Electronics technician (United States Navy)
The United States Navy job rating of electronics technician is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel to enlisted members who satisfactorily complete initial Electronics Technician "A" school training.
History of the Electronics Technician rating
WWII era
The Electronics Technician rating was originally established as Radio Technician 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 rating, and remained until October 1945, when the rating name was changed to Electronic Technician's Mate. 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 rating was disestablished. Former Radarmen, depending on their training, were placed in to the either the established Electronic Technician rating or either of the newly established Operations Specialist or Electronic Warfare Technician ratings.On October 1, 1998 the Data Systems Technicians rating was disestablished. Former Data Systems Technicians were, depending on their training, placed in to either the Electronics Technician or Fire Controlman rating.
Creation of the service ratings ET, ETR, ETV, and ETN
On November 3, 2015 a mostly administrative change was made to the general ET rating. Electronics Technicians who volunteered for submarine duty where redesignated as either Electronics Technician, Submarine, Communications or Electronics Technician, Submarine, Navigation. Nuclear Power trained Electronics Technicians were redesignated as Electronics Technicians, Nuclear Power. Electronics Technicians serving in the service rating Electronics Technician remained designed as Electronics Technician. Electronics Technician is sometimes abbreviated as ETSW when it is necessary to distinguish ET from ETR, ETV, and ETN. 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 fall under the same general rating, share a common history, have similar names and share the same rating insignia the enlistment requirements, initial 'A' school training, specialized 'C' school training, job assignments, 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 1970's, 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. 1st class and chief petty officers did not have a "N" or "R" designation.
Elimination of all naval ratings
On September 29, 2016, the Navy moved away from traditional ratings to an alphanumeric system of Navy Occupational Specialty codes. The ET-related NOS codes were: for ET, B420; for ETR, C126; for ETV, C121; for ETN, D110, D111, or D112.On December 21, 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 = 235
- Must have normal color perception
- Must have normal hearing
- Security clearance required
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
Employment and subspecialties
Electronics Communications Technicians
Maintain shore-based, ship-based, portable communications equipment, and portable Mechatronic equipment, including all associated cabling, computer, multiplexing, motor, switching, cryptographic, recording, cooling water and dry air systems; analyze equipment operation and align, troubleshoot using digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, thermal couples 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 the updating of casualty reporting messages, technical manuals, equipment maintenance records, and managing test equipment calibration requirements;Motors and motor controls for satellite antennas, radar cooling motor control pumps mechanical knowledge of electrical motor characteristics brush and brushless, 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 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 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 | Great Lakes, Ill. | 6 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, 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 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 NavyAfter '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-65 Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Maintenance | Norfolk, VA | |
| 1404 | AN/WSC-8 Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Maintenance | 1405 | AN/WSC-67 Combatant Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Maintenance | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | |
| 1406 | AN/WSC-69 Combatant Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Maintenance | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 1407 | AN/SSC-12 Shipboard Air Traffic Control Communications Technician | |
| 1410 | AN/SRC-55 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 Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA |
| 1425 | Communications Equipment Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 1428 | Small Combatant Communications Electronic Subsystem Technician | San Diego, CA |
| 1429 | Flight Deck Communications Systems Maintenance Technician | 1430 | AN/USC-38 2, 3 Maintenance Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | |
| 1433 | Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Maintenance Technician | 1452 | NAVMACS3 Shipboard Maintenance Technician | San Diego, CA | |
