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

Craig! As always thank you for posting and glad you used the CTT as your example.  I am still having trouble wrapping my brain around all the information.  My son is CTT 6 year.  I heard him say something about "AEF"  what is that?

thanks Lady Hamilton, thought it was tied into the 6 yr... will try searching again. 

callieci - It's based on the needs of the Navy.  The best NEC (in my view) for a CTT is being a 9102.  We can't hire enough of those guys.  However, there is another one that I truly love.  However, I don't talk about it much because I know some moms will freak out about it.  But heck, you know me by now, I'm an open book.  I tell it like it is, and let you guys work with the facts....

Here it goes:

You being a mom won't truly understand the joy of this, but, if I were him, and I had to do it all over again I'd try to be a Tactical Information Operations (TIO) sailor.  

Rarely do sailors actually work with the SEALS, but as a CT you might get this rare opportunity. If they ask, it will only be once, so he needs to be prepared in case they do.   Here's what it is....

Being a SPEC OPS CT is probably this best thing there is. You are part of the SEAL team.   Does it have consequences? You bet! If you have noticed during almost every helicopter that is shot down in Afghanistan, there is at least 1 CT on board. It's part of the job. We have to have CT's doing those types of jobs. The CT's are the only people that are authorized to do it. It's part of the Secret Squirrel type of stuff, but I can't go into it. However, as always, I will point you to the unclassified rules and let you work with it. 
CT assigned to Tactical Information Operations (TIO) 
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-np...s/1306-984.pdf

Secondly, you will only be one of a handful of people to earn the NEC of 5350. Which says:
http://i39.tinypic.com/dphcfn.jpg


So, all I can say is, if this was my son and he didn't take this rare opportunity, then I would have to start reading my book again....Just saying...



I know you'll ask:  But he'll be in harms way?

In todays age, I wouldn't be scared about your sailor doing this job at all. Heck our police get shot at more than our military. I'd much rather be in Afganistan as a CT, than walking through the ghetto in my own country (the U.S.)

What people fail to realize is that when they show the # of military that have died in the middle east, it includes people that died in car accidents and other weird stuff (ie suicides). You have more chances of getting wack here in the U.S. just by driving a car.

Everyone still has that WW2 stuff in their heads where we lost thousands per day. But look at the numbers in our generation. It's 1850 people since 2001. That to me is incredible. Heck, we're at war. 1850 people is not that much. It's just that the news plays it up. 

I really hate talking about deaths, especially to a bunch of moms. But people just need to know the facts. 10 years of war (1850 killed) doesn't even add up to the single day of the World Trade Center killings (2996 killed). We can walk around scared or we can live our lifes. To me, I would be honored for my son spearheading our military in the middle east. When you look at the numbers, it shows that he's not in harms way. 
Just my view.....of course, I'm not a mom either.... 

http://icasualties.org/oef/

Craig -thanks for the info.  I will have him check into those NEC options.  I am not one to freak out too easily and I can see how a CTT would love working with the seals (but did you have to add the helicopter being shot down with a CTT on it--ha--that definitely caught my attention.)  I always enjoy your "open book and giving us the facts attitude" Thanks!

Hello everyone! Has any of your kids had lasik through the Navy? My kid is due to have it done next week and I was wondering how it should go. He got on the list as soon as he had one year with no changes and then he had to wait only a couple months to get the procedure. He did opt to get the more invasive kind because it is required for anyone that ever wants to do any kind of spec ops stuff. He does get a week off but we are moving so he is on his own. He feels like this is another perk, since it is free of course. He also let me know he is back on a team scheduled to go to Afghanistan in Nov, Thanksgiving and Christmas will on skype, but he says it is the safest time to go. They have never had one member of the teams get hurt so that is encouraging. 

Craig and Lady Hamilton!  Huge thanks again for all the information.  I am like callieci, I don't freak out easily.  You got my attention with the mention of Seals, because that was my son's first interest! 

cindy - It's all about knowing the rules and the risks.  My daughter recently joined the Air Force (traitor ~ha).  She is going to school to be a Hospital Corpsman.  Her desire is working in a war zone and helping our military.  However, our military still doesn't consider our females for that environment.   Which actually ticks me off.

 A female in my book can do everything a man can do, except write their names in the snow.  Especially if the females name is Mackenzie.   She'd only get "the letter i" done correctly...before the snow went everywhere!

Craig....Thank you so much for the laugh I really needed today.  I love how you took that tangent and just kept running with it.  You really are hilarious!

My son just got done with shipboard ops today and will begin V3 classes in a couple of weeks.  Just a few more months and he will hopefully find out where he will be stationed.

Hey all,

About 2 weeks ago one of my comm sites got burned up in the Colorado fires.  I had to weed out the classified photos from the unclassified photos.  I thought I'd share these unclassified pictures...

That devastation kills me.  That whole area is totally in my prayers.

