Twenty-five subject matter experts (SMEs) from the cryptologic technician (interpretive) (CTI) community and the Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC) met for an occupational standards (OCCSTDS) review workshop for the CTI rating at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) on board Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, Florida, Jan. 14-17.

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 CTIs, CIWT hosted the workshop. 

“This was the largest, most diverse and knowledgeable CTI working group we’ve ever assembled,” said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Andrew Leshnov, attached to CIWT’s training directorate. “Due to the expanding nature of the CTI rating’s missions, we are better preparing our CTI Sailors in warfighting readiness for the Navy the nation needs.”

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

“This workshop offered me a valuable chance to work alongside and be mentored by some of the Navy’s most senior CTIs,” said Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class Noah Hibbler, attached to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia. “I greatly appreciate this opportunity to help shape and improve our rating.” 

“I am humbled to be on this team that worked together to transform and advance our rating for many years to come,” shared Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class Constance Miller, attached to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount during this experience, and it will help me be a better technician and leader.”

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 CTIs to set the minimum required standards for each pay grade. 

"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 CTIs," said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Russ Crandall, CTI rating lead at Naval Information Forces. "The work our team accomplished will define CTI 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 CTIs who are not currently stationed at the main centers," said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Benjamin Midkiff, attached to CIWT’s training directorate. "It's an awesome feeling knowing the team’s work here this week greatly benefits our fellow linguists by maximizing their warfighting abilities."

With four school house commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past two years. Training over 21,000 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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