Cryptology ~ CTI ~ CTM ~ CTN ~ CTR ~ CTT ~ CWT Corry Station Pensacola Florida and Monterey California

cinder and navymom3, where in Japan are your Sailors stationed?  My husband, daughter and I are in Misawa Japan (my husband is a CTR) and our son is going through CTN "A" school in P-cola :-)

sailorwifenmom my son is in Yokosuka and is CTM. He says it is snowing today and it is a heavy wet snow. I bet you are getting snow also.

sailorwife, my son is in Pensacola going through c school for CTT.

Woo-hoo!!!

They are finally starting on the new barracks at Corry.  The new barrack is going to be awesome.  It's going to be located between the mail room, and the mini NEX.  In my days is where the old recreation center was.  It will be right across the street from bldg 511/513.

It's fenced in now and ready to go....  Woo-hoo!!!!

If anyone is going down to Corry, can you get a better picture of the sign?

Does that $17 million include the $300 toilet seats? lol

Nice to see that they are cleaning up Corry. My son lived in the ghetto for 10 mos and while he had great times there, he was happy to leave. He did finally got his car! :) Now to the next question: He is a direct support CTR in Hawaii and we are wanting to visit at the end of the summer or early fall. He hasn't really started his job yet so I am not really sure how it works. I know he ships out to various places with only a few days notice so we are thinking that he needs to request leave during the time we visit.  Can he just request leave in advance so we can be sure that he can spend time with us? or will he still be called out even if his leave is approved?

cinder - Apparently it was a total miscommunication (imagine that in the military) he do not get orders.

That's to bad, but that is the Navy for you.  The should be done with school May 11th by my calculations, so there is plenty of time.  Will you be going to the graduation?

sunshine - With DIRSUP you truly don't know when you will be going out.  Even thought this was years ago, I was DIRSUP.  I got married on Sunday and was underway on a ship Monday morning (12 hours later).  It all depends on what's going on in the world.  

He can request leave, but the Navy can pull the chit.  They can do this anytime, not just because he's DIRSUP.  He should still submit a leave chit.  When I was DIRSUP we always swapped TAD orders, which is the same as today.  So I'm sure he can swap with someone if his name comes up.

Thanks Craig! He is enjoying Hawaii very much right now. He is still doing indoc stuff. He finally got a car and his roommate are hiking a lot on the weekends. Some of the pictures are breathtaking. They have us chomping at the bit to get there.

cinder - No we are waiting until early June to visit. He said they graduate about May 15 and then he will class up the next day until July 17th so really no time to see him. I would be forever in debt if anyone going could take pictures for us. Oh and the last name is D.

We are thinking about going but didn't realize they start another class right away.  If we go I will definantly take pictures and if not we can get our sons to take pics of each other. LOL

Craig - Even though my son would not have much chance to rank up to E5 because he 's still at training command he wants to sit for the exam in September to earn points (if he passes) and preview the exam for next year when he should be underway and has some evals & quals in his packet. Could this in any way hurt his chances later by taking it ASAP?

CRF230dad:  Is your son eligible to take the E-5 exam?  I'm not sure of his story, i.e. new sailor or fleet returnee.  But anytime a sailor is eligible, he or she should absolutely take it.  But if he is not eligible, he can't just go and take it.  They won't even have an exam for him.  He sounds like a true go-getter :)  Good for him. 

I don't know about that. We always complain because we got him a nice camera and mini video recorder yet when we sent our younger son to visit him they took no pictures. They said it's gay for guys to take pictures of each other. lol Only the girls do that. The only time we see pics on his fb page is when his girlfriend went to visit or someone else takes one or tags him.

Well we can ask if there is a girl in their class. LOL

Thanks salpetty, he is a new sailor about 7 weeks into C school. He's in 1 year the end of this month. He said he's eligible to sit in September.

Good for him!!!  Then there should be a test for him.  He shouldn't not take it.  That won't look good.  And if he studies, even if he doesn't advance he may still earn points towards next time.  Even if he's not ready and doesn't think he knows anything, he may surprise himself.  I passed the E-7 exam on the first try and didn't even study my rate.  I only studied BMR (basic military requirements)and Chief requirement stuff. 

Any suggestions for study material? I know I saw some stuff Craig posted once but there is so much on-line it's hard to keep it straight.

This is a question for Craig as he knows how it works for CT ratings.  I was YN so my advancement bib(liography) wasn't classified.  As far as general military stuff, I found that advancement questions came straight out of the training manuals for BMR (there is actually a course for it that you go through the book and answer questions online).  Same with Chief and PO 3 and 2 as well as many other interesting subjects (my favorite:  Captivity:  The Extreme Circumstance).  The questions/answers were literally cut and pasted from those so I saw the same questions over and over.  But since the last exam I took before my enlistment ended (last year), a higher percentage of questions will be rating related and less BMR.  But hopefully later today Craig can steer you/your son in the right direction.

