I'm a 2E251 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/a/afjob2e2x1_2.htm), USAF

Pretty cool career field; I like it a lot. I went to tech school at Keesler AFB, and was there during Hurricane Katrina. Spent the vast majority of my training there, AFTER the hurricane. 2E2's are kind of a jack-of-all trades job, in the comm. world, and quite often, we are also masters of all trades.

Naval cryptologic network operator (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/navy/a/navyctn.htm) myself. Before that, I was an information systems technician. You can pretty much guess what I do and what I did.

3P031 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/a/afjob3p0x1.htm).

I'm almost done with my CDCs to become 5 level, then I plan to work either CATM (Combat Arms Training and Maintenance) or MWD Handler (Military Working Dog).

25b (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/25b.htm), u.s. army.

the title makes it sound more complicated than it really is. basically i just maintain computers, networks, and various other communication devices.

11B

Its got some modifiers behind it too.

Infantry.

Naval cryptologic network operator (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/navy/a/navyctn.htm) myself. Before that, I was an information systems technician. You can pretty much guess what I do and what I did.

very cool, i was a CTM

theres an opening for catm right now, because I'm putting in my application at this time, but you have to have 2 years in or on station I really can't remember

theres an opening for catm right now, because I'm putting in my application at this time, but you have to have 2 years in or on station I really can't remember

You just have to finish your CDCs and become a 5 level is all. At least thats what my CDCs say.
Hey, you're the one at Malmstrom, too, arent you?

You just have to finish your CDCs and become a 5 level is all. At least thats what my CDCs say.
Hey, you're the one at Malmstrom, too, arent you?

sadly I am, but yeah I just asked someone earlier you have to have 2 yrs in service... what squadron are you in

741 MSFS, SETs. June 5th will be the end of my first year enlistment.

Though I'm getting sent to do LE for 3 months because of stuff going on at the W.

yeah, I'm 341 msfs, they put my name down on the list to go down the WSA, but hopefully I'll be gone before then...

68X (Mental Health Specialist) for the US Army Reserve. Brain Rangers!

Four years and one deployment to Iraq down, four more years and an Afghanistan deployment to go.

I'm still a Marine Corps poolee, with 0300 Infantry MOS for my enlistment option.

My MOS is 15T Blackhawk Repairer (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/15t.htm) My job is secretary. I get to my first duty station and what do you know. Send the guys that failed their PT tests to become crew chiefs and send the guy with a private pilot license and a GT score of 130 to be a fucking secretary in Production Control. Joined the Army to get away from being a desk jockey and look what happens. /psychotic ranting

ET3 (Electronics Technician 3rd Class)

Specifically radar. My NEC is 1503 (AN/SPS-49 Technician) trying to pick up a few more right now.

11B - US Army.

Infantry leads the way Drill Sergeant.

Although I'm told that my unit is mechanized so...possibly 11M

2T331, Vehicle Maintenance and Equipment. Currently at Port Hueneme, CA. Next base, Elmendorf AFB, AK.

Just sucking wind til my shit gets straight for now.

I'm AV (Avionics), Navy.

Vorpal: What does it take to get into CTN? I scored 92 on the ASVAB and 137 on the DLAB and would have been in CTI if I could get a clearance. The counselors at the Navy shop told me I can get one if they waive something at RTC (military.com forum members said I should never hope for anything to be waived at RTC); otherwise, I'll have to wait 18 months or some such.

I was under the impression that CTNs have to come from another CT rating. Is this still true? Should I try to get into one of the CT ratings that are being combined into CTN, then see about moving?

For a long time, the CTN rate was open only to active duty sailors in another technologically-based rate such as CTR, CTT, CTM, or IT. Originally, if you applied to become a CTN, you were automatically accepted as they needed people to fill billets. Eventually, they had to stop this due to the caliber of individuals joining the rate. CTN is no joke; it's a very formidable rate. There are so many specialized facets you have to know in order to do your job, all of them related to network security. I'm talking about programming, internetwork engineering, digital signal analysis, everything. Don't know what sinkhole routing is? You had better find out. Don't know what backscatter tracing is? Better study up. If you are unable to look at program source code and at least tell if its compiled or interpreted, even if you don't know the language, you're behind the curve.

