CTN

Susan - I'm in Cleveland too!

That IS a coincidence!

Sorry! But once clockard gets all that snow in Geneva - if it ever gets here - you'll be glad you're on the west coast!

Guess so!  (Mine are LOL!)

You betcha - all smart kids! We should arrange to meet!  Maybe you'll get snow this weekend!

we should plan to meet - let's make a date!

And we should plan on something centrally located for everyone.  Susan, where do you live (city)?  We got snow bot obviously not as much as Geneva!

Congrats Susan on your son's promotion!! I got a call from mine last night and he is off training for several weeks and stuck in the hotel room with food poisoning! LOL! He sounds miserable but hopes to be back after just staying in bed for one day. That is of course a mom moment where you feel helpless!

Thanks Clockard, He called last night from Walmart asking where to find something like adult pedialite , he is still feeling rough.

Hey Karen, Been there and am praying for your son. 

Hey Karen,

 Praying they will roll him back to the next class and not make him leave the school.

Karen - That is totally sad.  Prayers be with him.

I'm not sure if your son is eligible, but he might want to look into this early out program which runs until Sept 2013.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/...

Read this too...

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/04/navy-early-out-program-042511w/

My son already had "secret" clearance from BUDs but it was about a month and 1/2 before he classed up. When he got to Meade it was around 4 months on hold until he got his final clearance and could start work. The Navy is a lot of hurry up and wait but once they are finally in their job it's great.

My son was in the process of obtaining his clearance for CTN when he first entered BC.  I did have a "visitor", and so did several other moms in my PIR group.  All told, it took all of BC and then a few weeks at Corry.  He received his "badge" to enter the buildings for class about a week before he classed up.  It may be that the SBI clearance takes a little longer as opposed to the other lower clearances.

So glad to hear that, Karen!

good news, karen! these kids sure seem to rebound and prosper. good for him.

Robin, my CTN is sitting here with me right now. i asked for course advice. Your daughter should quickly get with people from the classes above her and learn the effective way to study for the course. Study groups are great, It takes a little while to gauge the course, but after a short time you will develop a pattern and it will get "easier". It feels like it takes forever to get to 1/2 way point, and after that the course flies and is over before you know it. Good luck to her.

yay, Robin! One test at a time. That is the way to get to the end in one piece! Good for her.

Robin, LOL, I totally understand... it is an immense feeling. Oh, and waiting for them to call and tell you, nerve-racking! Then there was that one time I received the tearful "I failed" call at about noon my time. Each test day noon became the doomsday hour! LOL. All part of the experience and great memories. ENJOY!

Oh dear. LOL. Did I say something the wrong way? Of course you are proud of her! As you should be! These kids are doing great things. 

Nope... the year my sailor went through boot and then A school was the most emotional I can remember. The ups and downs were incredible. Each test is a big deal and big deals deserve gushy celebrations in my book. Once it is all done we settle back down into the calmness. Gush away. Everyone here should understand!

Congratulations to your daughter robin. I was so happy when graduation day came for my son. He had been at BUDs in Coronado but dropped after pneumonia and getting a foot infection from a stingray sting. He was lucky to get into JCAC. He went from full throttle physical to full throttle academic. He worked very hard though and now he is at Ft. Meade and is excelling in(and liking) his job. Good luck to your daughter in the rest of the class!

My son is in JCAC which is set to graduate March 23.  But he has still not heard where he is headed next.  Does anyone have a sailor in this class who has heard where they are headed next?  I'm getting antsy waiting to know.

This is good.... It just came out today....

Cryptologic Technician (Networks) 1st Class (IDW/EXW) Ricky Durr is the only CTN aboard Vinson. Listen as he explains his role in computer network defense for the strike group.

http://cvn70blogspot.tumblr.com/post/18909412434/cryptologic-techni...

@ robin... my sailor failed one test... in the first month. that was a god sent since failing it taught him how to study correctly (didn't have to study to know the details intimately and be able to use them, but more to know and not forget all the details for the test) and to study each night whether he felt he needed to or not (since they were learning so very much at one time). that was his method, but everyone is different. and honestly, I judged how hard he thought the test was going to be off of the panicked "send out a prayer request" the night before a test. This request was from someone who was never particularly religious! LOL.So... how many requests did I send out? I'm thinking all but two tests (from the very end) got one. It is not an easy course. That said, his class had only one person fall back. Everyone else graduated together. Just support her, and pray for her. She will do fine!

Hey all,

Sorry for being UA.  My daughter is in week 2 of boot camp and I spend a lot of time writing.  She tells me about 5 gals have no family writing them, so I have to come up with various letters to each so they have don't have the same letter to talk about.  

Secondly, this totally sucks, but CTN is really, really overmanned.  They are beginning to ask people to cross-rate to CTR when they submit their PTS.  This is not a good thing.  If this happens, they need to start researching jobs in the civilian sector that uses their skills as CTN's.  There is way more money to be made as a skilled CTN.  They need to starting thinking on their options.

Craig ... my son is in A school for CTN and is due to graduate 7/5. Does this also apply to him? He hasn't mentioned anything to me; he's in for 6 years plus 2 years reserve. And sorry, what is PTS? Thanks.

