he's traveled that path, and he know's the scoop. You can't pass hearing it from something that has already traveled that path.

Plus IT's have something like a 30 to 40% current advancement to third which is really really good. E4 used to be good but now that the Navy has said single e4's won't get bah even over 4 years. I don't think being a push button matters much anymore.

[kaicyr]

Originally Posted by Craig

Kristen is an ET. However, she works side-by-side with IT's.
What she was actually talking about is the 6 years compared to the 4 years. To me, I agree with Kristen. It's always better to do the 4 year because you will only be a couple month behind the 6 year sailor as far as rate (rank).

I can't find the post now, but we had an IT here at NavyDEP and we talked about not taking the advancement in "A" school so you can be a 4 year sailor. Let me try to find it because he's traveled that path, and he know's the scoop. You can't pass hearing it from something that has already traveled that path.

Ok. I look forward to reading his story. Also, how soon can you test for E-5? More importantly, how long will I have to realistically wait until I will be an E-5? I hear this is the first rank in which you are no longer a bottom dweller, or treated as such. I like the idea of getting to that ASAP.

[kforbs126]

Originally Posted by kaicyr

Ok. I look forward to reading his story. Also, how soon can you test for E-5? More importantly, how long will I have to realistically wait until I will be an E-5? I hear this is the first rank in which you are no longer a bottom dweller, or treated as such. I like the idea of getting to that ASAP.

You might not be treated as much of a bottom dweller but you will still do a lot of the same work 3rd classes do. Sorry to say but up until you make Chief you'll probably be treated as a bottom dweller.

If you are a push button e4 you can test for e5 in C school or when you arrive at your 1st command. Advancing has a lot of components. Eval, test score, time in rate, awards, college. Eval and test scores are the biggest thing. Don't expect to have a great eval for a few years because you need to make a name for yourself.

[SDtech]

I would be curious too what the real differences are between IT 4yrs vs 6yrs. They tried to get me to sign up for the 6 yr track but the guy didnt really sell me too well, so I took the 4 yr. He told me you get 9 more weeks of school and he thought you might be able to advance quicker. I dont know, didnt seem worth 2 extra years to me. Could be wrong though!

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by Craig

Kristen is an ET. However, she works side-by-side with IT's.
What she was actually talking about is the 6 years compared to the 4 years. To me, I agree with Kristen. It's always better to do the 4 year because you will only be a couple month behind the 6 year sailor as far as rate (rank).

I can't find the post now, but we had an IT here at NavyDEP and we talked about not taking the advancement in "A" school so you can be a 4 year sailor. Let me try to find it because he's traveled that path, and he know's the scoop. You can't pass hearing it from something that has already traveled that path.

Full disclosure here: I retired a LONG time ago (1997) so I know most things have changed but I'd like to give you my perspective. I had the same dilemma, 4 years or 6 years and I chose the 6 year program to get the Advanced Avionics training. I went to A school and advanced A school and got my E4 advancement upon successful completion of A school. That training was something like 15 months (or more) total. They then sent me to C school. I was eligible for (and took) the E-5 exam while I was in C school. Upon completing C school, I got orders to an Anti-submarine Warfare Operations Center (ASWOC) in the Philippines.

A few months after arriving at my first duty station, the exam results came out and, even though they only advanced 3 people in that cycle (for AX, Antisubmarine Warfare Technician, now merged with AT), I was one of the three selected for advancement, third increment for early promotion. My Chief was torqued off because this "wet behind the ears" sailor had already made E5. He was able to prevent me from tacking my E5 crow on early but I was able to put it on when the official advancement date came.

Long story short, before my 6 year enlistment was up, I'd made E6 and went on to make E7 in 8 years (thanks to Sailor of the Quarter and Sailor of the Year awards. I couldn't have come close to accomplishing that if I'd gone 4 years instead of 6. I didn't love every minute of my career but I really enjoyed most of it.

Between active duty and civil service, I spent 30 years with the Navy and it did me well. Currently, I'm a GS12 IT Specialist with the USDA looking forward to a second and final retirement in a couple of years or so, and the second retirement check from civil service won't be so bad either. ;) Good luck to all of you.

I am primarily on this board to gain knowledge on the current Navy. My son just took his ASVAB test and is asking for advice. He's trying to decide if he should go nuke or some other field. His eyes are glazed by the nuke enlistment bonus but I'm more concerned about him learning something that translates well in the civilian world. I'd recommend IT but that's not his thing. Unfortunately, he doesn't yet know what his thing is yet. Sorry for being so long winded.

[torresus]

My daughter enlisted as IT/ATF 6-YR and graduates RTC on 06/30/2017. She didn’t have ROTC, college requirements, or referrals to get advanced prior to enlistment but we are a bit confused. MEPS stated that she would sew on E-3 after RTC graduation and E-4 after completion of C-school. She called last week and said that she was told she cannot sew on rank for graduation and that she can’t sew E-3 without TIR for E-2 which couldn’t be sewn on until TIR as well. Can any of the IT/ATF recruits give feedback on this? I appreciate your feedback in advance.

[jzhaun]

All ATF contracts regardless of rate guarantee immediate advancement to E2 (not E3) after graduation, I was always told that it was measured from when your orders are stamped to go to A school (which would happen the same day). She will not wear any rank for the graduation ceremony because she isn't eligible yet.

She will receive E4 after graduation from A school provided she has the TIR, has completed POSLC and is within standards on her PRTs.

People who do not have ATF may not know how it works, even if they've been in the Navy for a while. If you want all of the details, read the instruction.