Ask A Spook! Cryptologic Questions

FlyNavy · 07-04-2014, 07:12 AM

I forgot to add that Corry Station in Pensacola is probably the best A-School location in the entire Navy haha So there's that to look forward to as well!

futureSPOOK32 · 07-04-2014, 01:19 PM

I'll be a CTR, I visited Correy station a few weeks back and it seemed really nice, I think I'll really enjoy my time outside the classroom. Also their recreational facilities are awesome.

lilyputian · 07-04-2014, 03:18 PM

CTT1 Griffin,

First off thank you for offering up your knowledge and experience to us future sailors. It's much appreciated.

I was wondering if you have any input on CTI. My friend said it was a horrible job and that you're locked in a room by yourself because it's so Top Secret, but it sounds to me like she might be exaggerating just a wee bit. Do you have any thoughts on that?

(Also are you related to a Tony Griffin who was also in the Navy, by any chance, who just got married to a woman with the first initial of K.?)

Thanks again,
Future Sailor Hwang

FlyNavy · 07-05-2014, 10:31 AM

Hwang,

Anytime! I love helping out future Spooks.

CTI's are the Navy's linguists. You have to take the DLAB to qualify ahead of time, so just a heads up there. But you'll be spending alot of time working in the intelligence field overall as well as being the language expert for whatever mission you're working on.

After Boot Camp you'll head to A-School in Monterey, CA. They are the only CT branch that doesn't go to Pensacola. During your time there you'll be learning whatever language you choose (Farsi, Chinese, Russian, Urdu, ect) Really it depends on the language on how long you're there for. The harder the language obviously the longer you'll have to stay there. But by the end of it you should be able to read, write, and speak whatever you went there for.

As for assignments, the vast majority of CTI's go to NIOCs (Navy Information Operations Command). I'm sure you've noticed that didn't start with "USS" haha So as you can tell, most of your time will be spent on shore duty assignments. There are some opportunities for linguists to get on Aircrew or direct support to ships or subs as well though, if your looking for something more adventurous.

As for being "locked in a room" due to our work being classified, that is not at all accurate. We DO work in classified facilities that have very strict security policies, but you would be working with almost every other CT branch as well as other services. Every CT branch does highly classified work, but once your inside the secure facility, typically it's not toooo segregated. The only time you would be moved off separate somewhere would be if you're working a pretty sensitive mission (and that is pretty rare and usually requires alot of experience before you would get moved there). If you do end up taking orders for Aircrew or as direct support to ships or subs, that would be one of the times you're segregated from most folks. Mostly just due to the fact that your workspace needs a security clearance that most of the other people there won't have. But outside of your workspace, you would be with the rest of the crew.

Hope that sheds some light on CTI! It's a pretty rewarding job if you like getting into a specific culture and it does offer some really cool opportunities if you're willing to go after them.

/r
CTT1

FlyNavy · 07-05-2014, 10:32 AM

Also, no I'm not related to a Tony haha

lilyputian · 07-05-2014, 12:23 PM

Wow, thank you so much for all the info! I'm glad to know my BS meter is still intact. It was definitely going off when my friend was telling me the reasons I shouldn't go for CTI. It sounds perfect for me since I'm not super thrilled about the idea of being at sea (though of course I wouldn't mind, since I obviously voluntarily selected the Navy).

coopdeville · 07-06-2014, 11:36 PM

I've read as a CTT you can volunteer for Aircrew. How does that process work and did you ever think about doing it? So you know much about CTR? Boring, exciting, cool? Any of those things?

JoeSpook · 07-10-2014, 12:17 PM

I just passed my DLAB with a 128 and switched from a MC contract to CTI, which is what I originally wanted. Thank you for all of this info! I have one quick question, as someone who is new to all of this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTT1(SW)Griffin

There are some opportunities for linguists to get on Aircrew or direct support to ships or subs as well though, if your looking for something more adventurous.