The rate is so involved, there's an "A" school and three required NECs. They only teach the very basics of all this stuff in those classes, too.

When they cut off the guaranteed acceptance in to the rate, they made it quite a bit more involved to become one. You have to take somewhere on the order of about 20 different tests plus an entire course on digital network analysis. If your test results are up to par, you go before a board. They grill you on more stuff related to the rate. If you do well there, you have to submit a rate-conversion package. Once this is approved, you're good to go.

The difference nowadays is that CTN is open to new recruits. They still have to go through all the same crap with the exception of the rate conversion; that particular part is replaced with the initial job choice.

Some other things to consider:

You will be required to have the highest level security clearance. It normally takes about 6 months, but I've seen it take as long as 2 years for field agents to interview basically everyone you've ever met to make sure you're trustworthy enough for it. You've gotta have a good credit rating and zero felonies. A misdemenor may even fuck up your chances.
A fantastic ASVAB score doesn't mean anything when applying for CTN. They're interested in three or four specific parts of the test and how well you did on those parts. I forget which parts they were.
Most CTNs end up on the "blue team" at NSA headquarters or NCDOC. If you're really lucky, you join the "red team" in Pensacola, Florida or at JFCCNW.
You've gotta be a little weird to join this rate. Nobody enjoys tech like this unless there's something slightly wrong with them. Seriously, if you hate computers or get annoyed with them, this is not the rate for you.

Ooh, nice, that's probably more of the sort of information I need than I could get elsewhere, considering CTN is still relatively new and 'under wraps'. Are you able to elaborate on red team/blue team? All I can gather from what you said is where they are.

Thanks.

If you don't get CTN don't get to upset. You rarely, if ever, actually see them in the fleet. AV is a good program to get into, AE and AT are the two actual ratings that come from the AV program. AE being the aviation counterpart to my rating. And as for having things waived at RTC, thats a negative. Anything you want done before you go to boot camp get it done BEFORE you leave.

If you don't get CTN don't get to upset. You rarely, if ever, actually see them in the fleet. AV is a good program to get into, AE and AT are the two actual ratings that come from the AV program. AE being the aviation counterpart to my rating. And as for having things waived at RTC, thats a negative. Anything you want done before you go to boot camp get it done BEFORE you leave.

Okay, thanks. I don't know if I have any choice in the matter, but I'm hoping for AT as it seems more along the lines of what I'd like, but anything in electronics would be nice.

I'm not a hacker in any sense of the word. I dabble in programming, play around at hackthissite, test exploits when I learn about them (* injection, XSS, etc.), and never really do much with myself. I suppose if they expect me to know shit already I have poor chances at CTN. CTI or IT would be wonderful, anyway, if I can get a clearance.

Okay, thanks. I don't know if I have any choice in the matter, but I'm hoping for AT as it seems more along the lines of what I'd like, but anything in electronics would be nice.

I'm not a hacker in any sense of the word. I dabble in programming, play around at hackthissite, test exploits when I learn about them (* injection, XSS, etc.), and never really do much with myself. I suppose if they expect me to know shit already I have poor chances at CTN. CTI or IT would be wonderful, anyway, if I can get a clearance.

You won't have any choice in the matter. Around week 6/7 in boot camp you'll have your orders cut and it will say it in there.

Do you know what those would be based on? I figured they'd not branch people off in multi-rating programs like this until they have an idea of who would be best in what.
I was thinking they'd do it near the end of AV general training.

I just found this:


What They Do: AV sailors attend common basic electronics training, after which they are selected for either the Aviation Electrician (AE) rating or the Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) rating.


Oh, well, it's electronics in any case.

I'm not a hacker in any sense of the word. I dabble in programming, play around at hackthissite, test exploits when I learn about them (* injection, XSS, etc.), and never really do much with myself. I suppose if they expect me to know shit already I have poor chances at CTN. CTI or IT would be wonderful, anyway, if I can get a clearance.