Question for you all,  my son arrived at Corry Station 2/7/12.   He started A school In April ) anyhow he had a panic attack and failed a test and told me that he decided to retake the test, pass it and then drop the program and switch from being a 6 year CTN to a 6 year CTT.  A few weeks ago he told me that he did change and was moved from Corry to NAS.  He started A school there at NAS.  Last week he says  and I quote from his message:

"I'm getting rolled back. All because they classes me up late (putting me 2 days behind). Made me leave class because I failed one test (because I still hadn't had enough time to finish the first mod) and today for they even make the decision final they pull me out class and send me to go help in the office where I will learn all the stuff were gonna do and still be allowed to go to voluntary study an use the computers but not allowed to take tests or pass the programs. I'm now essentially going to class while being in holding."

This is not my first or only child so I know better than to just believe everything 100 percent, there's always something they aren't fessin' up to!  Can someone tell me what he means by this and how serious it is for him to get rolled back?  Is he in danger of being kicked out of the Navy?  Does this sound like there's parts he's not telling me?    My girls were so much more communicative.  getting info from my son is like pulling teeth!

Kelly

Krspies if they moved him from Corry to NAS it probably would have been to take the ATT class which is required to be taken before the actual CTT class. This class is a basic electronics class. They must pass this class to move on. Normally when they get rolled back it is because they are not passing the class and they rolled into another class that is not as far along. Or to start class again. Also if they below a certain percentage they will be put on mandatory study time each day. If you are on the voluntary study time you are doing great in the class. Sounds like he got rolled back to start the class when it starts again. And that he can study ahead of time so he can make sure he passes. I don't think he is actually taking the class while in holding they are allowing him to study up so he does pass. They have already put lots of money into him so they want him to pass.

If I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me. After he passes the ATT class he will move back to Corry for his CTT class.

Very cute picture.Congrats and the new grand baby.

Beautiful little girl! i know you must be VERY proud!! Congratulations!

Dee - Great pic!

Krspies - My CTT connection is out at sea now.  But I thought CTT school at NATTC was self paced.  If that is true, then getting pulled and sent to the office to work isn't a good thing.  Again, I'm not positive on this, but maybe another CTT member can answer this....

cinder - Isn't the electronics portion at NATTC self paced?  I mean when they learn resistors, isn't in computer based? (ie not instructor taught)?  

I thought it was.  I though that why some get down with it quicker.   Just trying to get myself educated so I can pass it on to the guys at my website....

My son is currently in the basic electronics course at NATTC, and he has an instructor. Per my son, the instructor teaches a module lesson, and then the class is tested on it. So far, he has scored good grades, mostly in the 90s with a couple of grades below that, but still passing. He is scheduled to complete that course at the end of this month and then transfer to Corry Station for the next course.

I am so glad others post info regarding CTT, NATTC, and NAS.  It helps my brain, seriously.

My son started about 3 weeks ago, after class had already started.  He has told me they can only fail 3 tests and then they get moved(?). He hasn't failed any (thankfully).  They are playing catch up now because the regular instructor was on leave and the "sub" didn't keep the class going at the same pace.  And is he also scheduled to complete that class at the end of this month and move over to Corry STATION... I will never call it Corry Island again Craig ;) 

thanks for answering.  you're right in that he has said he will be going back to Corry and he said something about being able to learn stuff that he will be learning in class which sort of confused me.  I feel better not having anyone say "uh oh, he's going home."  lol  

cute grandbaby btw :)

Cindy, It sounds like our sons are in the same class. My son said that the sub was a civilian and he covered the material at a MUCH slower pace than the regular teacher. My son said there are less than 30 in the class. He said he would finish there at the end of the month and go to Corry until the end of October (approx.). It is my understanding that the class began at the end of May. Did your son miss the first week or two? I didn't realize that it was possible to enter a class while it was in progress instead of at the beginning of the course.

harpist mom:  I was going to ask you that!  The May date is throwing me off because mine didn't get to Pcola until Jun3rd but he started class the following Wedn. and then had to catch up.  There were 3 or 4 guys that were with him and the way he is talking he is the only one left that started late.  Mine was thrilled to get started so soon because he was told it would be August for the next class.  He had a fellow bc division sailor that arrived 3-4 days AFTER him and he has to wait. :(  Are you on N4M facebook page? 

What a coincidence! I thought my son said the class began around 52212; however, it sounded like the real classwork began after Memorial Day. Your son probalby only missed a week or so of class. My son waited for almost 3 full months after BC before he classed up. Which FB page are you on? There are several ones listed for Navy Moms.

Harpist mom :)  There is the one primary Navy For Moms open group and then a general PIR page....  I sent you a friend request on here.

My son graduated as a CTN today!! Yippee!!! All those months of hard work!!  He'll be moving on to Lackland AFB ... anybody know of any groups there?

Congrats Debbie G!

Congratulations!