Can you elaborate on this? From my understanding, direct support means flying out to a ship or sub to do some work for a few weeks, then transferring to another ship or getting sent back home. I've also been warned that I could be sent out with a group of Marines as an interpreter, based on my language.

How do out-of-office missions work? Is that what you refer to as "billets?" Do you sign up for particular missions or DIRSUP activity on an individual basis? I'm just trying to piece it all together.

Again, thank you!

FlyNavy · 07-10-2014, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbarnosky

I just passed my DLAB with a 128 and switched from a MC contract to CTI, which is what I originally wanted. Thank you for all of this info! I have one quick question, as someone who is new to all of this:

Can you elaborate on this? From my understanding, direct support means flying out to a ship or sub to do some work for a few weeks, then transferring to another ship or getting sent back home. I've also been warned that I could be sent out with a group of Marines as an interpreter, based on my language.

How do out-of-office missions work? Is that what you refer to as "billets?" Do you sign up for particular missions or DIRSUP activity on an individual basis? I'm just trying to piece it all together.

Again, thank you!

jbarnosky;

You're pretty much spot on with what DIRSUP (Direct Support) entails. You would be stationed at a shore site but you would go to sea (or go fly) based on mission requirements of the fleet. Typically they would just have you on station during the times you would actually be needed and then send you back home once your part of the mission is done.

As far as what a billet is, that's basically what you're referring to when you say "orders". When you receive orders you going there to fill a billet. Think of a billet like a position within that group. For example if a ship needed an IT1, there would be a billet made there that an IT1 could come fill.

To go DIRSUP would you need to get orders to a specific shop that does DIRSUP work. For ships and subs I'm not sure if CTIs need extra schools or not, but for everyone that wants to go Aircrew they have to attend Aircrew school in Pensacola as well as SERE. Once you finish A-school this is all stuff you would talk to your schoolhouse and the detailer about.

And about you going out with Marines? I think you have some bad information from someone. The Marines have their own linguists. Although if you do want to go boots on ground, there are CTI specific opportunities to do that through the TIO (Spec Ops/NSW) program. But worry about that after you get through A-school and everything haha NSW (Naval Special Warfare) usually only takes guys with some experience under their belts.

Hopefully that clears some things up! Let me know if you have any more questions and hopefully we can be welcoming you into our spooky brotherhood soon!

/r
CTT1

JoeSpook · 07-10-2014, 02:05 PM

Thank you, CTT1 Griffin!

It was actually an active-duty Marine who called me (our wives are good friends) when he found out I was joining the Navy, warning me that they borrow Navy people for all sorts of things. He may have been referring to World Language Specialists, though... we didn't get to talk very long, so I'm a little unclear on what exactly his reservations were.

I'm cool with Pensacola, and honestly I was (mentally) prepared for SERE when I was contemplating the Air Force's "Airborne Linguist" job. I'm not trying to sound BA by any means, but really I don't understand what everyone's big fuss about this job is. I'm excited to tackle all of the new challenges. This is like signing up for a marathon: training is going to be hard as hell, but I can't wait to see the man I've become at the end of it all.

Again, many thanks! I'll be spooking about before too long.

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07-04-2014, 07:12 AM	#1
FlyNavy Active Duty Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Secret Secret Posts: 1,284 Rep Power: 0	I forgot to add that Corry Station in Pensacola is probably the best A-School location in the entire Navy haha So there's that to look forward to as well!

07-04-2014, 01:19 PM	#2
futureSPOOK32 Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Fairmont, West Virginia Posts: 84 Rep Power: 0	I'll be a CTR, I visited Correy station a few weeks back and it seemed really nice, I think I'll really enjoy my time outside the classroom. Also their recreational facilities are awesome.

