The United States Navy job rating of electronics technician (ET) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) to enlisted members who satisfactorily complete initial Electronics Technician "A" school training.
History of the Electronics Technician rating
WWII era The Electronics Technician (abbreviated as ET) rating was originally established as Radio Technician (abbreviated as RT) in April 1942 during the height of World War II. The story of their training may be found at "Solving the Naval Radar Crisis" by Raymond C Watson, Jr. Trafford Publishing 2007 . The rating insignia adopted was that of the established Radioman (abbreviated as RM) rating, and remained until October 1945, when the rating name was changed to Electronic Technician's Mate (abbreviated as ETM). In 1948, the Navy changed the name of the rating to Electronics Technician, and a new rating insignia was created.
Vietnam era to present In 1971 the Radarman (abbreviated as RD) rating was disestablished. Former Radarmen, depending on their training, were placed in to the either the established Electronic Technician (ET) rating or either of the newly established Operations Specialist (abbreviated as OS) or Electronic Warfare Technician (abbreviated as EW) ratings.
On 1 October 1998, the Data Systems Technicians (abbreviated as DS) rating was disestablished. Former Data Systems Technicians were, depending on their training, placed in to either the Electronics Technician or Fire Controlman (abbreviated as FC) rating.
Creation of the service ratings ET, ETR, ETV, and ETN
On 3 November 2015, a mostly administrative change was made to the general ET rating. Electronics Technicians who volunteered for submarine duty were redesignated as either Electronics Technician, Submarine, Communications (abbreviated as ETR) or Electronics Technician, Submarine, Navigation (abbreviated as ETV). Nuclear Power trained Electronics Technicians were redesignated as Electronics Technicians, Nuclear Power (abbreviated as ETN). Electronics Technicians serving in the service rating Electronics Technician (ET) remained designed as Electronics Technician (ET). Electronics Technician (ET) is sometimes abbreviated as ETSW (Surface Warfare - communications, radar, and navigation) when it is necessary to distinguish ET from ETR (sub comm), ETV (sub navigation), and ETN (nuclear power).
All three new ratings as well as the original Electronics Technician rating use the same Electronics Technician rating insignia.
The reason for the change is because even though these four service ratings (ET, ETR, ETV, and ETN) fall under the same general rating (ET), share a common history, have similar names and share the same rating insignia; the enlistment requirements (e.g. submarine ratings are volunteer duty), initial 'A' school training, specialized 'C' school training, job assignments (billets), specific qualification, and community managers are unique to each of the four service rating. This prevents someone trained in any of the four service rating from easily transferring to another of the four service rating without first going through significant retraining and qualification that would be required by anyone transferring from any of the other general rating in the Navy.
There is prior usage to ETN and ETR. At least through the 1970s, the "N" represented a Communications ET while the "R" represented a Radar ET. This was usually determined by the ET "A" School curriculum taken by the student in later phases of training. The "N" or "R" designation only applied to 3rd or 2nd class petty officers (paygrades E4 and E5). 1st class and chief petty officers (paygrades E6 through E9) did not have a "N" or "R" designation.
Elimination of all naval ratings On 29 September 2016, the Navy moved away from traditional ratings to an alphanumeric system of Navy Occupational Specialty (NOS) codes. The ET-related NOS codes were: for ET, B420; for ETR, C126; for ETV, C121; for ETN, D110, D111, or D112.
On 21 December 2016, however, after months of widespread complaints, Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson released a message announcing a restoration of all U.S. Navy Ratings.
Electronics technician service ratings
Electronics technician (ET)
General description
ETs are responsible for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, computer information systems, long range radar, and calibration of test equipment. They maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust electronic equipment used for communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification, navigation.
Working environment
Jobs performed by ETs are performed throughout the Navy's fleet of surface ships including aircraft carriers and Aegis cruisers and destroyers, and at communication activities and repair activities ashore.
Minimum requirements
ASVAB: MK + EI + GS = 156 + AR = 223 Must have normal color perception Must have normal hearing Security clearance required Must be a U.S. Citizen
Employment and subspecialties
Entry rates ET3-ET2 (E4-E5) specialize as electronics communications technician, electronics data systems technician, or electronics radar systems technician. ET1-ETC (E6-E7) are electronics systems managers.Navy Enlisted Occupational Standard for Electronics Technician (ET). Retrieved 2012-07-16.
