CTN

Moma, It doesn't only happen in small towns. When my son graduated from H.S. he went to NYC to go to college. He decided to live with my Mom to save money on the rent. While there he went to work full time and went to school full time. He soon realized that my mother shouldn't be living alone, but she wouldn't give up her house. So he took care of her so she could stay in her home of 60 years. He had no time for the college social scene and so made no friends. His high school friends also drifted into a bad place and he didn't want to stay in contact with them. The only sad thing was that the Navy investigators had a difficult time believing that a young man his age would give up so much to take care of an elderly grandparent.

They told me that they try not to contact parents for the security clearance and only do it if they can't get the information any other way. My son was told that his only OCONUS (out of continental US) time will be his billet in Hawaii. Tough duty but some one has to do it. I have also heard that they are looking for CTNs to serve with SEAL units. I just can't imagine my son the Geek doing that kind of duty.

About OCONUS duty...please keep in mind that this is a fairly new rate and things change. I know then when we were looking at orders there were some for places in Asia. There has been talk of other places opening up.

Are they ever sent overseas for the first duty station. I am wondering if we should take his car to him if he has a chance of being sent overseas after his school.

Mary, understand the Navy has a policy MPM 1300-1100 that says "Every
reasonable effort will be made for same immediate family members
to serve together whenever possible." So it really depends what the sons rating is.
Just want to make sure that you parents are not caught off guard about the duty stations. Alot of Sailors desire to go temporary active duty (TAD) and will volunteer for IA duty. So you may think they will be in Hawaii or Virginia, but in fact they are in Iraq or Afganistan. At my base we have over 100 TAD now. But it's what these Sailors requested.

My son had a similar problem with the fact that he doesn't drink alcohol. It seems that the paperwork said that he "abstains from alcohol". Which they apparently interpreted as his having a problem with alcohol or a religious issue with alcohol. I spent nearly a hour patiently explaining that he just hates the taste. It took me that long to get through to the woman. She was from the FIS not the FBI.
She also had an issue with his lack of a girlfriend at the age of 26. It was a strange conversation that obviously danced around "don't ask, don't tell." Everyone of his family and friends told them that he was working full time, going to college full time and taking care of my mom's house almost full time. He had no time or money to date.

I am wondering how many they need to start a class. I ask my son everyday if he has heard about class starting and he says not yet. He doesn't seem too worried, just cleaning, escorting people into the compound and enjoying free time. He is living with three guys who are IT and they are always studying so he is glad they are not slackers.

Last I knew, they were starting a new class just about every other week. We just PCS'd from there about 2 weeks ago but it probably hasn't changed that much.

Heard form my son today that a new CTN class starts Monday. He said there is at least 20 or more in the class. Now I will be a nervous wreck for the next 6 months!

Terrilynn, My son has been a CTN for 2 years now and he still says its the hardest thing he's ever done. But he loves it!

Brice had I guess the introduction thing today. Class starts at 7 am tomorrow. I hope is is prepared for all the hard work ahead. I am nervous as can be!

Wow, and I thought it was only my son that was cranky. CTNs are great people but the stress does get to them after a while. That's when I know its time to send brownies or his favorite sugar cookies.

Patti, I don't think he's being all that dramatic.That is exactly how my son described what he does all day, except that sometimes he does it for 9 hours overnight. LOL

With all CT ratings you can't bring a cell phone into the building. If they do, it's considered a security infraction and usually with the 1st time you will get yelled at and have EMI assigned. The second time you'll be going to Capt' Mast. We have a whole list of items we can't bring in the building. Cell phones are the ones that are at the top of the list for CT's getting in trouble.

Sounds more like a won't than a can't.

I've seen people assigned EMI for bringing in cell phones. They must arrive 2 hours early for work for 1 week. There job is to ask everyone if they checked to see if they were carrying in cell phones. Also, they must carry a 6 inch block of 2x4 that has cell phone written on it. For one week, anytime they are in the building they must have this block of wood with them. Does the sailor learn from this training? Yep, they will never do it again. Here is the offical rule of EMI....

