By Glenn Sircy, Center for Information Warfare Training
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station graduated 12 Sailors from the inaugural Navy Cryptologic Communications Course (NAV3C), July 16.
The new NAV3C is approximately nine weeks and provides E1-E6 cryptologic technician (collection), or CTR, personnel with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to conduct basic cryptologic and signals intelligence operations while operating tactical cryptologic systems.
CTRs serve as experts in intercepting signals. Primarily, their responsibility is to collect, analyze and report on communication signals using computers, specialized computer-assisted communications equipment, video display terminals and electronic/magnetic tape recorders; exploit signals of interest to identify, locate and report worldwide threats; and provide tactical and strategic signals intelligence, technical guidance, and information warfare support to surface, subsurface, air and special warfare units. CTRs can also be assigned duties as fusion analysts – a role that involves taking intelligence data from multiple sources, effectively “piecing together the puzzle,” and generating a coherent intelligence product report to be used by decision makers.
“This course is extremely important to fix a large gap in CTR training both afloat and ashore,” shared Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Robert J. Butler, Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) CTR rating training lead. “Our current process only taught about 45-48% of current CTR occupational standards, and our rating has suffered because of this gap. With this course implemented, we will be better prepared to support our information warfare leadership in a strategic competition and against all endeavors throughout the world.”
With supervision and using technical references, CTR graduates are able to detect, classify, track, and report signals of interest/critical signals of interests; provide indications and warning to warfare commanders and national consumers; and support information operations in accordance with fleet and national tasking.
“The end state goal is that every CTR go through Communications Signals Collection Course 460 and then straight into NAV3C to become rated as a CTR. This will happen in Fiscal Year 2022,” added Butler.
When asked, how they feel this new course will better prepare CTRs to fight and win in the fleet, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Talisman Nellum, an instructor, responded, “This course is filled with a substantial amount of information that touches on multiple aspects of CTR jobs and requirements. The addition of the end-of-course capstone answers the ‘why’ associated with all of the knowledge and practical skills taught over the course of nine weeks, giving students a slice of the day-to-day life as a CTR afloat inducing that ‘lightbulb’ moment. This final event helps to integrate first-accession CTRs into their perspective commands, greatly reducing time spent covering on-the-job training.”
“NAV3C in concert with the existing CSCC teaches to approximately 96% of the CTR3 occupational standards,” added Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Marshall Shortman, an IWTC Corry Station instructor. “This is a major leap from the current coverage we have delivered only to seabound CTRs, and this course will be included in the pipeline for all CTRs. Quite honestly, this course has taught me things I hadn’t learned in over a decade as a CTR. The fleet is about to receive the most knowledgeable first-accession Sailors ever to leave Corry Station.”
As highly trained new graduates of NAV3C, the Sailors lauded the course and how it has prepared them well for the fleet.
“NAV3C was a tough course, but I am confident that I am better prepared than previous Sailors that did not have the opportunity to take the course,” stated Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Seaman Samuel Roy. “This class has taught what is expected of me as a CTR in order to support the ship’s mission. I feel that I now have the knowledge and tools at my disposal to solve job related problems.”
This course is a must for incoming CTRs in order for them to perform fleet based cryptologic operations at a higher level,” added Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 3rd Class Dennis Perez. “As our rating capabilities continue to grow, so should our training abilities. NAV3C is a great opportunity to fill that gap and prepare the fleet.”
“The course capstone has made the course come together for me, and our training has prepared us very well for this event,” commented Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Seaman Benjamin Granat. “It brought together all that we learned, and we are provided with all the resources we need to succeed. All in all the class is well put together and rewarding. NAV3C broke us down but built us back up by the end.”
IWTC Corry Station, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains approximately 26,000 students every year, delivering trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.
For more news from the Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/CIWT, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.
Date Taken: | 07.16.2021 |
Date Posted: | 07.17.2021 06:14 |
Story ID: | 400951 |
Location: | PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US |
Web Views: | 2,282 |
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