Electronics Communications Technicians
Maintain shore-based, ship-based, portable communications equipment, and portable Mechatronic equipment. Specific duties include the following:
All associated cabling, computer, multiplexing, motor, switching, cryptographic, recording, water cooling and air dry systems for communications equipment Analyze equipment operation and performance Troubleshoot using digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other test equipment Repair equipment to the lowest replaceable unit Execute casualty control procedures on failed equipment and restore operability, taking into account mission criticality and redundancies within systems Operate, maintain, and repair motors and motor controls for satellite antennas, radar cooling motor control pumps Maintain and update knowledge of electrical motor characteristics (brush and brushless), fiber optics, soldering repair, electrical safety checks, and test equipment calibration Perform administrative functions that include the updating of casualty reporting messages, technical manuals, equipment maintenance records, and managing test equipment calibration requirements Supervise personnel who maintain tools and test equipment, support logistics operations, and perform verification testing of new systems and equipment
Electronics Data Systems Technicians Maintain data link, inertial navigation, tactical network, message routing, digital production/projection, calibration, fiber optics, micro-miniature module test and repair, computer-based, and peripheral computer systems; analyze equipment operation, establish computer and network configurations, and troubleshoot and repair computer-based equipment to the lowest replaceable unit; execute casualty control procedures, restoring operability for all assigned electronic equipment, recognizing mission criticality and redundancies within systems; perform administrative functions that include the updating of casualty reporting messages, technical manuals, equipment maintenance records, and managing test equipment calibration requirements; complete fiber optic and basic soldering repair, electrical safety checks, and test equipment calibration; and supervise personnel who complete maintenance, conduct tool, MAM, and test equipment inventories, logistics support, and operational verification testing of new systems or equipment.
Electronics Radar Systems Technicians Maintain surface search, air search, and weather radar systems, radar video switchboards, synchros, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment, tactical air navigation equipment, including all associated cabling, cooling water and dry air systems; analyze equipment operation and align, troubleshoot, and repair equipment to the lowest replaceable unit; execute casualty control procedures, restoring operability for all assigned electronic equipment, recognizing mission criticality and redundancies within systems; perform administrative functions that include managing test equipment calibration requirements and the updating of casualty reporting messages, technical manuals, and equipment maintenance records; complete, fiber optic and basic soldering repair, electrical safety checks, and test equipment calibration; and supervise personnel who complete maintenance, conduct tool, MAM, and test equipment inventories, logistics support, and operational verification testing of new systems or equipment.
Required training
Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of the ET rating through the following formal Navy schooling.
School Present Location Approximate Training Time Subjects Training Methods Reference Apprentice Technical Training (ATT) Great Lakes, Ill. 13 Weeks Basic electronics and electronic circuitry, safety, digital theory, microcomputers, fiber optics, test equipment and trouble-shooting techniques. Computer Based Training and laboratory application with multiple choice tests and practical laboratory performance tests. ET "A" School Great Lakes, Ill. 22 Weeks Communications Suite (SATCOM, HF receiver / transmitter), 2D Surface radar transmitters / receivers, Radar Display. Computer Based Training and laboratory application with written tests and practical laboratory performance tests.
After "A" school, ETs continue on to advanced "C" schools. School lengths and content vary, but many colleges and universities offer college credits for these Navy courses.
Electronics Technician Navy Enlisted Classifications The Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) system supports the enlisted rating structure in identifying personnel and billets in manpower authorizations. NEC codes identify a non-rating wide skill, knowledge, aptitude, or qualification that must be documented to identify both people and billets for management purposes. The most current information regarding NECs can be found in the Navy NEOCS Manual.
After 'A' school and between duty assignments ETs will attend advanced 'C' school training. These 'C' school give the ET advanced training in the specific systems that will be required to maintain and repair at their next duty assignment.
There are 62 ET-related NECs.
The follow NEC list is incomplete: NEC Code NEC Title School Locations NEC Code NEC Title School Locations 1402 Tactical Communications Maintenance Technician 1403 AN/WSC-6(V)5 Super High Frequency (SHF) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Maintenance Norfolk, VA 1404 AN/WSC-8 Super High Frequency (SHF) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Maintenance 1405 AN/WSC-6(V)7 Combatant Super High Frequency (SHF) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Maintenance Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA 1406 AN/WSC-6(V)9 Combatant Super High Frequency (SHF) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Maintenance Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA 1407 AN/SSC-12 Shipboard Air Traffic Control Communications (SATCC) Technician 1410 AN/SRC-55(V) HYDRA Technician Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA 1413 Meteorologist Equipment Maintenance Technician Biloxi, MS 1415 Combined Shore Communications Maintenance Technician 1419 Electromagnetic Compatibility Technician Norfolk, VA 1420 Surface HF Communications System Maintenance Technician, src-16 hf data transceiver link-11 San Diego, CA 1424 Communications Equipment (SRQ-4) Technician Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA 1425 Communications Equipment (WSC-3/UHF DAMA) Technician Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA 1428 Small Combatant Communications Electronic Subsystem Technician San Diego, CA 1429 Flight Deck Communications Systems (FDCS) Maintenance Technician 1430 AN/USC-38 (V)2, 3 Maintenance Technician Norfolk, VA