CTN

Craig,
It is very possible that I know you or of you. If you don't me then possibly my husband, also a retired CTO (end of 2005). I am sure that we do know a lot of the same people.

Vicki,
I agree with everything Clockard said. I know when I went through "A" school the person who graduated at the top of the class got their choice of duty stations but it still had to be available (needs of the Navy). They probably don't do that with CTNs since they are so limited with their duty stations.

Hi Mary, that is funny! My aircrew daughter didn't like the thought of sitting behind a computer all day. She wants more excitement in her life and shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Her sister thinks it's great that she can sit all day. I wonder what she will think about not even having windows to look out.
I am glad both my daughters will be in Pensacola at the same time and can't wait to go see them there. I absolutely hate what has happened with the oil and the beaches and that they won't be able to go enjoy them.

Craig, My son recently was injured while working out, just before his PRT was scheduled. Medical would not give him a waiver and although he passed the swim, he was in too much pain to continue. As a result they had to fail him on the rest of the test. Is there anything he can do about the situation? His Chief is on leave and he says the present cycle has ended.

Lovemy2sailors ~ I just posted the link to the offical PRT standards (in the link section above). If they failed him, then he needs to challenge the failure. There is a certain order that the PRT must follow. It's in the rule book on page 67. If he passed the swim, then he passed the entire PRT since the swim is the last item to be tested.

Larry and the rest of the gang...
I never wanted to post this, but I actually run two Navy support websites. Since NFM doesn't allow attachements I needed to find a way to direct Larry to the information he needed. Larry, your info for all the books that are needed for CTN3 can be found at the below link. I went ahead and opened the CTN section up for public viewing for you guys. I don't want you guys to have to register for yet another website. I just want you to get the information. So, here's the link, you should be able to go right in. http://www.navydep.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=76
Hopes this helps Larry....

NIOC GA is actually Fort Gordan Georgia.... Go here: http://www.gordon.army.mil/

I have a question. Do your sailors find the first part of CTN school the hardest or the last part? My son is nearing the halfway point and I was just curious. Also wasn't there a new insignia coming out in August?

I think the 4 test limit was under the old class structure. The CTN school is now a lot longer than when my son went through it. So they have more tests to take before they graduate.

Thank you for the welcome. My daughter, Dara, arrived in Pensacola, Fla. May 26 and she started her CTN class Monday (6/21/10). She was not in holding for very long. She knows there is loads of hard work ahead (and expecting more :)). She is still excited and looking forward to learning this job (rating). We are proud of her positive attitude and enthusiasm to learn. If I have any questions I know where to turn. Thank you, again.

Terrilynn, the number of failed test is based on the length of the course. As the course gets longer, then they allow more times for failures. But, don't ever think it's based on a number. The number is just a guide. It's not so much that they fail a test, it's how they failed the test. The Academic Review Board (ARB) will interview the Sailor, and if there is something outside of the classroom that maybe causing the failure they will take that into consideration. These kids need to remember that schooling is #1. The number of failures is not set in stone, however, the reason why is ALWAYS taken above everything. There is a big difference between a Sailor having family problems compared to someone that wants to party everynight. The ARB are the judge, jury and executioners. You need to give them outstanding reasons why you failed and they will work with you (if it's a good reason).

To add on to what Craig said I recently spoke to one of the instructors down there and he said that the #1 reason why kids are failing out is because they are up all night playing XBOX and falling asleep in class not getting the instruction. He said as long as the kids are awake and asking for help when they need it (this is huge) and honestly trying they usually won't get kicked out. For the ones that are trying and just can't get the information and still get kicked out will normally get to IT school but the ones not trying usually go to the fleet undesignated.

A kid in my sons class was dropped for partying too much, and was sent to the fleet undesignated. I just got a email from him and he will finally be rated as a BMSA in September. This is 2year 11 months since he went to bootcamp and he's still a E2 and unrated. Sad, Sad, Sad when you think most of the CTN's in the class are starting to study for E6. The only positive thing I've got to say for going undesignated is that you can renegotiate your contract and get it changed from 6years to 4 years, IF YOU ASK....

For those that wonder (or care) how much of a shortage the CTN rating is right now. The Career Reenlistment Objectives (CREO) list just came out and CTN's remain E4=1, E5=2, and E6=2. What does the numbers means:
CREO 1 = Undermanned, CREO 2 = Manned at desired levels, CREO 3 = Overmanned. This means that advancements for E4 & E5's will be 100% for the near future and bonuses will remain high....I always keep an eye on CREO's since they're the indicator on how quick your kids will advance. They can't get enough CTN's....Woo-hoo for more bonus money for the Sailors... Go here and click "CREO List"
http://www.npc.navy.mil/CAREERINFO/PERFORMTOSERVE

My Sailor is officially halfway through! He feels like he has really achieved something considering the only thing he knew about computers was surfing the internet LOL!

