CTO SeaDogs
CT Rating History
Earliest Rating cousins:
Radioman (RM) - Established in 1921.
Telegrapher (T) - Established in 1926. Merged into Teleman Rating in 1948.
Specialists Sp(Q) - Established in 1942-1943. Merged into Communications Technician in 1948.
Specialists Sp(Q)(CR) Cryptographer
Specialists Sp(Q)(IN) Radio Intelligence
Specialists Sp(Q)(TE) Technician
Specialists Sp(Q)(RP) Registered Publication Clerk - Established in 1942-1943
Merged into the Teleman Rating in 1948.
Teleman (TE) - Established 1948. Merged into Yeoman and Radioman in 1962.
Source Ratings: Radioman (RM), Telegrapher (T), Mailman (MaM), Yeoman (YN) and Specialist Sp(Q)(RP) (Registered Publication Clerk)
Communications Technician (CT) Rating established 1948. Originally included eight (8) Branches.
Source Ratings:
Radioman (RM)
Specialist Sp(Q)(CR) (Cryptographer)
Specialist Sp(Q)(IN) (Radio Intelligence)
Specialist Sp(Q)(TE) (Technicians)
CT Communications Technician
CTA Communications Technician (Administrative Branch)
CTI Communications Technician (Interpretive Branch)
CTM Communications Technician (Maintenance Branch)
CTO Communications Technician (Communications Branch)
CTR Communications Technician (Collection Branch)
CTS Communications Technician (Special Devices Operator and Technician)
Disestablished in 1953/54. *See Footnote below.
CTT Communications Technician (Technical Branch)
CTY Communications Technician (Clerk). Disestablished in 1948.
Effective 26 March 1976, the rating name was changed to "Cryptologic Technician".
CT Cryptologic Technician
CTA Cryptologic Technician (Administrative Branch)
CTI Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive Branch)
CTM Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance Branch)
CTO Cryptologic Technician (Communications Branch)
CTR Cryptologic Technician (Collection Branch)
CTT Cryptologic Technician (Technical Branch)
In October 2003, the EW (Electronic Warfare Technician) rating was disestablished, and merged into the CTT Cryptologic Technician -Technical Branch rating.
In February 2004, the CTN - Cryptologic Technician (Networks) rating was established. The initial cadre of 242 CTN's were selected from the six Cryptologic Technician Ratings (CTA, CTI, CTM, CTO, CTR & CTT). The Rating conversion effective date was October 1, 2004.
On 01 October 2006, the CTO - Cryptologic Technician (Communications) rating was disestablished. All CTO's were converted to the IT - Information Systems Technician rating.
Early History:
Between 1924 and 1935, the Naval cryptology service developed operationally, culminating in the formation of the Naval Security Group effective 11 March 1935. That date marks the first appearance of the word "Group" in the title of the Naval cryptology organization and is observed as the birth of the Naval Security Group. The Navy Cryptologic organization was renamed the Communications Supplimentary Activities in 1945. In 1948, The Navy Rating "Communications Technician" was established. A closer alliance with Army and Air Force Cryptologists was formalized in 1949, with the establishment of the Armed Forces Security Agency. This organization was the precursor to the National Security Agency. The title "Naval Security Group" was re-adopted in late 1950, and has remained the official name since that time. In 1952, the National Security Agency was created from the Armed Forces Security Agency.
Recent History:
On 30 September 2005, the Naval Security Group command was disestablished; and was reorganized as COMNAVNETWARCOM IOD Ft. Meade, MD; an Information Operations Directorate of the Naval Network Warfare Command (NNWC), headquartered at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, VA. All Cryptologic Officers and Cryptologic Technicians were realigned into the NNWC echelon command structure. Earlier, on 23 May 2005, Cryptologic Officers (designators 161X, 164X, 644X and 744X) had been retitled as Information Warfare Officers, to acknowledge the expanded competencies and scope of responsibility the Navy had invested in this officer community.
On 30 September 2005, all Naval Security Group Activities (NSGA's) become Navy Information Operations Commands (NIOC's), and Naval Security Group Detachments (NSG Det's) became Navy Information Operations Detachments (NIOD's). Naval Security Group Support Detachments (NSG Support Dets) became NIODs. Naval Information Warfare Activity (NIWA) Ft. Meade became NIOC Suitland. Fleet Information Warfare Centers (FIWCs) merged with geographically co-located NSGA's to become NIOC's. FIWC Det San DIego and NSGA San Diego merged as NIOC San Diego on 27 July 2005. FIWC Norfolk and NSGA Norfolk merged as NIOC Norfolk on 05 November 2005.
Originally compiled 25 Jun 2001, and updated by:
CTOCS Michael R. Morris, USN, Retired, for the CTO SeaDogs Community WebSite.
Sources:
Charles A. Malin, draft of Compilation of Enlisted Ratings and Apprenticeships, U.S. Navy, 1775 to 1969. Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-A31), Washington, D.C., 1970.
Communications Technician "O" 3&2, Naval Education and Training Command, Rate Training Manual and Nonresident Career Course (RTM/NRCC) (NAVEDTRA 10235-C), U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., Revised 1975.
* Eyewitness to History:
CTSSN/MAC/DPCS Joseph B. "Beikaigun Joe" O'Carroll graduated as a CTSSA from CTS Class "A" School at Quarters K in Arlington VA in June 1953. He was assigned to Arlington Hall Station. In late 1953/early 1954, because the CTS rating was being phased out, CTSSN O'Carroll was directed to switch to another CT branch. Instead, he converted to the MA Rating (Machine Accountant) and became an MASN. MAC O'Carroll converted to DPC in 1967/68, and retired as a DPCS in May of 1983, with 30 years of service.
Commander, Naval Security Group Command (CNSG) (Source: CNSG WebSite)
Federation of American Scientists (FAS) (Source: FAS WebSite)
