the school isn't terribly hard, sometimes its just alot of stuff thrown at you at once....10k is because its still a critical rate...and I there ratio is about 20 to one male female.
Bonus' are paid based upon multiples and current pay grade, so the bonus will be different for an E4, then an E6. MK-92 school was worth an extra 2 for a multiple. There is currently no bonus' authorized, we are waiting for the message since they just passed the budget. Bonus' albeit nice, are not a reason to choose a rate. Money doesn't make a crappy job good.
I've heard from some people coming out of A school that most of the courses are completely computer based now. Back when I went through it was a mixture of computer based and actual instructor lectures. And the last three phases were hands on troubleshooting. Which can get pretty difficult. But all in all A school wasn't that tough if you applied yourself and studied. I think someone who is weak in math skills may have a hard time with the first couple of phases. Also some advice, think very hard about going to the MK-92 side of the rate. Not that it's a bad field but it's a very complex system and some people take orders to that school because of the SRB and then regret going that way.
Don't go MK-92 just for the money. There are still a bunch of hard nosed FT's that take pride in their abilities to fix and operate a complex fire control system, as well as understand the gun system. If you take 92 school just for the money you will be very disappointed and working for an ex-FT will not be the most fun you have ever had in the CG. It is very time consuming, resulting in long days and lost standdown to the job right. If all you want is the cash without the time and effort play the lottery.
Well said onewhl750. The bonus should not be a driving force or incentive; the way recruiting intended. First ask yourself, would you be happy doing that particular job daily. If you are not sure, then don't commit.
In any case, no amount $$ is worth years of unhappiness. If you are looking for easy money, you have come to the wrong place my friend.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: smirfy,
Speaking as a MK-92 technician and legacy FT, I'll say the MK-92 is either feast or famine. When it works, it works great and for a long time. But, when it breaks, it breaks good and can humble even the most experienced tech. Yes, there are plenty of dedicated MK-92 supervisors who will drive the crew to fix the gear instead of slacking off. But it's possible to have a demanding supervisor in any field. The difference is in the way MK-92 techs are compensated... SRB!
Nearly all ETs will go to sea if they make the CG a career. Some may even work for hard chargers regardless of whether they're in comms, nav, or weapons. So I ask: Would you rather be an ET1 who gets a Zone B SRB of $28k for obligating six years or an ET1/MK-92 who gets $58k for obigating five years, likely after having received a Zone A for $40k? I base my calculations on the new SRB levels that include a 3-point kicker for MK-92 techs for a total multiple of five.
Having served as a MK-92 tech for over 17 years and collected a princely sum of $7500 in SRB money, I'd say, "YES, the job is worth the prospect of collecting between $40-90k... it's not THAT bad, especially these days when the MK-92 techs are allowed to transfer to other aspects of the rating. And, speaking of MK-92 techs serving in other aspects of the rating, only four of the 270s and four of the 378s are currently supervised by legacy-FTs. Most of us dinosaur-FTs have either retired, promoted out of the MK-92 field, or have been assimilated by the rest of the ET field.
Oh, for the OP - The A-school bonus and SRBs are driven by the need for bodies to either enter ET school or reenlist. The A-school bonus would likely go away if the waiting list for ET-A school was well-populated. The SRB would diminish if retention was higher.
Personally, I don't think people shy away from ET-A school because it's hard. I think it's because folks are in a hurry to get on with their careers. A 26-week A-school is a bit of a turn-off to many. Why wait 26 weeks for a crow when you can get one in 10? The bonuses are an incentive to commit to the program... and can even be viewed as compensation for lost wages. Come to think of it, the SRBs can be viewed as a short-term salary matching plan for those who are considering leaving the CG for higher-paying technical jobs.
Since the job market has been a bit rough the last half decade, I have been witness to countless ETs' returning after a few yrs and a few canceling their intended separation. It is quit possible that the rate will be at full capacity very soon; which would eliminate the need for an SRB. That would really be disappointing since I am up for a Zone B next year. But, just like Social Security, it might not be around when it is my turn.
Ed, love what you said about having to work for some crusty old FT, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one out there who is just bitter.
Mr Farrell, boy, what you said about feast and famine is dead on right. I actually named UD 403 on the DALLAS after my ex, cause man was that thing moody.
OP, I'm in the Mobile area, and you can look me up in global, I can talk to the guys at the ESD and see if we can't hook you up with some info.