My son also expressed his "joy" lol about the mandatory pt. He goes to the gym everyday but not at 4 in the morning!

Happy fourth of July to everyone! Proud of all our kids!

Vicki, One of the best times in the Navy for any Sailor is in holding company. Its a no-brainer job and is actually alot of fun since you are always meeting new people and usually get off early each day from work. As far as visiting. Remember if he is still in Phase 1, he cannot leave the base. You may want to consider, if he already has a car, to bring it down during phase 2 and 3. Because they're bored, these Sailors pay a fortune to rent a cab to go to the mall

Ladies? I'm from the old Navy, us Sailors had too many skeletons in our closets from the "girls in every port" thing. We never had much room for the "Don't ask, Don't tell" stuff....-ha j/k

CTN's are expanding.... Have your sailors check out the new PEP (Personnel Exchange Program) billets that were just released today.... Woo-hoo!

PEP - that's awesome news for them!!

Hey Craig hate to sound like a dummy once again but explain the PEP and how it will impact them. Thanks!

Mom of 4, I posted info in the link section about PEP.... It is awesome duty....

I don't know much but I did ask my son if they had to have a buddy to leave base and he said no. This was a couple of weeks ago so maybe they are changing it. On a sidenote, my son filled out his dream sheet this week, I wonder how long before he hears about his orders? As far as the link, you go under the discussion forum and go to links, last link listed from yesterday. When I was reading the information on PEP, it sounded as if it was for officers only?

I have this feeling it will TX, soooo far away from me (sigh).

No he is not done yet (I wish he was lol). He is about halfway done and I guess that is the time they do the dreamsheet. I asked my son about the contacts also, he is not in need of them yet but he thought they had to order them on their own and maybe get a discount from the place for military.

CTN does not have C school as far as I know. I believer they combined them into one LONG six month school. I get my kids contacts from lens.com.

Where most Sailors mess up when asking for orders is they don't "Think outside the box". By this, I'm saying, they seem to only look for orders within the CTN detailing section on the NKO account.
What about this crap about “Looking outside the box”?
You have so many other cool jobs using the Special Programs area. Most Sailors are so narrow minded that they never look at these positions.

I was actually screened for two special billets during my career. One was with the White House communication agency. The only reason I didn’t get it was because when they screened my record, I exceeded the weight requirements for the position. Which sucked, because that would have been a really fun job. Here is the info on WHCA duty: www.disa.mil/whca.

The second one was a Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) duty. This is where you work for a foreign government, instead of the U.S. government. I had the hard copies of the orders, and had my household goods shipment all set to go. The billet was in Massett BC, Canada. Masset is located in the Queen Charlotte Islands in Northern British Columbia. My wife and I were extremely excited to go. Well, at the last minute they realize that I would be senior than their head guy, and they couldn’t have that. So the orders were cancelled. It was really disappointing.

So these are the duties that your sailors really need to be looking at, These are the billets that put you ahead of other sailors.

About the contacts lenses. The Navy optician can give your sailor a presciption for them, but they have to buy them with their own money. The cheapest I found is at Sam's club. Remember that the various Sam's club have different prices on the same contacts. If you find a Sam's club within 2 miles of a Costco, then they will be cheapest compared to all the other Sam's clubs. (They sell them under cost just to mess with Costco).

What you may want to tell your sailors if they are over 21, then they can ask the Navy to perform LASIK surgury on their eyes. This totally free. In my town, we have a civilian doctor doing the LASIK for free to 100 military members per year. He does this because he loves our military! Like everyone should....

clockard, he should had said the Lasik wasn't because he needed it for "stare at a computer screen all day", but was needed to stare at the girl with the "breast enhancements"... :)
He needs to make an appointment for an ophthalmologist. In our area, the sailors must be seen by their normal doctor, then they will refer them out.

In the DC area check with Bethesda. He may have to get a consult from his local medical. He might have to go on a waiting list - sometimes a year or longer, but well worth it. I had my LASIK surgery done in Hawaii at Tripler Army Hospital. My eye exams were done at the optometry dept at medical. They can give you a contact and/or glasses exam. My advise is to ask other military people there. Especially the ones that have been there for a while. Someone has to know!

