By Lt. Cmdr. Gary Kirchner, Naval Personnel Development Command Public Affairs
CORY STATION, FL -- In an effort to leverage the strength of two key intelligence ratings, while streamlining the collection and processing training pipeline, the electronic warfare technician (EW) rating recently merged with cryptologic technician - technical (CTT). Conversion of all EWs to the CTT designator is already underway, creating an elite community of about 3,000 technicians.
“This merger will create efficiencies in delivering training and reductions in cost to train,” said Commander Naval Education and Training Command Vice Adm. Alfred G. Harms, Jr. “This will also enable us to cross utilize our Sailors whose job it is to provide threat recognition and electronic countermeasures.”
Since each rating focuses on gathering electronic intelligence signals from a variety of sources, and operating and maintaining equipment designed to deceive and jam enemy sensors, specifically those associated with electronically guided weapons systems, the merger will significantly increase the number and diversity of duty stations available. Both highly selective fields, the merger also creates an even greater talent pool from which to draw, greatly enhancing operational readiness.
“This was a smart step to take,” said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) (SW/AW) Benjamin Key, Center for Naval Cryptology 5 Vector Model manager and a former EW. “We basically do the same job. With this merger we will have more career opportunities. Before our options were sea duty or shore duty as an instructor. Now with the right schooling we can be assigned to subs or become part of an aircrew.”
The origins of EWs date back to World War I when the British used coastal radio direction finders to locate and determine the direction of the German fleet before the Battle of Jutland. Since, the importance of technicians rapidly grew through World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the war in Vietnam. In the 1970s the Navy began teaching radarmen and electronic technicians electronic warfare. Sailors holding the Navy Enlisted Classification to operate and maintain electronic warfare equipment were the first Sailors to be converted to electronic warfare technicians.
“This important step gets us closer to aggressively transforming Navy cryptology,” said Commander Naval Security Group Command Rear Adm. Joe Burns. “Key to this transformation is shaping the [technician] ratings to meet the demands of Seapower 21 and the Information Age.”
To learn more about cryptologic technicians and the merger, visit the Center for Naval Cryptology page on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) at www.nko.navy.mil.