Extra military instruction (EMI) is a type of military duty used to correct a deficiency of an individual. EMI is a nonpunitive measure approved by the Manual for Courts-Martial and outlined in the Manual of the Judge Advocate General. EMI is a training device intended to improve efficiency of a command or unit. EMI is intended as a corrective measure. Therefore, you must give EMI with the intention of correcting a deficiency in performance of military duty, not with the intention of substituting it for punitive action under the UCMJ. EMI must have a logical relationship to the deficiency you are correcting. The duration of EMI is only for the period required to correct the performance deficiency. Normally, EMI assignments are for no more than 2 hours per day. EMI is done at a reasonable time outside normal working hours. Its purpose is not to deprive a member of normal liberty. EMI is not to be done on a person’s Sabbath. A member who has entitlement to liberty may begin normal liberty upon completion of EMI. The authority to assign EMI rests with the commanding officer, but delegation of the authority to assign EMI may be part of a normal supervisory task. Permission for delegation of authority ordinarily is not given below the chief petty officer (CPO) level. However, in exceptional cases when qualified petty officers are filling CPO billets in an organizational unit (division, major work center, or comparable organization) that contains no CPO, the authority may be delegated to a senior petty officer.

I know you asked Craig, but I've asked my son some of these same questions. His answer was that in his job, he can't afford mistakes. They need to get it right and get it right the first time. Men's lives depend on him. Its not just the computer he sits in front of for hours. It isn't that the instructors don't care, its that they know how important the job is and that they don't get a re-do in the real job. SEALs don't get a second chance to pass and neither do the CTNs that could be working for them.

The way they did the classes before was no piece of cake either!

Lord, I just read all of this and I'm sick to my stomach! I know I need to have positive thoughts but all I can think about is my son getting booted out of CTN and chipping paint on ships for two years. I would never let he know how concerned I am but I think I will need some nerve meds to see this through.

They don't end of chipping paint. They usually are transfered to an intelligence rate.

Susan, it sounds like something else might be going on if he's at the command we just left. Leave being denied multiple times like that just doesn't sound like the whole story.

All the guys that left the course when my son was there were given IT rates. They were all transfered within the computer field. I also wouldn't worry too much.They have a habit of dealing with the stress and worries by passing them on to their Moms. Then one day they call home and tell you they have passed and don't remember having said anything to you about not making it. BTW, I went through that twice. Once with my CTN and once with my Nuke.

Terryilyn, The reason they are so hard is simple, they do things that rely on national security. If a Sailor doesn't understand in a training enviroment, then they won't understand it in the field. Remember, with this rating you will go to school throughout your career. My son just got back from Ft Meade for additional training. So, if you can handle the stress in school, then you can handle it in the field. Is it stressfull? Yep, it is. Since I have the same security clearance, I went to visit my son at his work. It's actually really cool what these kids do, stressfull, but cool. But I always ask my son if he likes his rating and he says "Dad, I LOVE my job"..... It makes me happy hearing that...
As far as failing: If you are trying, then they should allow the Sailor to select a different rating. However, my sons friend was dropped from CTN school for partying too much and he ended up going to the fleet undesigated (chipping paint). This Sailor just contacted me on my forum and said that he can finally strike for a new rating, he will be retrained as a IC. He's been undes for 2 year 3 months now. What sucks, is this kid passed "A" school, but was dropped from "C" school. CTN was the only rating that you do not get the rating until you pass "C" school. That all changed with the new school criteria. So don't beleive you will always get a new rating, it all depends why you were dropped.

One thing for sure, once he gets graduates he is set for life. The reason the SRB is so high for CTN is these kids get out after they do their 6 years and get the big $$$ on the outside. It's silly to stay in (and this is coming from a retired Sailor). But if they like it, then so be it, stay in. There is only two ways of learning CTN, and that is being a criminal, or being in the service. At least these kids have the "get out of jail free card"... -ha
Just make sure he continues on the mandatory training and he will survive. It's all about motovation...

I remember the first re-enlistment as an N and there was no SRB! The rate was brand new. Of course lots of the jobs are at the Fort and the cost of living is so high that they have to pay you big bucks.

I don't think it is silly to stay in, especially if you are senior enlisted, living in a high BAH area. I know the offers people have been getting salary wise and think retirement pay and those benefits will go nicely with it.

It's not the retirement pay that I like, it's the medical benfits. Wow, I pay $460 per year, most people pay that per month. In the CTN rating you can choose your fate. Either way, either staying in or getting out, you will do fine. And you will make advancement really quick.

Yeah, I was referring to the medical when I said benefits.

My son is one of those who have decided to make the Navy a career. He loves what he does. He did mention once that he might consider leaving the Navy (that was after the break up with his girlfriend) and they offered him a billet in Hawaii. So, he's a CTN2 after only 3 years and he's on his way to Hawaii. He's one of those people who deals with stress well at work.

