http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronics_Technician_(US_Navy)
Electronics Technician (US Navy)
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.
ET Subcategory Specialty Areas
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 (AECF (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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Controlman
Fire Controlman
Fire Controlman (abbreviated as FC) is a United States Navy occupational rating.
Fire Controlmen (FC) provide system employment recommendations; perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on digital computer equipment, subsystems, and systems; operate and maintain combat and weapons direction systems, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems, and gun fire control systems at the organizational and intermediate level; inspect, test, align, and repair micro/minicomputers and associated peripheral equipment, data conversion units, data display equipment, data link terminal equipment, print devices, and system related equipment; make analysis for detailed systems, computer programs, electronics, and electronic casualty control; and operate associated built-in and external test equipment; load, initialize, and run preprogrammed diagnostic, performance and testing routines for digital computer equipment, digital subsystems, digital systems, and overall combat systems.
FCs attend ATT (Apprentice Technical Training) and "A"-School at Naval Station Great Lakes; this course is roughly eight months long followed then by a "C"-school, based on one of the systems described below, which varies in length from 4 months to 8 months.
FCs typically operate weapon systems on-board surface combatant ships. They are trained in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons such as the Tomahawk Missile System, the Close-In Weapons System, the 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun weapon system and its associated MK86 or MK160 Gun Fire Control System, the MK92 Gun Fire Control System (on Frigates) the Sea Sparrow missile system, and the Harpoon Missile Systems. These include their associated computer and sensor packages. Their job is somewhat unique in that they are trained to troubleshoot and repair their systems, as well as operate them. These responsibilities are typically split up between different ratings for various types of electronic equipment.
The rating was established in 1941. It was split off of the Gunners Mate rating. Fire Controlman were highly skilled Sailors responsible for the operation of various forms of range finding gear, and solving ballistic calculations to control the firing of the ship's guns. These skills were originally employed primarily for Naval Gunfire Support, and surface combat, but today Fire Controlman also play an extensive role in Air Warfare as well.
The Fire Controlman Rating was later renamed "Fire Control Technician" (FT), with specific sub-designators for Gunnery (FTG), Missiles (FTM) and Submarines (FTS).
In 1985 the name of this Navy rating has changed back to Fire Controlman (FC). This allowed for the separation of the submarine rate FT from Surface rate FT to FC. FC was the original name of the rate through WWII when optic devices called Theodolites were used. After WWII, when the duties changed to more technical things like radar and computers, the name was changed to Fire Control Technician (FT). The FT name is now used exclusively for Fire Control personnel on Submarines. The rating insignia is an optical rangefinder (Theodolite) (on a tripod), with two lightning bolts (called "sparks") signifying the technical side. Until 1985 it had always been just the rangefinder without the lightning bolts.
FCs maintain the control systems used in aiming and firing weapons on all equipped ships. Complex computers, electronics, electrical, and hydraulic equipment is required to ensure the accuracy of guided missile and surface gunfire control systems. FCs are responsible for the operation, routine care, and repair of this equipment, which includes radars, computers, weapons-direction equipment, target-designation systems, gyroscopes, and rangefinders.
