Over 55 facilitators, and subject matter experts (SMEs) from the cryptologic technician (networks) (CTN) community and the Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), represented by Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Blake Berry, met for an occupational standards (OCCSTDS) review workshop for the CTN rating at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, Florida, Jan. 27-31.

Navy CTNs employ tactical and strategic capabilities to plan, develop, and execute offensive and defensive cyberspace operations; perform threat analysis, digital forensics, network exploitation, research and development, and mission planning; leverage tactical and strategic signals intelligence and cryptologic functions; produce and execute cyberspace effects; identify and report worldwide threats in support of special operations forces, and national, fleet, and joint requirements; and control and safeguard access to classified material and information systems.

NAVMAC is tasked by the chief of naval personnel with the development, review and maintenance of accurate enlisted OCCSTDS. However, since CIWT is home to many senior CTNs, CIWT hosted the workshop.

“This was the largest, most diverse and knowledgeable CTN working group we’ve ever assembled,” said Sam Kelley, CIWT’s N75 requirements director. “Due to the expanding nature of the CTN rating’s missions, and the evolving Cyber Mission Force, enables us to work together to better prepare our CTN Sailors in warfighting readiness skills required in order to meet the Navy, great powers, secretary of the Navy vectors, and national needs.”

The CTN review consisted of a panel of enlisted E-5 through E-9, and most are the SMEs from each of the major CTN-centric commands.

“This review offered me a valuable chance to work alongside and be mentored by some of the Navy’s most senior CTNs,” said Cryptologic Technician (Networks) 1st Class Jared Johnson, attached to CIWT’s training directorate. “I greatly appreciate this opportunity to help shape and improve our rating.”

According to the Naval Personnel Command’s website, “standards are defined as those minimum capabilities which the Navy expects and requires of individuals with each rating.”

The OCCSTDS are statements that describe the Navy’s minimum requirement/skills of a Navy enlisted rating as established by the rating’s primary resource/warfare sponsor. The OCCSTDS also establish the basis for all Navy professional development and training tools, such as rate training manuals, personnel qualification standards, course curricula and advancement exams. Because of this, updating and maintaining OCCSTDs are critical to ensuring that they accurately reflect what jobs Sailors in specific ratings are performing in the fleet.

During the biennial review workshop, the SMEs broke down core tasks, job descriptions, skills and abilities of CTNs to set the minimum required standards for each paygrade.

In the end, the group identified a new CTN rating job scope, nine new CTN jobs, 178 new tasks, new functional areas, and new skills and ability alignment. The CTN rating now has a total of 304 tasks, broken down per each paygrade, and the new jobs include: cyber defense analyst; defense forensics analyst; exploitation analyst; cyber operations planner; access network operator; interactive operator; research & development specialist; digital network analyst; and cyber threat emulation operator.

"The review process is an opportunity to bring together the best and brightest of our rating to go over every aspect of our job, and ensure we are taking the proper measures to maintain the highest standards for CTNs," said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Aaron Manning, CTN rating lead at CIWT. "The work our team accomplished will define CTN training and advancement for many years to come."

The occupational standards review is at the beginning of the Naval Education and Training Command's end-to-end process for creating and revising course curricula, which ensures all training meets fleet requirements and Ready, Relevant Learning standards. It also serves to align jobs in each rating with Department of Labor occupations to ensure enlisted ratings are consistent with industry-level standards.

"It’s imperative that we regularly bring together our subject matter experts to participate in the occupational standards review process, and provide a voice to those CTNs who are not currently stationed at the main centers," said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Cecilia Medina, attached to CIWT’s training directorate. "It's an awesome feeling knowing the team’s work here this week greatly benefits our fellow CTNs by maximizing their warfighting abilities."

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and multiple training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past three years. Training over 20,000 students every year, CIWT delivers 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.

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