| 1456 | FLTSATCOM Maintenance Technician | 1458 | VERDIN/ISABPS Communications Systems Technician | Norfolk, VA | |
| 1460 | Communications Security Maintenance Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 1465 | Special Maintenance Technician | Fort Gordon, GA |
| 1468 | Special Maintenance Technician | 1471 | URN-25 Tactical Air Navigation Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | |
| 1486 | Single Audio System | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 1491 | FFG-7 Class Navigation Electronics Subsystem Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA |
| 1493 | Tactical Support Communications Replacement Program Maintenance Technician | Jacksonville, FL | 1494 | LHD Class Radio Communications System Maintenance Technician | Dam Neck, VA |
| 1495 | AN/SYQ-13 NAV/C2 Maintainer | 1503 | Radar Technician | San Diego, CA | |
| 1504 | Radar Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 1507 | Radar Technician | San Diego, CA |
| 1510 | Radar Technician | San Diego, CA | 1511 | Radar Technician | |
| 1517 | DASR/STARS Maintenance Technician Pipeline | Pensacola, FL | 1520 | AN/SPS-73 Maintenance Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA |
| 1529 | Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System Maintenance Technician | Pensacola, FL | 1530 | Digital Airport Surveillance Radar | Pensacola, FL |
| 1568 | AN/TPX-42A13 Shipboard DAIR Maintenance Technician | 1570 | Air Traffic Control Communications Technician | Pensacola, FL | |
| 1571 | AN/UPX-29 Ship System Maintainer | Saint Inigoes, MD | 1572 | AIMS System Technician | Norfolk, VA |
| 1574 | DAIR/GCA Maintenance Technician | 1576 | CATC DAIR Maintenance Technician | ||
| 1579 | Precision Approach Radar Technician | Pensacola, FL | 1580 | ASR-8 Maintenance Technician | |
| 1589 | Fleet Electronics Calibration Technician | Biloxi, MS | 1590 | AN/SPN-46 Radar Technician | Pensacola, FL |
| 1591 | Miniature/ Microminiature Module Test and Repair Technicians | Multiple locations | 1592 | AN/TPX-42A14 Shipboard DAIR Maintenance Technician | Pensacola, FL |
| 9509 | 2-M Instructor | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA Whidbey Island, WA ATSUGI JAPAN | 9604 | JTIDS Shipboard Terminal Maintenance Technician | Dam Neck, VA |
| 9605 | Naval Modular Automated Communications Systems II Maintenance Technician | Norfolk, VA San Diego, CA | 9606 | Shipboard Air Traffic Control Radar Technician | |
| 9607 | High Frequency Radio Group Maintenance Technician | San Diego, CA | 9608 | Radar Technician | Norfolk, VA |
| 9610 | Radar Technician | Norfolk, VA | 9611 | AN/SSN-24 Maintainer | |
| 9612 | AN/WSN-7 Operations and Maintenance Technician | Dam Neck, VA | 9613 | Naval Special Warfare Communications Technician | Coronado, CA |
| 9614 | :ru:AN/SPN-35|AN/SPN-35C Maintenance Technician | Pensacola, FL | 9615 | AN/SPS-675 Radar Technician | Norfolk, VA |
Submarines: Electronics Technician Communications (ETR) and Electronics Technician Navigation (ETV)
General description
The Navy's Submarine Electronics / Computer Field offers extensive training in the operation and maintenance of "Today's High Technology" advanced electronics equipment, digital systems and computers used in submarine combat control, sonar, navigation and communications systems. An individual selecting SECF will receive training in electricity, electronics, computers, digital systems, fiber optics and electronics repair.The standards for selection for enlistment in the Navy's Submarine Electronics/ Computer Field are high. Personnel interested in applying for the Submarine Electronics/ Computer Field should be seriously interested in pursuing the challenge this highly technical field offers. They must be mature, ready to take on significant responsibility and willing to apply themselves.
What they do
Volunteers for the Submarine Electronics/Computer Field will specialize in one of four Submarine Ratings, Electronics Technician – Navigation, Fire Control Technician, and Sonar Technician Submarines working in one of four areas: combat systems, communications, navigation or underwater acoustic technologies. All four ratings/specialty areas are heavily involved with computer and electronics systems. The communications specialty is responsible for all operational and administrative aspects of the submarine's radio communication equipment, systems and programs. The navigation specialty is responsible for all operational and administrative aspects of the submarine's navigation and radar equipment, systems and programs.Minimum requirements
- ASVAB: AR + MK + EI + GS = 222 or VE + AR + MK + MC = 222
- Must have normal color perception
- Must have normal hearing
- Top Secret Security Clearance
- Must be U.S. Citizen
- Must volunteer for submarine duty
- Must have no record of conviction by civil court for any offense other than minor traffic
- Moral turpitude offenses are generally disqualifying
- No history of drug abuse.
