The future may be bright for Navy Cryptologists in a cyber-unknowing world.
But first, precisely what is a Navy Cryptologist? Secrets may not make friends, but they certainly win wars.
Since the mid-1920s, the United States Navy has developed and implemented top-of-the-line cryptology technology to intercept and decode messages and military strategies worldwide.
Highly trained and hyper-focused Sailors called Cryptologic Technicians, or Cryptologists, serve as the U.S. Navy’s modern-day code talkers.
The Cryptologic Technician community comprises five subspecialties, each specializing in a different part of America’s cryptologic warfare strategy.
Navy Cryptologic Technicians support the U.S. military’s intelligence mission by conducting top-secret operations, including collecting, interpreting, and disseminating susceptible information.
Challenging Career as a Navy CryptologistHow Do I Become A Navy Cryptologist?
Applicants interested in becoming a Navy Cryptologic Technician must meet specific requirements to qualify for this compassionate work.
Applicants must have a high school diploma, and like all military hopefuls, potential Cryptologic Technicians must complete the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
The ASVAB is designed to assess your competency in approximately ten different areas to determine the Navy jobs for which you are best suited.
To qualify for the Cryptologic Technician rating or CT, a candidate’s score requirements vary based on which of the five programs they are interested in. However, the higher a candidate can score overall, the better their chances of obtaining a CT rating.
The CT rating is between a four- or six-year enlistment commitment, depending on the extended training requirements for a selected subspecialty.
CTs can often obtain automatic advancement to the pay grade of E4 and a monetary bonus as part of their initial enlistment contract.
A Cryptologic Technician and their immediate family must be a U.S. citizen and must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Security/SCI clearance.
Cryptologic Technicians in the Navy
Cryptologic Technicians are split into five subspecialties:
- Cryptologic Technician – Collection (CTR)
- Cryptologic Technician – Networks (CTN)
- Cryptologic Technician – Technical (CTT)
- Cryptologic Technician – Maintenance (CTM)
- Cryptologic Technician – Interpretive (CTI)
Each subspecialty plays a vital role in military intelligence operations.
Cryptologic Technician – Collection (CTR)
Cryptologic Technicians – Collection operate the ultramodern cryptologic computer systems used to conduct the Navy’s intelligence operations.
They collect and exploit signals of interest, control access to highly classified material, and provide tactical intel support to naval combat units.
CTR “A” School is approximately 16 weeks at the Center for Information Warfare Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida.
Cryptologic Technician – Networks (CTN)
Cryptologic Technicians – Networks identify and analyze classified information collected through intelligence-gathering operations.
They provide data for network products and conduct computer network operations to support the military intelligence community worldwide.
They will often provide network Indications and Warnings (I&W), initiate Attack Sensing and Warning (AS&W) procedures, and network risk mitigation and vulnerability assessments for classified network systems.
CTN “A” School is roughly 23 weeks, immediately followed by a 7-week advanced training course.
Both schools are at the Center for Information Warfare Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida.
Cryptologic Technician – Technical (CTT)
Cryptologic Technicians – Technical operate and maintain electronic sensors and advanced computer systems that collect, analyze, and exploit electronic intelligence.
They contribute to a unit’s defense shield, disseminate Indications and Warning (I&W) alerts, provide Anti-Ship Missile Defense (ASMD), and deliver tactical guidance to theatre warfare commanders.
CTT “A” school is around eight weeks after successfully completing the 5-week prep course.
A Navy CTT will follow up their initial training with a 7 to 10-week advanced training course.
All CTT schools are at the Center for Information Warfare Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida.
Cryptologic Technician – Maintenance (CTM)
Cryptologic Technicians – Maintenance performs preventive and corrective maintenance on electronic cryptologic systems used for analysis, monitoring, tracking, identification, electronic attack, and physical security.
In short, CTMs are responsible for the maintenance needs of the cryptologic community’s electronic systems.
CTM “A” School is 16 weeks after completing the 10-week CTM prep course.
Both schools are at the Center for Information Warfare Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida.
Cryptologic Technician – Interpretive (CTI)
Cryptologic Technicians – Interpretive are the U.S. Navy’s interpreters
These highly sought-after Sailors are trained to conduct foreign language interpretation, conversational analysis, and intelligence gathering.
CTIs will conduct extensive language fluency training in Arabic, Russian, Persian-Farsi, Chinese, Korean, or Spanish
CTI “A” School is broken into two phases:
Phase One is between 27 to 64 weeks, depending on which language the Sailor is assigned
Phase Two is 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the language assigned.
CTIs attend the prestigious Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey, California.
Navy Cryptologist Summation
Regardless of your path in the Navy cryptology community, state-of-the-art training and unparalleled experience will propel you into a lifetime of adventure.
Not everyone is cut out for a job like this, but if you are interested in working deep within the confines of the military intelligence community, talk to your local Navy recruiter about how to get started on your cryptologic journey.