Thanks for clarifying this for me. I don't understand why more aren't taking civilian jobs either; supposedly they pay really, really well.  My son won't finish his 6 years active till he's 31.  He really wants to do DEVGRU but if he doesn't, I would imagine he will want to go into civilian life after his 6 years especially since he has a college degree.

basic, craig, basic training. boot=Navy ;o) About being over manned, my sailor tells me that the # of sailors that have cross rated INTO ctn will hurt them come time to test for E-5. That they have many years and badges more then our newbies thus will generally be promoted first. Not that they don't deserve it (they have paid their dues) It just is different than the E-5 testing from a short time ago. Or so i am told. 

ps... did your daughter get to keep her cell phone? 

sammy - Yea they keep their cell phones.  Originally I thought it was the stupidest thing ever.  But now, I've changed my mind.  The reason is they keep the cells locked up, and they can only use them when the RDC say it's ok (just like the Navy).  However, when the time comes their is no waiting to use a phone, they just turn them on and dial.  The RDC's can get everyone in & out within 20 minutes, everyone.  I totally think it's the smartest thing ever

Per the cross-rating.  Yea, it sucks for those that are true CTN's (ie the ones that came in originally as CTN's).  Their Time in Service (TIS) gives them a lot more points.  But where the cross-rating guys will fail is they are not use to the lingo or mission.  I think it will actually equal out for the test.  The reason is they cross-rated guys will do really bad on the rating related questions but will do great on the General Navy question.  The true CTN's will do great on the Rating related questions, and will do ok on the General Navy questions. So, I think it's kind-of equal...

craig... i went through the same thoughts when i heard about the cell phone. in the end, it makes it so much easier for all, but then, hahaha, those airmen don't get to live out the tradition of standing in line at the phone (they get patio time a lot more than SR's do). Bet she is liking not having her hair cut, too! 

good to hear you think the testing will be similar. I know with the new e-4/housing rule, mine will be testing for freedom from roommates!!!! lol he says his dorm is much worse than corry.

Can they make them crosstrain before their six year contract is up? I know my son told me he is going to hurry to complete his degree before his contract is up because they have been told that they will be asked to crosstrain more than likely. He is now considering PA school after getting out.  

Hey all,

My son just got to Pcola yesterday. Do they have wifi and can he have a TV?

Proudmom,

Do you know what side your son's barracks are on?  There's the CT side, and the IT side, and it's not split up by rate.  The barracks are laid out differently.

On the CT side, buildings have quads with one main room and four sleeping rooms.  The main room has a TV in it already, but from what I can remember there isn't any reason why they can't have a TV in their own room.  They might need to be able to lock it up, so a big TV wouldn't be a good idea.  I've never been in the rooms over on the IT side, so I can't speak to that.

As for WiFi, there were a few places that were hooked up, but if the students want WiFi in their rooms they need to get a contract with the local ISP, and I remember that being a pain.

Hope this helps.

D for Megan he is on the CT side. Do you know where they can go to get wifi?

It's been awhile since I've been there, but I think I remember there being dayrooms on each side that have WiFi.  If not, there are computers with internet access in the bowling alley.

Can a CTN get stationed in Japan? That is where my son would like to go but I read somewhere that they won't send a CTN there.

proud - He really needs to look that up himself.  You might want him to read this:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/ctratemoms/forum/topics/what-is-a-...

If he doesn't want to buy one, have him go to his career counselling office and log in from there....

Hello Everyone, I finally made it to this site. My son is a CTN, began his classes on May 7th after being on hold since Ap. 16 when he arrived.

Wow, reading through the msg. it looks like lots of sailors want to go to Japan, my son as well. From talking to our recruiter, he says if your sailor stays on top of his class (academically) he will have the top choice of going where he wants to go. It looks like my son has a good chance of going to Japan as well as others.

D for Megan, haven't heard about the E6/E7 status for Japan, hopefully it's not true and our boys/girls will have their choice.

Ok, need some help here... my son's bday is coming up and i'd like to send him a cake. Has anyone had this experience? If so, who did you go thru to order a cake? Not having good luck on this project :-(   HELP!

Rose

Rose - They only want E5 and fresh E6's in Japan.  If your close to making Chief they don't want you because your more focused on making E7, and E4's are just too fresh and don't have the experience yet.  

btw:  Wow, you are a great mom!  Usually it's just us dads that do the cake thing.  Truly the hardest part I've found is shipping the girl.  j/k

Happy Friday!  I haven't been on in awhile ... haven't had any questions or comments ... but I've been keeping up.  My son graduates as a CTN on July 6th and has gotten written orders - surprisingly (to me!) he is going to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.  This was the last thing I expected.  Anybody else familiar with being ordered to an AFB this way?

I'm sure he didn't, but he's doing the "I go where the Navy needs me" thing.  He said another classmate and two more in the class graduating behind him are being posted there.

Debbie, I just got back from there. It's called Medina Texas.  It actually is part of the Lackland Air Force base (LAFB).  It's on the west side of LAFB.  

It's actually a brand new base that isn't on the maps yet.  I took these pictures just last week.

The Site:

The Site:

The Site:

The Site:

The Galley:

The Galley:

The Barrack:

The Barrack:

The Barrack:

btw: Click on pictures to make bigger...