My son enlisted at 26, so he also knows what its like to support himself outside of the Navy. But I think it has more to do with being able to do things that would get you sent to Federal Prison for otherwise. Not that I know what that would be. It looks like he will be headed for Hawaii sometime this fall. In the meantime he needs to figure out what to do with his townhouse. It looks like he will be renting it out because otherwise he would lose a ton of money if he sold it. He's only owned it for a year. They had originally told him that he would be in Norfolk for 2 more years. Then he got some kind of award for something he did for some one, somewhere in the Pacific region. Apparently they want to work with him on a more regular basis, so its off to Hawaii.

He will love Hawaii.... Kunia is a really cool place. It's actually built under a pineapple field in 1941. The sailors hate it when there is a fire drill because they end up in the pineapple field because that's where the emergency exits are. Their whites are damaged because of the rich dark soil. It totally ruins them. Here is some interesting info on it... http://cryptome.org/eyeball/kunia/nsa-kunia-004.jpg
http://www.innatschofield.com/w1.html

It is may understanding that they don't get a billet in Hawaii until their second assignment. My son spend his first 2 years in Norfolk.

Hawaii was our first station It is very expensive which was hard on E3 pay. Flights back to the mainland were expensive especially since I was trying to get back East.

The needs of the Navy dictates. My son is 1st duty station is Hawaii, and there are lots of CTN on their 1st assignment there. What limits alot of CTN is if they are married. Being married, and being under E4 it's against policy to go there. But again, it's based on the "needs of the Navy".

Juni, it seems like the Navy can waive anything. But the rule says "Members in paygrade E-3 and below with family member(s), will not be assigned to accompanied tours in an overseas area, including Hawaii".
I tell you, I know this rule by heart now. I have a guy on my website (MA stationed in Japan) that has been without his wife and child for 1 1/2 years now. They will not let her go with him since he's not an E4. Sadly, they are discharging him because he can't get a security clearance. The Navy really hosed this Sailor over.

https://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/BA171374-25A1-4A56-BA05-DC1BD...

Sorry for the confusion. What I wanted to point out to others is that even though you were allowed to go to Hawaii, you were waived to do this. The rule is not to let you go. I can just imagine a sailors wife/husband coming on N4M and seeing a thread that said "We waited until after he graduated from his schools to get married", and then they get married only to find out that they will not be command sponsored and having to remain behind while their spouse serves their 3 year tour. What would you have done if he had orders to Hawaii, and they told you that you couldn't go with him for at least 2 years? It something every sailor should think about prior to getting married, but most have no idea of what the rules are. You were just extremely lucky, it could have worked out the other way, just like the guy from Japan...

Do you ever stop holding your breath on test day? I am a nervous wreck on the day my son has his tests. Only 18 more to go (sigh).

I'm not sure if you guys are aware, but there is a website called www.afvclub.com who works with the base exchange. What these are is unsold timeshares by RCI. They let the military (and their family) rent them for $329 a week (make sure you look in the Space Available area). They share the money with the military MWR fund so it actually throws money into the sailors recreation fund. So, if your ever planning a break with your Sailor, this is a great why of getting a resort for cheap. Heck most people pay $500 just in maintenance fees (if you own a time share). I just looked in the Pensacola area and they have one about 25 miles away, not sure if that will work for your visit to Pensacola.

btw, forgot to add the web address for the Navy-Lodge. It's a great place to stay when in Pensacola....https://www.navy-lodge.com/index.html

Its been a very tough week for my son. He and his roommate & friend have been together since Pensacola. His friend is being forced out of the Navy because of failing his PFA. He failed it last week and will be out of the Navy by the end of the month. Although he was not going to make the Navy a career and my son is heading to another base later this year, it is tough to say goodbye to your best friend. My son is also concerned because his next PFA is one week before he turns 30. So he has to meet the standards for 25 to 29 year olds instead of the standards for a 30 year old. He sees the Navy forcing out one CTN after another and is worried for his future. He so wants to make the Navy his career.

The thing I don't get is that my son is working 12 to 14 hours a day. He showers on base because some times he doesn't even have time to go home. How do they expect these guys to stay in shape when they are working those hours and barely have time to sleep. They have a completely sedentary job and not chance to get out and move.

My son is trying to get use to his new lifestyle at school. He goes to school from 7- 4 or so, then voluntary studying, eat, workout, shower, sleep, and repeat LOL. He does try to call every night and takes Saturday to do something if only just watch a movie. Sunday is church and back to studying LOL! I keep trying to remind him it is all worth it!!

Just my 2 cents.... Having been on weight control in the Navy, I totally understand the game. The Navy really could careless how you work, as long as you keep the "poster board" image. So what does a sailor do? He needs to start playing the game. Defeat the Navy with their own rules.

