What is the difference between "A" School, and "C" School when in...?

Question

terms of the U.S. MIlitary? Thanks.

Alright thanks. So A School is training for your rate, and C is added on training. So a Boatswain Mate "A" School, and a Operation Specialist, "C" School. One more quick ? Did not want to start another topic relating to this. I am probably going to forgo and join the USCG. Since I am in college they have a program where boot one summer, and training the next summer for your rate. Has anyone ever served first, and then gone to "A" School after? Thanks.

Answer 1

A school is for a person just entering a specialty (called a rate in the Navy). In many cases the class is attended just after boot camp.

C school is a continuation of specialty instruction and is for people that have been in the rate for some time. They often cover a more specific aspect of the rating.

Answer 2

A School is the basic training for a particular rating. C School is further training, usually a specific system or skill within the rating or sometimes it can be out of rate training.

For example: went through EW A school, was an EW operator upon successful completion. Followed with C School as a SLQ-32 Maintenance Technician, which was a specialty within the EW rating. Later went to an out of rate C School for JOTS, which is a C School for the OS rating.

Answer 3

"A" school is the basic training for your rate. Here you will learn the building blocks and general functions of what your rate does as a whole. For example, ET (electronics technician) "A" school you'll learn basic electronics then go into radar and communications theory and functions.

"C" school is a specialty within your rate. So if you're an ET after you finish "A" school you may be sent to "C" school where you'll learn more in depth information on a particular system. There are many different "C" schools and dependng on how long you stay in you may be lucky enough to attend more than one, making you a much more useful sailor because you'll have expertise in more than one thing.
That being said, not everyone gets a "C" school. Some may go out to a ship before they get a chance at a "C" school. It all depends on the needs of whatever branch you'rein at the time.

I was an ET and after I completed "A" school I went to "C" school for an air traffic control radar system.

Answer 4

A and C school has to do explicitely with the US Navy.

An A school is a basic school to get your rating.

If you search a navy website they list all the ratings

Here are some examples

HM-Hospital Corpman -Medic for Army (What I was)
YN-Yeoman-Administrative

Typically you will straight to your A school after bootcamp, unless you went in undesignated (which is a dumb idea)

If you do well in A school you may be offered a C school. A C school is a specialty school. In the HM rating there are tons of C schools.

Example HM C-schools
X-ray tech
Respiratory Tech
Cardiology Tech.
Lab Tech

As you can see these schools are more specialized. Almost every A school have C schools.

In summary:

A school basic training to enter a rate (a job field)
C school specialty training within the rate

Answer 5

Oh I wish I could access the CANTRAC so I could give you the precise definition !!

As I recall, "A" school is a RATE specific basic technical training course... eg, AW A School (once held at NAS Memphis in Millington, Tn).

A "C" school is a follow-on course for specific equipment or tasking, FRAG training (Fleet Replacement Air Group) which will train pilots, aircrew, and maintenance troops on a specific airframe

Answer 6

A school is your basic knowledge schooling to be efficient in your rate. C schools are more specialized.

Answer 7

just read davidim711 he gave you the right answer.

Answer 8

If i am not mistaken, A school is for the "airdales" and C is for the others.. I forgot.. I was an airdale, and went to A school in MS.

Answer 9

b school..