Woo-hoo, Congrats to him from finally be paroled out of Corry Penitentiary. Corry just gets so old after a while....He'll love Ft. Meade and doing what he's trained to do....

Congrats to the new graduate!! Terri, I am praying for those last 4 tests for you son, I know he will do fine. My mine has a big one on Thurs that he is really nervous about!

Susan - I would say a majority of Sailor hate Corry. It's a training command and you always have to be on your toes. Being at a real duty station, not located on a training command, is the real joys. Everyone is just laid back.

My sons class got their orders today. He got Fort Meade MD.

Looked online at apt in the Fort Meade area and...... I hope my son likes comfy card board boxes, everything is sooo darn expensive.

Expensive, but they do get a much larger BAH to cover the extra cost.

My son was offerred this rating this morning. I know nothing about it other than it sounded like a good option compared to what he was offered. How often does the school class up? Is one starting soon? Any information about this rating would be appreciated.

Clokard, I think he accepted. When I spoke with him, they were starting the security clearance which he said could take a week or two. I'm encouraged that this will be a good match.

2byzmom, was your son offered this rating this morning? Sounds like our sons might be in similar situations.

No, he is in PCty and the rate came up this morning.

Clockard, you got me figured out to a "T", you'd knew I would have to say somthing.... So here it goes to you newbies.... CTN is the absolute best rating in the Navy. CTN's have probably the best duty stations. The only problem that any member of this group will tell you is if your sailor wants to go to a ship and see the world, then they will hate the rating since CTN's don't go to sea (per se).
We are mostly all shore duty. Yes, your sailor can volunteer to go to Iraq or Afganistan for IA duty, but thats their choice. The money to be made once they get out will be massive, but only if they complete their college degree when they are in. The SBI security clearance alone will give them an extra $25K over similar jobs without them.
There is only one reason they give these sailors great reenlistement bonuses. That's because too many of them get out and get civilian jobs. So the Navy has to make it worth the sailors wild to stay Navy.....

2byZ- Per the clearance question, is your son cross rating into CTN or is he just joining the Navy now? I can't tell by your post....

Speaking of college, how do they fit it in with their Navy job?

College classes are extremely easy to go to. You sign up for them, and you go to them. Sometimes you're on a rotating schedule. If you are, then the command must let you go to your class instead of going to work. Don't let your sailors tell you they don't have time to attend. They do. If they have time to spend 4 hours on the x-box then then have 4 hours to go to class. 1 class per semester will not kill them.

The only thing that has changed resently is you need to have 1 year in at your 1st duty station before you sign up for classes. This is so you focus on learning your job, before you you do other things. Lastly, you guys always know that I always sight an offical rule (just so you can read it yourself), so just read para 5 here http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/E8692AF5-13E3-4C7C-9414-3677C0...

Clockard, you'd think I would remember to post in the link section, but I always forget... Man, I'm getting old.....

Second question for anyone ~ Since CTN school has changed the schooling from 3 months to 6 months... Do the married sailors meet the requirements to bring their families to Pensacola at the cost of the Navy. (ie does the Navy concider this a PCS move?).... It's at the dividing line and I don't know how the school is handling it....Can someone ask their sailor who is now at Corry in school.

Patti, boy this is one subject that really ticks me off about the Navy. Yes they will tell your sailors that they get x amount of credits just for attending CTN school. What they fail to tell you is that the only ones that will accept them all is from some obsolete college in the middle of no where that will give you those credits. Your sailors will tell you, I am eligible for my associates degree once I complete CTN school. You should tell them, "If you get your associates within 6 months, then I will give you $1000, if you don't you pay me $200".... Guaranteed you will be $200 richer after 6 months, Sailors still need to earn the Core class credits... . But yes, the credits will be shown in the ACE guide.
http://www.militaryguides.acenet.edu/ShowAceOccupations.asp?aceid=N...
Clockard, I just did another link.... I just can't help it.....

Normally, you should be able to make E6. However, it is possible to make E7 (read my link below)... My son was a 15 month E5. To make E6 he need to wait 3 years after he became an E5. He could actually take it one year earilier (at your 2 year point after becoming an E5) if he gets a Early Promote (EP) evaluation.
Here is a great link about a 6yr E7 (Chief).... Man, this guy was promoted quick, and it really ticked off the Chiefs community. But heck, the guy earned it....
http://www.soundpublishing.com/index.php/navigator/printerfriendly/...

The guy is now a Mustang. He's a Ensign stationed at the Fort.

Joint Cyber Analysis Course

Welcome ctnRetired.....

Thanks Susan.... That's good info to keep filed....