Required training
Electronics Technician Communication (ETR)
| School | Present Location | Approximate Training Time | Subjects | Training Methods | Reference |
| Basic Enlisted Submarine School | Groton, CT | 4 Weeks | Indoctrination in basic submarine systems. | Group instruction and practical application. | |
| Class "A" Technical School and Specialty Pipeline School | Groton, CT | 14-28 Weeks | Basic electricity, electronics and computer technical knowledge and skills and preparation for communications specialties and assignment on a fast attack or ballistic missile submarine. | Group instruction, practical application and equipment labs. |
Electronics Technician Communication Naval Enlisted Classifications
| NEC Code | NEC Title | NEC Code | NEC Title | References |
| 14AA | Common Submarine Radio Room Maintenance Technician | 14AB | Common Submarine Radio Room Equipment Operator | |
| 14BH | SSN 774 Class Electronic Support Equipment Maintenance Technician | 14CM | SSN Radio Frequency Equipment Technician | |
| 14EM | SSN ESM Equipment Maintenance Technician | 14HH | SSN 21 Class ESM Technician | |
| 14TM | TRIDENT I/II Radio Frequency Equipment Maintenance Technician | 14RO | SSN Radio Frequency Equipment Operator | |
| 14TO | TRIDENT I/II Radio Frequency Equipment Operator | 14ZA | AN/BRD-7 Submarine Radio Direction Finding Set Maintenance Technician | |
| 14ZQ | SSN/SSGN AN/BLQ-10A Submarine Electronic Warfare Support Equipment Operator | 14ZR | SSN/SSBN AN/WLR-8 Submarine Electronic Warfare Support Equipment Operator |
Electronics Technician Navigation (ETV)
| School | Present Location | Approximate Training Time | Subjects | Training Methods | Reference |
| Basic Enlisted Submarine School | Groton, CT | 4 Weeks | Indoctrination in basic submarine systems. | Group instruction and practical application. | |
| Class "A" Technical School and Specialty Pipeline School | Groton, CT | 14-28 Weeks | Basic electricity, electronics and computer technical knowledge and skills and preparation for navigations pecialties and assignment on a fast attack or ballistic missile submarine. | Group instruction, practical application and equipment labs. |
Electronics Technician Navigation Naval Enlisted Classifications
Electronics Technician Nuclear Power (ETN)
Nuclear-trained ETNs perform duties in nuclear propulsion plants primarily in operating, maintaining, and repairing reactor instrumentation and control systems. ETNs may be assigned as an operator to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as an instructor at a Navy nuclear power training command, or as a technician at a shipyard or other nuclear support facility. Additionally ETNs may volunteer for nuclear submarine service. ETNs are the only rating in the Navy that can qualify as a reactor operator of a naval nuclear propulsion plant.Training
ETNs complete several different phases of training in order to be able to operate a naval nuclear propulsion plant. In order to be selected for nuclear training prospective Navy recruits must have a high enough cutscore on the Armed Service Vocational Battery that score being greater than 88 and the Navy Advanced Placement Test that score being greater than 55%. Prospective nuclear recruits are then sent to Navy boot camp where prospective nuclear trainees are selected in a 50-30-20 ratio to be trained as nuclear machinist's mates, nuclear electrician's mate, or nuclear electronics technicians. Those who are selected to be nuclear electronics technicians then enter the Navy Nuclear Pipeline to train to become an ETN.In the first stage of training in the Navy Nuclear Pipeline, prospective ETNs are trained for six months at the Nuclear Field 'A' School at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, SC. The curriculum at NFAS includes a mathematics refresher course, basic electronics theory, analog electronics theory, digital electronics theory, and instrumentation and control equipment theory and maintenance. The curriculum is presented in a high paced manner that ramps up over the term at NFAS in order to prepare students for the difficulties of Nuclear Power School. The curriculum is very similar to that which is presented to nuclear electricians except that nuclear electricians train in electrical motor and generator theory and maintenance instead of I&CE theory and maintenance. Due to the specialized training given at NFAS, ETNs who have trained there instead of another ET 'A' school are not qualified to be assigned to billets designed for non-nuclear ETs. Personnel who are disqualified from Navy nuclear work or who fail to qualify for Navy nuclear work later in the pipeline are reclassified and retrained into another rating in order to remain in the Navy. ETN is not eligible for direct conversion to ET. This means that for an ETN to become and ET they must attend the ET 'A' school.