It's not that they already expect you to know stuff when you go for CTN. They don't teach you anything at schools, they simply familiarize you with whatever it is you're being taught. Everything you actually learn is on the job. The trouble is, the vast majority of the people in the CTN rate are incapable of doing this. You already have a little bit of background experience, so that's good.

I say go for it. The worst that can happen is they say "No. Pick another rate."

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/a/afjob2a6x4.htm

2A634- Aircraft Fuel Systems Apprentice

Just got my cdc's after being here at Yokota AB for 4 months.

I work on the C-130H at this base. Hopefully when I PCS I get somewhere in Europe so I can work on the fighters.

Nothing yet, but come May of next year, I'll be a Construction Mechanic with the U.S. Navy. Had to get my ship date pushed back two months to get that job, but it beats MA and MM in my mind.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/cm.htm

USMC

0331 - Infantry Machingunner

Ship to basic on Thursday. I'll be in the Army as a Nodal Network Systems Operator Maintainer.

http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=368


I had wanted to go 25B, but it wasn't available in the right time frame. Looks like 25N is a good MOS-- new equipment, a lot of commercial off the shelf stuff-- Cisco routers, Juniper firewalls...

I'll be third generation Signal Corps :)

11B, Infantry, for the last six years. I'm an E-5 Sergeant, and I'm so fucking close to being promoted to Staff, it hurts. I've toured Iraq twice.
I recently passed Ranger Training, and I'm in the selection process for Special Forces.
Trying to learn Arabic, which is a bitch.
Anyways, if I qualify and pass training, I'll be an 18B, which is a Weapons Sergeant.

It's not that they already expect you to know stuff when you go for CTN. They don't teach you anything at schools, they simply familiarize you with whatever it is you're being taught. Everything you actually learn is on the job. The trouble is, the vast majority of the people in the CTN rate are incapable of doing this. You already have a little bit of background experience, so that's good.

I say go for it. The worst that can happen is they say "No. Pick another rate."


Alright, I'll do that.

Do you know what those would be based on? I figured they'd not branch people off in multi-rating programs like this until they have an idea of who would be best in what.
I was thinking they'd do it near the end of AV general training.

I just found this:



Oh, well, it's electronics in any case.

Its all based on manning and the needs of the navy (get used to that answer)

How was Ranger School? Was it easy to get a packet to ship to SFAS? I've heard it could be a pain if you're not an 18-xray.

Ranger School has a lot of hype built up, but it's still pretty tough.
The last phase is the hardest, trying to hike through a swamp is almost worse than marching in sand.

My advice is to exceed the physical requirements by a mile, gain about 5-10 pounds of fat (YOU WILL NEED IT) and to have Basic Airbourne Training out of the way.

SFAS is a pain to get into sometimes. I first applied about four years ago, but my unit rotated heavily in and out of Iraq, so it was unpredictable.
Ranger School is easier to get into, and having the Ranger Box checked off on your application makes it a lot easier to get in.


I hope I answered your questions.
By the way, are you in the military now?

Thanks for the advice.

No, not yet. I plan on enlisting with an option 40 contract, but I live up in BC so I'll have to drive my ass down to Seattle to find a recruiting station and get the physical outta the way.

I was asking cause I hear a lot of SF guys are prior Rangers so I figure it'd be a possibility down the road, although I'm just keeping my eyes on the 25m target right now.

No problem.

Good luck. :)

EOD. I'm the guy hunting IEDs and going boom in the night. But for right now they've got me studying technical manuals and pretending I'm about to get blown up all the time.

Apparently I'm too tall to be a pilot.

This exactly.

Anyways, if I qualify and pass training, I'll be an 18B, which is a Weapons Sergeant.

How can you possibly know what your MOS will be before having even completed selection?

How can you possibly know what your MOS will be before having even completed selection?

You can sign up with a guranteed job contract. I had a friend whos an airborne linguist do it that way.

^ Yep.

You get to pick your specialty, as long as there aren't any shortages.

is that so

35M in ARNG.

Leave for BCT on 4th of Aug.

1345 Heavy Equipment Operator USMC

ECN 343 - Infantry/Rifleman

13B, Cannon Crewmember (field artillery).

King of battle!