Field in custom node tpl - Simple issue that this newb can't figure out
Arpitr was correct but I was also referencing the wrong variable.

The foreach loops states
        foreach ($a_field_collection_item as $a_field_collection_item_object ) {

I guess I just wasnt paying attention. I used this:

    print render($a_field_collection_item-&gt;field_service);


but I should have used this:

    print render($a_field_collection_item_object -&gt;field_service);


Final solution for how to theme a field collection in a node template

My content is called opportunities. So in my node--opportunities.tpl.php I put:

    if (!empty($content['MY_FIELD_COLLECTION'])) {
      hide($content['MY_FIELD_COLLECTION']);

      print '&lt;div class="ec-collection"&gt;';

      foreach ($content['MY_FIELD_COLLECTION']['#items'] as $entity_uri) {

        $a_field_collection_item = entity_load('field_collection_item', $entity_uri);

            foreach ($a_field_collection_item as $a_field_collection_item_object ) {

                print $a_field_collection_item_object-&gt;field_service['und'][0]['entity']-&gt;title;
                print $a_field_collection_item_object-&gt;field_service_multiplier['und'][0]['value'];
                print $a_field_collection_item_object-&gt;field_extend_service_total['und'][0]['value'];

            }
    }
   print '&lt;/div&gt;' . "\n"; 
   }