Craig has discussion page called MEETS manual for the 2011 advnacement test maybe that will help.

Yes....that's it.  It's the NEETS Modules.  NEETS stands for Naval Electrical Engineering Training Series.  I love Craig.  He knows everything!!!

LOL I called it MEETS not NEETS thanks for catching that.  By the way it all looks Greek to me.

Yeah! And thank God we don't have to know this stuff :)

Robin:  Congrats to your daughter on that first test!

CTF - If they allow him to take it, then take it.  He will at least earn the Pass-but-not-advance (PNA) points.  They're not much, but I've seen 100's of time sailors missing it by less than a point.

salpetty - Most senior sailors don't even know this, thus nor would any parent.  But you don't need to order a advancement test for him.  They can split a test.  Here is the rule:

 http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/instructions/BUPERS...

607. SPLITTING EXAMINATIONS
a. If there is an eligible candidate without an examination
and another candidate is taking the same examination, the
examination booklet will be "split" and shared between the two
candidates (designated “A” and “B”). Separate the examination
booklet into two equal parts (staple to prevent loss of pages);
give each candidate one-half of the booklet; and administer the
examination to each candidate simultaneously. When both
candidates have finished their respective halves, a proctor will
examine each half, remove any markings made by the first user,
and exchange the halves. There is no time limit for completion
of the first half, but the overall 3-hour time limit must be
observed. Should one candidate finish the first portion prior
to their "sharing" candidate, do not rush the "working"
candidate. Allot each candidate a 3-hour testing period. In
recording the examination serial number on the answer sheet,
each candidate will use the same number. Denote duplicate use
only on the letter of transmittal by entering (DUP) after the
examination serial number of both candidates. No more than two
candidates may use the same examination booklet.
b. Duplicate use is authorized only if the examination can
be administered to b

Yes....splitting exams. I know about that.  It's a pain in the A$$ for the test takers because they are at the mercy of the other person. I'm the kind of person that I either knows the material or I don't and when I'm done with a test I want to vacate the premises immediately...not wait around for the other guy who has to go over each answer two and three times.  Ugh!   Once I took the test while I had the flu and just wanted to get out of there so fast that I just got the test done in under an hour because I just didn't care.  Funny thing is, that's the cycle I made 1st Class.

CRF - To pass the advance test is kind-of simple, but sailors fail to follow the guidelines, thus they don't get advanced.

The Navy testing group gathers the questions from different materials, then they have to reference those questions to where they got them.  So if you study what they recommend, then you will do really good, thus probably passing.  The page is called a "Bibliography".  The website I will list wants money for test, but the test kind of suck.  So just use it to find the reference materials (and not the test).

I will use your sailor for an example:

1.  Go to this website: http://navybmr.com/  

2.  Click on CTT

3. On the top left hand side, choose CTT2, pull it down to "Active March 2012 Bib"

4.  This will tell you every book and chapter you need to advance.  

When I was in, the sailor actually hated when advancement time came around.  One of my pet peeves is for my guys to advance.  So, for my shop I made it a General Military Training (GMT) requirement that 2 sailors, independently would summarize each chapter for the BIB.  The I compiled them.  From then on, all they had to do is study 3 or 4 pages instead of an entire book.  I still have a lot of the unclassified stuff, which I think I posted here and on my website.    

It's funny, because the Pensacola Adcvancement center actually investigated my shop since it got really high scores (they thought we were cheating).  They left impressed.  I still run into the guys I trained.  They said they were so ticked at time, but are so thankful now.....  

Good info Craig. What I have found is the Navy is very predictable when it comes to writing advancement exams. Hence the reason I see the exact questions, with the exact wording coming straight from the assignments in the back of various NAVEDTRA, et al courses. The BIBs tell you what to study.  Do that and you're good to go.  Now...will my kid listen to YN1 mommy?  Probably not. 

clockard - Woo-hoo!  That is great.  It's always great to have them back...  Time just go by too quick...

salpetty - It's not just the moms or dads, it the Chief's and LPO's too.  I can ask 95 of 100 sailors and they will not even know what a BIB is.  The sailors just haven't learned on how to play the system to their advantage yet.  

btw:  Here are the answers to the March 2012 cycle:

(Step back 8 feet to see it better)

Hello everyone,

It feels kind of strange reaching out to a group of strangers but here I am :)  My son just left for BC yesterday and I am a bit of a mess.  I know most of your sailors have been in longer but I am just wondering if what I am feeling is normal or if I should run to the nearest therapist!  I feel almost as if I am morning my son.  I see his things and I break out in tears and I just am so worried about him that I am having trouble functioning.  I know it has only been a day so hopefully this will pass.  He is away from home nearly each summer at Boy Scout Camp so I am used to him being away for long periods of time but this is different.  Is this normal?  I know he will come back but I just feel such a loss!  Also, how can I find the moms of the other sailors that are at BC now?  I feel so unprepared and like I am in a world that I don't understand.  Thanks in advance for any advice!  Wyobraska Mom!