Hi Friends, I'm looking for advice. My sailor is in school at Corry. She had a cracked filling so she went to the Navy dentist. The dentist, a civilian, wants to remove her other porcelain fillings and replace them with silver (amalgam) since they last longer. We spent thousands of dollars and she spent almost 10 years in braces. She does not want to sport the Flavor Flav look at this point, but sees no recourse. We would like her to wait until she has leave and we would happily take her to our family dentist. Can she decline the dental service or do her teeth belong to the Navy? She was advised that she cannot/should not cancel her appointment....but I thought I should ask you, who may have been through this. (Her teeth were in perfect condition a year ago, prior to boot camp.)

Good call, Cinder! I will share this with my daughter! Thanks. She is so worried about 'making waves', but I think she needs to stand up for herself in this matter. I appreciate your input!

Mushee - There is no such thing as a porcelain filling.  Are you talking about a composite filling which is a tooth colored material? or amalgam with is a silver filling?

Secondly if you're talking about crowns, they are either porcelain or Gold.  Amalgam for fillings is much stronger when chewing and is not seen if it's in the back of the mouth.  Same with the crowns, Gold if much more kinder (the tooth gets along better with gold) to the tooth and it doesn't chip.  Porcelain is much more thinner than gold since they have to also put the surface color (porcelain) over the thin Gold.  Where as, the Gold is entirely gold and is thicher.  

The reason I ask is my wife works for the military dental office.  She wants to know what number the tooth is.  If it's the back teeth (Molar), amalgam lasts way much longer.  She has the choice, she just needs to tell them.  But they will always recommend amalgam and gold since they are way much stronger as long as they are back teeth.

If she is a class 2, much means she is deployable, then she can postpone the dental work until she comes home on leave/liberty.  If she a class 3, which means she's not deployable.  She much get it fixed immediately.  

She needs to get a DD-2813 form filled out by her civilian dentist.  Have her tell the dental office on base that she would like her own civilian dentist to do the work.  For then on, she will always be responsible for that tooth.  If she's overseas and is in pain, then the military can say for her to go off base to have it fixed.  I know I wouldn't want to take on that responsibility or risk.

btw:  How can she be making waves, when she is a wave?

Thanks for the info, Craig. I'll advise my daughter. I was a bit alarmed when the dentist wanted to take out the other existing porcelain (composite) fillings to replace them with amalgam just in case there might be a future problem. It seemed odd that all of her fillings would need to be replaced when our family dentist found no issues prior to boot camp.

She is still a student with several months ahead of her. I'm sure she'll figure this out. I just want to pass on whatever info I can. Sometimes, when they're studying  they don't have time to do much research. I was pretty horrified thinking of her sporting a "grill"!

Loved the WAVE poster!

clockard - Planes and cars are unsafe too, but it's not like I'm going to quit using them.  

I remember playing with Mercury when I was a kid.  I use to rub it into pennies to make them silver like quarters.  I think that exposure is way much more than the trace amounts they put in the amalgum.

To me, I hate dentist.  If I can double the amount of time by going back to them I will.  I hate getting painkilling.  Same as eating tuna.  Yes tuna contains trace amounts of mercury too, but I'm not going to quit eating it.  

Here is what the Government says:

http://www.ada.org/1741.aspx

and

http://www.epa.gov/hg/dentalamalgam.html

My daughter actually has an amalgam tattoo a small dot on her gum from a filling and the dentist said need to watch it.  I have porcelain fillings that are over 20 years old and have had no problems.

Woo-hoo... My son comes home on vacation in about 3 hour....

Woo-hoo, Navy son is home on leave....  His main reason he came home is he had to meet with a couple business owners for the private business he's starting up.

Just before he left he was awarded "Military Person of the Quarter", which is just like "Sailor of the Quarter" but since it's a joint service base you also compete against all the other services....  Woo-hoo....

Congrats Craig to you and your son. That is a great award. Enjoy your time with him while he is on leave.

So happy for you Craig. Enjoy your time together. Can't wait to see my son. He has graduation this morning from A school and then goes on to more classes for a little while. Just a couple of more months and i will get to get a visit from him.

Congrats Crais.  Wow, MPOQ and starting a private business?  Sounds like your son is bad a$$!!  Awesome :)

He is really into hot cars and photography.  So him and a some other CT's sailors around the world (Germany, San Diego, Texas, Georgia, Florida, England) go to the car shows and take pictures of all the hot exotic cars & hot models.  They also do photo shoots of people that want pictures of their own cars.  Kind-of baby pictures for the car.

They then link their pages to sponsors who sell are parts and add-on's.  They officially started the company two months ago.  Two days ago was their biggest day, they had 12,347 views on the website for the Hawaii show in just 24 hour.  

http://www.facebook.com/AwesomeSauceLifestyle

and

http://awesomesaucelifestyle.com/

That's pretty bitchin Craig.  I am always impressed with kids that have a passion and then get creative and take it to the next level entrepreneurialy (I may have just made up that word....but I think you get the point).  Very cool!