Navy Full Time Support (FTS) sailors are members of the Navy Reserves who perform full-time active duty, receiving the same pay, allowances, and benefits as active duty members.
The purpose of the Full Time Support (FTS) program is to train and administer the Navy Reserve. It is open to both male and female personnel. Enlisted FTS personnel serve in demanding billets both at sea and ashore, providing the support necessary to prepare Navy Reservists to deploy when needed. The primary advantage of FTS over regular active duty is that FTS folks generally spend longer at a single location (they are not re-assigned as often), and there are Navy reserve bases available to be stationed at that are not normally available for active duty sailors.
Enlisted FTS personnel may be assigned to operational units (such as Navy Reserve Force ships and Reserve air squadrons), shore activities (like Navy Operational Support Centers), and majore shore commands (such as the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Personnel Command, and the Navy Reserve Forces Command).
Enlisted ratings (jobs) available in the FTS program are:
AC - Air Traffic Controller
AD - Aviation Machinist’s Mate
AE - Aviation Electrician’s Mate
AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic
AME - Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment)
AO - Aviation Ordnanceman
AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician
AT - Aviation Electronics Technician
AW - Aviation Warfare Systems Operator
AZ - Aviation Maintenance Administrationman
BM - Boatswain’s Mate
CS - Culinary Specialist
DC - Damage Controlman
EM - Electrician’s Mate
EN - Engineman
ET - Electronics Technician
HM - Hospital Corpsman
HT - Hull Maintenance Technician
IC - Interior Communications Electrician
IT - Information Systems Technician
MR - Machinery Repairman
NAC - Naval Air Crew, 82xx
NC - Navy Counselor
PR - Aircrew Survival Equipmentman
PS - Personnel Specialist
SK - Storekeeper
YN - Yeoman