In the second stage of training in the Navy Nuclear Pipeline, ETNs are trained for six months at the Nuclear Power School at the NNPTC. The curriculum for ETNs at the Nuclear Power School includes a higher level mathematics refresher course, introduction to nuclear propulsion systems, Navy nuclear mechanical, electrical, and electronics system design, reactor theory, health physics, basic materials science, and chemistry as it applies to nuclear power plants. The curriculum is similar for MMNs, EMNs, and ETNs, except that each rating focuses more on their particular nuclear system design.
In the third and final stage of training in the Navy Nuclear Pipeline, ETNs are trained for six months at one of four Navy nuclear prototype training units. Two NPTUs are moored training ships using S5W reactors located at the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, SC., and two additional NPTUs are land-based prototype units using a S7G reactor and a S8G reactor located in Saratoga Springs, NY. The curriculum for ETNs at an NPTU includes detailed health physics training, design, operation, and maintenance of electronics systems for the NPTU, nuclear watchstanding procedures, and nuclear casualty procedures. Unlike the first two stages of the Navy Nuclear Pipeline where the curriculum is presented in a typical classroom format, training at an NPTU is self-motivated training where students are required to research different aspects of a nuclear propulsion plant design, operation, or theory and demonstrate this knowledge in an oral interview with a qualified nuclear instructor. Additionally, ETNs must perform graded watches under the instruction of a qualified nuclear instructor where they operate a particular piece of nuclear equipment or respond to a casualty. The culmination of training for an ETN is an oral board where an ETN must demonstrate the knowledge of all procedures, equipment, theory expected for a nuclear reactor operator. Completion of NPTU qualifies an ETN to stand watch on the NPTU or to train to operate nuclear propulsion plants on a nuclear aircraft carrier or submarine. Additionally, it gives the individual the ETN Navy Enlisted Classification, and the individual is then said to be "nuclear qualified."
Upon completion of the Naval Nuclear Pipeline, most nuclear qualified ETNs are sent to nuclear aircraft carriers or nuclear submarines. On a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, ETNs are sent to a nuclear training division where they train to qualify to operate the nuclear reactors of the ship in a similar way to NPTU for about six months prior to being sent to a reactor control division. In contrast, on a submarine ETNs are directly assigned to the Reactor Controls division and are directed to qualify different watches incrementally. Due to the smaller number of personnel on a nuclear submarine, ETNs must also cross qualify on several nuclear electrician watches. Since ETNs are required to stand watches, perform maintenance, and train and qualify on additional submarine systems, it is not uncommon for it to take over 12 months for an ETN to become fully qualified as a reactor operator, shutdown reactor operator, and all intermediate watches. Upon subsequent transfer to an NPTU or another nuclear ship, operators are required to re-qualify the same watches in only about 6 months.
Even upon completion of being fully qualified on all ETN watches, additional proficiency and casualty training is required for all ETNs. On a ship this generally includes general Engineering or Reactor Department training, Reactor Controls division training, periodic exams and interviews, monitored maintenance and operations, periodic watch re-qualifications, and monitored tactical or casualty drills.
Usually after an ETN is "fully qualified" the individual is sent to an "in-rate" technical school ETMS where the technician studies electronic troubleshooting and repair on shipboard equipment. Completion of this school allows the technician to be designated with the NEC 3373.
Senior ETNs are expected to qualify for senior supervisory watches. Self-motivated training for this includes the detailed operations of all nuclear systems on a ship focusing on the big picture view of nuclear operations and casualty response. The training time required to qualify for senior supervisory watches depends on the individual.