07-04-2014, 03:18 PM	#3
lilyputian Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	CTT1 Griffin, First off thank you for offering up your knowledge and experience to us future sailors. It's much appreciated. I was wondering if you have any input on CTI. My friend said it was a horrible job and that you're locked in a room by yourself because it's so Top Secret, but it sounds to me like she might be exaggerating just a wee bit. Do you have any thoughts on that? (Also are you related to a Tony Griffin who was also in the Navy, by any chance, who just got married to a woman with the first initial of K.?) Thanks again, Future Sailor Hwang

07-05-2014, 10:31 AM	#4
FlyNavy Active Duty Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Secret Secret Posts: 1,284 Rep Power: 0	Hwang, Anytime! I love helping out future Spooks. CTI's are the Navy's linguists. You have to take the DLAB to qualify ahead of time, so just a heads up there. But you'll be spending alot of time working in the intelligence field overall as well as being the language expert for whatever mission you're working on. After Boot Camp you'll head to A-School in Monterey, CA. They are the only CT branch that doesn't go to Pensacola. During your time there you'll be learning whatever language you choose (Farsi, Chinese, Russian, Urdu, ect) Really it depends on the language on how long you're there for. The harder the language obviously the longer you'll have to stay there. But by the end of it you should be able to read, write, and speak whatever you went there for. As for assignments, the vast majority of CTI's go to NIOCs (Navy Information Operations Command). I'm sure you've noticed that didn't start with "USS" haha So as you can tell, most of your time will be spent on shore duty assignments. There are some opportunities for linguists to get on Aircrew or direct support to ships or subs as well though, if your looking for something more adventurous. As for being "locked in a room" due to our work being classified, that is not at all accurate. We DO work in classified facilities that have very strict security policies, but you would be working with almost every other CT branch as well as other services. Every CT branch does highly classified work, but once your inside the secure facility, typically it's not toooo segregated. The only time you would be moved off separate somewhere would be if you're working a pretty sensitive mission (and that is pretty rare and usually requires alot of experience before you would get moved there). If you do end up taking orders for Aircrew or as direct support to ships or subs, that would be one of the times you're segregated from most folks. Mostly just due to the fact that your workspace needs a security clearance that most of the other people there won't have. But outside of your workspace, you would be with the rest of the crew. Hope that sheds some light on CTI! It's a pretty rewarding job if you like getting into a specific culture and it does offer some really cool opportunities if you're willing to go after them. /r CTT1

07-05-2014, 10:32 AM	#5
FlyNavy Active Duty Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Secret Secret Posts: 1,284 Rep Power: 0	Also, no I'm not related to a Tony haha

07-05-2014, 12:23 PM	#6
lilyputian Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Wow, thank you so much for all the info! I'm glad to know my BS meter is still intact. It was definitely going off when my friend was telling me the reasons I shouldn't go for CTI. It sounds perfect for me since I'm not super thrilled about the idea of being at sea (though of course I wouldn't mind, since I obviously voluntarily selected the Navy).

07-06-2014, 11:36 PM	#7
coopdeville Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: AZ Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	I've read as a CTT you can volunteer for Aircrew. How does that process work and did you ever think about doing it? So you know much about CTR? Boring, exciting, cool? Any of those things?

07-10-2014, 02:05 PM	#10
JoeSpook Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Clarksburg, WV Posts: 45 Rep Power: 0	Thank you, CTT1 Griffin! It was actually an active-duty Marine who called me (our wives are good friends) when he found out I was joining the Navy, warning me that they borrow Navy people for all sorts of things. He may have been referring to World Language Specialists, though... we didn't get to talk very long, so I'm a little unclear on what exactly his reservations were. I'm cool with Pensacola, and honestly I was (mentally) prepared for SERE when I was contemplating the Air Force's "Airborne Linguist" job. I'm not trying to sound BA by any means, but really I don't understand what everyone's big fuss about this job is. I'm excited to tackle all of the new challenges. This is like signing up for a marathon: training is going to be hard as hell, but I can't wait to see the man I've become at the end of it all. Again, many thanks! I'll be spooking about before too long.