what are the major differences between these two rates? what can i expect to get from both of them - and what is the difference of where they are stationed?

The simple difference is ET's repair/maintain electronics such as receivers, transmitters, radars, crypto gear, etc. IT's maintain computer and telephone systems, 1MCs, 21MCs, etc. Now to get specific. Some boats don't have ITs, so ETs take care of the computer and telephone systems along with the PA system. It all depends on what unit you are stationed at. LORAN stations don't have ITs stationed at them. ESUs/ESDs usually have both ETs and ITs. There are sometimes more ETs stationed on ships that ITs.

Big sign on bonus if you go ET. Any seaman in teh fleet can get $8000 upon graduation of ET A-School. You don't get that deal with IT A. Consider why they offer those deals before your jump on the money.

Your Avatar Rocks!

If youre an ET you work with Electronic components that are decades old.

If you are an IT you work with software that is a decade old.


actually....a lot of et and it stuff tends to be integrated. especially on land. Where there are remote "high sites" they operate over copper lines.these are leased from the phone company and even tho they are technically phone lines, theres no dial tone on them and they arent used for phone purposes so theres a little controversy as to who maintains them.because theres a radio on one end and a radio remote on the other. So there are some situations in which its alittle foggy, however usually its more clear cut.If its used for voice or data comms, and its not a radio, then its IT gear.Everything else is maintained by the ETs.
ETs have a whole slew of gear to maintain.Radars, GPS systems, depth finders, radios, various sensors, and on a boat since youre away from other support, probably enything else electronic, like the COs microwave....I really think its a couple of rates that will constantly be evolving and will most likley see anther merger in the next 15 years or so.Technology is just moving too fast for change not to occur. Buth have thier pros and cons, just like any rate...Pick the one that best suits YOU. And do yourself a favor, visit an ESD. Chances are youll spend some time at one as either.

ET--- a rate that has little component troubleshooting just changing out equiptment.


IT---- Dying rate, being taken over by the civillian sector..

So pick your poison..

why does everyone make any rate that is ever questioned about sound so terrible on these forums..all i ever see is "hope you like standing long, boring watches, then more long, boring watches" or "they don't do anything" or "the rate is dying"...is there anything positive of being an it? or an et? heh..

I actually like long boring watches. That means the Coast Guard is doing it's job, and I can study in peace.... How about that...?

quote:

Originally posted by Big_Q_36:
I actually like long boring watches. That means the Coast Guard is doing it's job, and I can study in peace.... How about that...?

My cat helps me study.

quote:

Originally posted by 867_5309:

quote:

Originally posted by Big_Q_36:
I actually like long boring watches. That means the Coast Guard is doing it's job, and I can study in peace.... How about that...?

My cat helps me study.

There's something wrong with your cat...he's not interested in the mouse.

If nothing else...at least we can provide some dry...boring...lame...humor. :P

quote:

Originally posted by ewfwefwef:
why does everyone make any rate that is ever questioned about sound so terrible on these forums..all i ever see is "hope you like standing long, boring watches, then more long, boring watches" or "they don't do anything" or "the rate is dying"...is there anything positive of being an it? or an et? heh..

ET--- a rate that has little component troubleshooting just changing out equiptment.


IT---- Dying rate, being taken over by the civillian sector..

So pick your poison..

What was untrue about my statement?

Soundoff you are not totally correct. While I worked at ESU Seattle, Coasties built servers and workstations, completed backups, installed software and hardware and handled many computer troubleshooting problems dealing with system administration. It will depend on what unit you transfer to. If you go to a ship, there are no civilians there to fix the problems.

WOW.. been out way to long.. IT/ET/OS... not sure who does what anymore.. TC's, who use to do the bulk of computer stuff in my day, along with radio/comms tasks, we, the TC's would operate and break the radios and the ET's would fix it. We wouldn't like how they fixed it and break it again. As far as computers go on most of the ships in the day, ET's wouldn't go near the computers.
A. Because they didn't have a clue.
B. Because they knew better.
C. Because they didn't want the extra hat.

(A), well, some did have a clue but others might have and didn't act like it.

Also back in the day, TT's had the chance to jump on the "IT" side of the house but didn't want it or was late to the meeting and some RM stood up and said since we "work with them all the time, it makes since we get the job" and that's why most RSM's were RM's. Depending on the area, YN's, SS's (FS now), and yes.. even some BM's got the job. But most PC issues ended up on the RM/TC/??'s lap.. So, who does comms on a ship now? The mess cooks?

quote:

So, who does comms on a ship now? The mess cooks?

The most senior FN

IT vs. ET. Thatsa great question.
Since I'm an IT, I can only give you my opinion of the IT field.

The ET experience goes as far as I hear terms like "Quantar", "73 Radar" and "Heliax" and then the ET's leave the office. Then they come back later. Thats all I know about the ET's in my shop.

