THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9510310335
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
No, a fire controlman does not make sure fires stay under control. Naval fire controlmen (on surface ships) and fire control technicians (on submarines) are the people who maintain and operate the equipment, including electronics, for the vessel's weapons system. That's all the missiles and guns.
Master Chief Thomas Weber says fire controlman is the best job in the Navy because ``you get to learn all facets of the work. Some sailors only know how to run their equipment, not how to fix it. I would definitely recommend the rate if you like electronics and you want to learn to maintain and operate weapons systems.''
Drawbacks to the job, he said, are being out to sea a lot - all combat ships have close-in weapons systems - and stress. The stress is a result of ``being undermanned right now. Only about 85 percent of the rate is filled. The more weapons systems you have on a ship, the more fire controlmen you need.''
The Navy is looking for people who want to enlist for six years, attend basic electronics school for three months, then take another six to eight months of specialized training to become fire controlmen. There's even a bonus being offered to sign up, ``because it's an important job, and we're short-handed right now,'' he said.
Weber, who is married and has one daughter, is from Cleveland. MEMO: Duty Calls is a new feature on the people and jobs that make up our
military. It will run every other week. If you have a suggestion, call
INFOLINE at 640-5555, category 6301
ILLUSTRATION: B\W Photo
Master Chief Thomas Weber
by CNB