So many sailors fail the PRT for two reason, and that is the run or the Body Fat. Lets just talk about the run now.... If I were a parent here (wait a minute, I am a parent), I would ask your sons two questions. 1. "Why do you run the PRT? Why not swim it?". Their answer will be "Because I can't swim!, it's impossible!".... The second question would be "Have you read the rule book on swimming?"...Their answer will be "No".... If they are that foolish to not have read and understand the swim test, then they have know one to blame except themselves. You don't have to swim the swim test. The rules state: You have hold on the sides, you can push off the sides (heck, I can push off 1/3 of the distance in a pool just by pushing), you can stop in the water, you can stop anywhere along the way, you can even backfloat the whole way. Geez, I had my whole shop doing the swim after they read the rules. All it takes is to understand the rules, and do it once, and then you can easily pass. The problem is, most sailors are unwilling, or think they have to swim. They don't....

As far as booting people out.... I have two parents on my site who's kids are in the process of being seperated. The Navy already has attriction rates built into the system. They already know x amount of sailors will not pass. All I can say is play the game with the body fat, play the game with the run... If you know the system, then you can beat the system.... Again, just my thoughts....

Craig, I passed on your information to my son. He actually was on a swim team in High School. He didn't think he could do the swim because it had been so long since he was on that team. I hope he wises up.

Beleive me, CT's ALWAYS suck at doing the PRT... Beleive it or not, It goes way back in history. Just watch this video, there is only one CT in the whole group, and beleive me, the CT is not the one running the show...that's for sure!

"Those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ Santayana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhH3v4SIqBk

Clockard, never beleive a private website for answers. Use they for guidance to the offical source only. If you haven't noticed (yea right -ha), I will always try to backup my info with the offical rules. You cannot argue with what is in black-n-white. To find the Navy offical publications, 1st find the lasest NAVADMIN message for the subject. Example here is the last PRT that just came out. You will notice the offical rules are OPNAV 6110.1H: http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/FCEEE708-C2AF-42EC-8E92-A1289A...

Now go to the Offical Navy PRT manual and find the actual rules. Example here is the PRT manual:
http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/06000%20Medical%20and%20Dental%...

Now look at page 72 of the 167 page manual. The rules are spelled out exactly what you can and cannot do. After reading the rules you will see that you can do about anythingfor the swim except "pulling yourself along the side", and "walking in the water". Beleive me, there is only one man that is allowed to "walk in or on the water", and that's the man upstairs (Jesus)....

Just wanted to explain myself, and say why it seems like keep quoting rules. The only reason I do it is because once you understand the rules, then you can beat them and use them to your atvantage. "Work smarter, not harder"....

Cannot wait until my son is only four tests away! He is right in the thick of it LOL! Congrats to your son Patti!

Hello everyone. First, a little about me. I retired from the Navy as a CTO in Dec 2006. I think my actual retirement papers say IT (but I will never claim to have been one) since they merged the two about the same time I retired. My last three years in the Navy I worked as a CTN in Hawaii. It was my favorite job I did in the Navy.

I now have two daughters joining the Navy and leaving for Boot Camp this summer. One will be AIRCREW down at NAS Pensacola (leaves in July) and the other a CTN (leaves in Aug). I told my CTN that as long as she makes it through school she will be set for life money and job wise as long as she doesn't mind where she lives. I am lucky enough to have friends who are instructors at Corry and many CTN friends. I have given some of my books that I have gotten from the countless number of schools that the Navy has sent me to in order to give her a little bit of a start on some of the background skills she will need. I only wish I could tell her exactly what they do!

Feel free to ask any questions about the Navy or CTN. If I don't have the answer I am sure I can find it.

Retired Navy, My son is strongly considering leaving the Navy in the near future. I would be interested in whatever you can tell me about career possibilities for him. If you could friend me, we can talk off the list.

Retire Navy turn Navy Mom ~
I just sent a friends request. I retired in 1996 as a CTM and know many CTO's. Just trying to see if I knew you. The CTN rating I know about every senior person in that rating since most of them are converted CTM's.
Welcome aboard!

Clockard, It depends which aspect of a CTN she wants to do that may limit her to certain areas to find a job. For instance, if she were to live in the DC area she would probably never be without a job for long. After that the areas around their duty stations would probably be ok. There are others, mostly around military bases but you just have to look for them. Networking can be very helpful for them when they are ready get out by talking to their friends and people they know who has recently gotten out and have found jobs.

Hope this helps.