I
attended 54 weeks of Electronics Technician Class "A" School
on Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. The school was split into 6 sections
(ET A-1, A-2, A-3N, ET-N, ET A-3R, and ET-R). Which sections you attended
depended on how much obligated service time you had. Since I re-enlisted
for 6 years (which I never got the big bonus that some did, only a token
$1600), I got the whole ball of wax - all 6 sections. Depending on the
section, I graduated anywhere from two to sixteen - in the top quarter
and above, of my class anyway. I always had trouble with Algebra when
in high school, but I had no difficulty learning it from the very well
trained and experienced Navy Instructors. Also, my attention span and
motivation to learn was a little different now.
Upon
arrival at ET"A" School, I found out that I had made 2nd class
petty officer (Ship Servicemen). This made it much more comfortable
going through "A" School as a 2nd class petty officer, versus
going through as a 3rd class petty officer. I now didn't have to put
up with all the B.S. that the lower rated sailors did. I was put in
a leadership position, in charge of my class. Also, as a petty officer,
the watch standing duties were easier on duty days - except for shore
patrol duty in the EM Club.
Janet
and I settled into a one bedroom apartment on Gough Street in San
Francisco. It was an apartment in an old victorian style building.
I remember the wiring was so old that you couldn't plug very much
into any of the outlets. Plus, we had our car (1964 4-on-the-floor
Chevy Super Sport hardtop) stolen and it was later found on Baker's
Beach stripped. The insurance company paid for putting it all back
together and this time I installed a burglar alarm in it. Sure enough,
a few nights later, I awoke to the alarm going off as they tried stealing
it again. Soon after this attempt, we sold it and bought a VW bus
camper.
While
attending ET-A School, I also attended evening classes at John Adams
Adult High School. I wanted an actual H.S. diploma, not just the GED
H.S. equivalency I currently had. Upon successful completion of these
classes, I obtained my high school diploma. Believe it or not, these
classes were much harder than any of the college classes (associate,
bachelors, or masters degree) that I took later in my career. I'm
glad that I took these courses, especially the English course, because
they sure don't teach English in college anymore.
Upon
graduation, I had orders to the Communications Station at San Miguel
Philippines. My security clearance wasn't back yet, so my orders were
cancelled and I was put in a hold status. I was put to work repairing
radar equipment (primarily AN/SPA-25 Radar Repeaters) at RD "A"
School. Later, I received new orders to the USS Bexar APA-237 in San
Diego, CA.
Ranks
Attained:
Petty
Officer Second Class
Rating
Specialty: Electronics Technician - Communications (ETN2)
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