Welcome wyobraskamom- We have all felt that feeling when they first left. So no you don't need a therapist. Just remember that he will be fine and is just moving on with the next step in his life. Just start writing him letters as you will get his address in about a week or so.

There will be a page for your son's PIR. They usually go off the PIR date. Not sure how long it takes to be up.

Craig you are hilarious!!! Good one.  And I know what you mean about Chiefs and LPOs.  There are people in the world who seek out information that will help them and those who don't or expect others to do it for them.  No me gusta the latter type. 

Clockard:  You are sooooooo lucky and I'm so happy for you!  Enjoy every minute :)

Wyobraskamom,   Celebrate being normal!  Your entry brought tears to my eyes just thinking about three (short) months ago.  It was a month before I could walk into my son's room without crying.  Hang in there.  Start writing letters now, and you will have a pack ready to go when you do get his address.  He will appreciate it.  My son said that was the one thing he appreciated most at BC (and some of the guys were envious of the amount of mail he received from his four close family members).  He would be having the "worst day of his life" and then get a pack of letters from home and say "today Rocks!"  Just tell him how proud you are and you love him (no such thing as too much).  My son is now at DLI in Monterey, and we get to see him, as we are about a 90-minute drive away. I am so lucky!

Thanks for all the advice ladies.  It is good to know that I am not going crazy!  I sure feel like it.  I will look for the PIR group.  Not sure if there even is one yet but I'll sure check it out!    Each comment has really helped me today and I have already started on a letter.  Thanks again everyone!

Amen to Sammy1990's comment!!

Wyobraskamom:  If you are on facebook, RTC has a page as well:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand

They have graduation pics, contests to win a picture of your kid's division, etc.  Lots of support there to.  I found that writing to my daughter every day made me feel better...Don't worry about running out of things to say, just write anything.  I wrote letters from the dogs, from famous people, silly stuff...just anything to try and crack her up while she was there.  Plus it keeps you busy as well.  Hang in there.  You are definitely not alone in your feelings.

LOL Craig, I just emailed my son the info.  I really appreciate all of your knowledge and can only hope that my son gets someone like you to train him.

wyobraska have you joined the group boot camps moms?  That is where everyone posts while their kid is in boot camp and the PIR groups are formed.

I just got off the phone with my daughter and I have some news.  Apparently all the 6 year CTTs (or at least those in C school..it wasn't clear) are having a meeting today with a Master Chief or Senior Chief (she wasn't sure which) and they are supposedly all getting soft orders.  Then by the end of this week, they are trying to get the 4 year CTTs soft orders.  Word on the street is that they are trying to open up 60 billets and just trying to get people out of Corry sooner than later.  I'm not sure if this affects any of you.  My daughters expected end date of C school (or Shipboard Ops) is March 29, if any of you have kids/loved ones in this class or the class(es) above her.  Nothing is set in stone obviously because the word "soft" is being thrown around a lot....but just wanted to let you know.

What is "soft orders?" My son is scheduled to go to Corry this Saturday after his PIR on Friday.

Meaning, not written.  Not set in stone, but at least this is a start for those that have been sitting in holding for awhile since they've finished their schooling.

I will ask my son if he heard anything he is currently in C school and will get done middle of May.  Your daughter always manages to get the scoop on stuff and I greatly appreciate it.

Yes, Cinder...let us know.  I think she gets the scoop because I keep nagging her :)  I'll pass on anything more that I hear.

Wyobraskamom welcome, We have all been there and it's just not ladies here. The Navydads.com website is pretty slow compared to here so here I am. The Navy's Recruit Training Command has there own website of bootcamp. http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/index.asp It has all the information about boot camp and graduation (PIR). Once your son lets you know which  Ship and Division he is in go to the facebook page salpetty spoke of, like it, them go to the forums link on the left. There you will find a discusion page just for your son's ship and division. If they don't have one yet, make one. Also once you have the ship & division info go to the RTC weblink above then go to Families>Graduation>Upcoming Graduations from the main page. Here you will find the Divisions Graduating by Training Group schedule. They are updated every week. There will also be a group on this site for your son's ship/division and/or PIR date. Until you know that there is also a boot camp group. I have found out more GOOD information from on-line forums than any Navy web site. Through some discussions with other Navy mom's on the facebook page and here and details from their kids letters we deduced that your boys were in the same division and knew one another. So one day the other guy comes up to my son and say; "Hey I think my mom knows your dad." So my son say's I'm cyber stalking him. LOL

What rate (his job) is your son? Again welcome!

Thanks salpetty and Craig for the test info.

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...

Woo-hoo, my nephew got to meet his detailer today, and has his verbal orders.....   A ship in San Diego, exactly what he wanted.....

Awesome!

My son said a whole bunch or orders came in yesterday but primarily for the CTs already in done with school or about to finish.