HOWEVER.....

As an IT, I can tell you that I love my job. I love the work that we do. And it is always diverse and entertaining.

One day I will be sitting in front of a computer working on remedy. I'll be resetting passwords, configuring permissions, and doing remote backups. Thats not very glorius. The next day, I will be climbing a telephone pole to troubleshoot why a T-1 isnt working on a tactical radio site. Upon completion of that, I could be on a cutter rebuilding a workstation and repairing a broken fiber connection.

The work that I do is challenging. Its not always a cut and dry solution to every problem. I see things that make my jaw drop on a daily basis. I recently received a telephone call from a non-rate saying that he didnt have any programs listed when he hit his start button. After troubleshooting and paying some close attention on a remote connection, I noticed that he was closing the startup script windows when logging on to the workstation. He was essentially cutting himself off at the knees. It took a while to fiogure out what he was doing. That call... was difficult since I wasnt able to be sitting there right next to him.

We get easy work as well. we reset passwords. Configure voicemail. Backup files. Explain to Lt. Commanders that the reason their computer doesnt work is cause the cord "slipped" out of the wall when he wasnt looking. It's fun. I really enjoy it.

We still do work that most would consider to be the work of a TT. We pull cable. We test grounding. We install demarcation boxes. Shoot tones over long distance wiring runs. Its not always glamerous, and its not always easy. And sometimes it's even dirty and a little scary. But knowing that the job that I"m doing is keeping the rest of the coast guard running, and making sure the boats are doing their job is a great feeling.

How many BM's do you know that can honestly say that they can do their job without us? NONE! Their phoens wouldnt work, their e-mail wouldnt work, and their high site radios wouldn't be tuneable for comms.

Mk's and BM's make the boats move. Officers make sure we have marching orders. But in the long run... without us... the Coast Guard grinds to a halt.

I LOVE my job. I could talk about it for days on end. And if you want to talk about it or have serious questions, you can always ask me. drop me a line. We have the ET's in the shop and I can get them to answer any questions you might have as well.

Remember though.. if you go ET, IT, or YN, it is all about doing something you love, find to be rewarding, and get personal enjoyment from. Choose your rate, choose your fate.

Send me a mail if you got questions.

garen.c.anderson@uscg.mil

quote:

Originally posted by MarinePlayingCoastie:

quote:

So, who does comms on a ship now? The mess cooks?

The most senior FN

I can see it now. New SA reports aboard, has a choice now. Messcook or radiowatch..

Garen.. on a serious note, why does the CG use a T1 for a radio site? Do you use a full T1 or are you only using 1 DS0 out of the 24 channels? Bandwidth thing? I remember when I was Gru Ohio rvr, we had 12 highlevel sites but they used one DS0 per site (just like a typical phone line). We even had a hertz generator so we could test it with 1800hz tone. Sometimes, this would clear/unhange the line when the site stopped working. So, have a little background with phone systems, I was just wondering about the T1 usage.

quote:

We test grounding. We install demarcation boxes.

we install.... oh wait its all contracted out. nevermind. I was rather disapointed to find that any new install was contracted out to civilians just so we could come back and fix all the bugs left over with little to no documentation afterwards. Oh well what are ya gonna do

quote:

Originally posted by tc1uscg:

quote:

Originally posted by MarinePlayingCoastie:

quote:

So, who does comms on a ship now? The mess cooks?

The most senior FN

Garen.. on a serious note, why does the CG use a T1 for a radio site? Do you use a full T1 or are you only using 1 DS0 out of the 24 channels? Bandwidth thing? I remember when I was Gru Ohio rvr, we had 12 highlevel sites but they used one DS0 per site (just like a typical phone line). We even had a hertz generator so we could test it with 1800hz tone. Sometimes, this would clear/unhange the line when the site stopped working. So, have a little background with phone systems, I was just wondering about the T1 usage.

He may have a special site , however all ours are just conditioned four wire lines.No T1s on the high sites. And we have PLENTY of the sites to deal with on the gulf coast.ITELLYAWHUT...
Not discounting his account, i dont know what is all out there, as im allways running across new situations. all the lines to our High site huts are analog. Which is why when we have an issue with one on the telcos side, its tough for them to find anyone to work on it, because most techs coming into the industry are only trained on digital lines.at least thats the word from them.

I was told it was a T1. I know that it is a 4 wire circuit, it goes to a T1 card.. and it isnt plugged into anything. We just have a loopback dongle plugged into it right now.

I dont have much info on the site other than I prepped the lines and got to dangle from the telephone pole during the install.

On the flip side of the telephone pole coin though.... 4 months previous, I was up the same pole troubleshooting pairs in the snow, at 1am with 40 knot winds.

Dont get me going on snow Garen !


IT2 Keith ROse
ESD Sault Ste Marie, MI