ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN (ET)


To view a video of this rate, click here.

ETs are responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair and management of sophisticated electronic equipment, including command and control systems, shipboard weapons, guidance and fire-control systems, communications receivers and transmitters, data and voice-encryption equipment, navigation and search radar, tactical and electronic-detection systems, electronic-navigation equipment, and computers.

Types of Duty:

ETs are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam. ETs work out of large and small shops, communications stations, LORAN stations and all major cutters. The large shops are called electronics systems detachments and smaller shops are known as electronic systems support detachment duty. From these units, ETs are dispatched to Coast Guard search-and-rescue stations and smaller cutters to maintain, repair or install communications and navigation systems.
Training Available:

Being an electronics technician requires a vast knowledge of electrical theory along with practical hands-on skills needed to repair and maintain C3 systems. Basic Electronics Technician School is one of the longest in the Coast Guard, at 28 weeks. Located in Petaluma, Calif., (just one hour north of San Francisco), students will learn how to repair and maintain HF SSB transceiver systems, antenna systems, VHF mobile transceivers, direction finders, GPS receivers, small boat radar, depth finders, and integrated control systems. Coast Guard 'C' schools are available to ET school graduates and mid-career ETs who are responsible for maintaining close-in weapons systems, fire control systems, air search radar and large cutter radar, to name just a few. At mid-career, high-performing ETs may compete for selection to the Advanced Avionics Integrated Weapons Systems Maintenance course, a 29-week 'B' school worth 32 semester hours. At the pinnacle of ET education opportunities is the Advanced Computer, Engineering, and Technology education program, which provides two years, full-time, paid-for college for the member to obtain an associate or bachelor's degree in engineering or technology.
Qualifications:

To be an ET, you should have an interest in electronics and computer systems and an aptitude for detailed work, and you should be above average at solving mathematical problems. You must have normal color vision. Practical experience or prior training in electronic systems maintenance and repair is helpful, but not required.

Related Civilian Jobs:

Electronics Technician
Guidance Systems Specialist
Radio and Radar Repair
Computer Technician
Telephone Repair

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Vr,
Chuck

These poor, plain men, dwellers upon the lonely sands of Hatteras, took their lives in their hands, and, at the most imminent risk crossed the most tumultuous sea…and all for what? That others might live to see home and friends. — Annual Report of the U.S. Life- Saving Service, 1885

Recruiting Website

Read here for answers to the most often asked questions about joining the Coast Guard!

I got the ET A school! Im pretty excited... I would like more information... like, what is the chances going ashore vs. going afloat, is it a 8 to 5 job, or is it different. I am married, and although I now this is a sea going service! I just wan to know what to expect! thanks in advance and have a great coastie day!

My son is putting in for this ET A school. I was wondering if we have anyone here that can give the personal side of this rate or their experience in this rate.

I will be an ET, but I'm going through DEPOT in about 30 days and I don't have to go to "A" school. I will post more as I go through the process...

Can anyone describe to me their experiences as an ET? I'm studying for the ASVAB right now. Pretty sure I'll do well. I'm considering full-time and reserves right now. If I do Full-Time it would be for the travel adventure etc. If I do Reserves it's really because I want to be able to finish my Bachelor's without much leftover debt. Although with only 2 years to go I probably won't be accumulating much of it. I also see that there is a lot of reward in returning from bootcamp and receiving training in the Coast Guard, both personally and career-wise. I mostly just want to know the life of an ET. What's good what's bad. Also what kind of personality does it take to be in the coast guard minus all the hokey defending your country with honour blah blah blah. I get that part.

Don't mean to be rude, but not your type of personality I'm afraid -- you would be joing for the wrong reasons (in my opinion) if you just want adventure. Join for your country first, for the job quality and security second, and then for the adventure. Defending your country is no "hokey!"

NOTHING about defending this country is "hokey". You may want to check that attitude.
I agree with christnp. If you want "adventure" and "experience" then apply for a job as an electrician on a cruise ship or for "Whale Wars". You'll waste your time (and the Coast Guard's) by just joining for "experience". ESPECIALLY if you think defending your country is "hokey".

I think you are taking what he said with too much heart. He isn't saying defending our country is hokey... he just wants answers as to what the rate is truly like. Some people will stand on a platform and talk about how they are doing this for the honor & glory of the nation... meanwhile they hate their job, hate their shipmates and couldn't offer a true perspective of the job. It isn't a matter of "for God & country" he is interested in, it is the job itself. The Navy's motto for a long time was "Join the Navy. See the world." There is nothing wrong with joining for the adventure of it all he also talks about the reward of boot camp and training in the Coast Guard. Best wording? Maybe not. Prosecutable offense and not provide any true feedback on the job itself? No, not at all. I can't add anything because I'm not active duty and no one in my immediate circle was an ET that I can even relate a story or two about.

As for the gaining experience... how many people post here "I want to do ME because I plan on becoming a cop and I want the experience." Again, I see nothing in Dave.li's post that he should be told to go away summarily. He wants experience, he wants adventure, he wants the reward of boot camp & training... he doesn't want a dog & pony show with flags waving in a patriotic stance. Everyone wants to know what a particular rate of interest holds for the future. Not to mention he posted the question in exactly the right forum, regarding A school & ET's.

I don't mean to be rude either... but neither one of you have added any insight into what an ET might or might not do... do you know??

Old Guard 2: as usual, you are correct. I'm really bad at reading "tone" in forums.
Dave.li: I apologize if I offended you. As Old Guard 2 points out, I didn't provide any useful information. Perhaps in another 6 months, after I've been an ET for a bit, I'll have some more valuable information for you.

some people join for exactly that, experience, job skills and school. whats wrong with that? if you honor your end of the contract you signed, excel in your everyday duties, and take care of your shipmates, how would you be wasting yours, or the coast guards time? maybe i missed something.................?

As I said, uberchris, I've misread the tone of dave.li's post. When I have something useful to provide, I will post more then.

It's ok, point made, apology offered, we move on. Sometimes the written word can be misinterpreted and read wrong. Hey, even I might have been wrong and Dave might be a fool. But I just didn't take it that way and wanted everyone to read again before an attack party started. That's all. Now let's not get off on other crazy topics, this is one area of the forum that should remain on track.

Anyone that can help Dave and provide an answer as to the life of an ET, I am sure he will greatly appreciate it. This was his first post, let's see what we can muster up to help him out. All friends again, no hurt feelings, everything is just peachy keen my jelly beans.

@dave.li: I too apologize if I was offensive, it could very well be that I was reading the tone incorrectly. As Old Guard 2 eluded to, it is difficult to accurately get a tone when reading. 

With that, I definitely don't think it was worded properly... the "... blah blah blah" portion of the post is what set me on edge and it what likely caused me to miss the overall point of the post. Unfortunately I have no experience in the ET rate, but I too am researching the rate and considering it as a possible CG career path. Again, I apologize if my post was offensive.

I was sure to add in the statement "in my opinion" to hopefully ensure that it was not taken personaly . This is not the proper thread for political debate, so I will refrain from going into any detail concerning some of the other posts in response my comment . Like Old Guard said, move on...

EDIT: P.S., everything is peachy here !