DECEMBER 15. 2014, PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) – In an effort to deliver cryptologists to the fleet faster, the Center for Information Dominance (CID) announced Dec. 12 that it will directly provide group-paced apprentice technical training (ATT) for the cryptologic technician (technical) and the cryptologic technician (maintenance) ratings.
ATT provides new Sailors with technical training on basic electricity, basic electronics, communications and radar.
The course was previously taught locally by the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) in Pensacola, which required two barracks moves by CTT/M students transferring between Naval Air Station Pensacola and Corry Station, Pensacola. ATT will now be delivered to cryptologists by CID Unit Corry Station (CIDUCS), the location where the students report following Boot Camp in Great Lakes.
“This is a significant improvement for the CTT and CTM pipelines,” said Commanding Officer of CIDUCS, Cmdr. Christopher Bryant. “It will help optimize training cycle times and reduce the total time and cost to train our students. By keeping them in one location, we eliminate two moves, reducing the idle time of Sailors waiting for a course convening and increasing student throughput.”
According to Bryant, for the Sailors involved, there are also intangible benefits in providing all accession level pipeline training at the same physical location. The instructors are able to teach multiple course curricula, align rating peer groups for performance evaluations, and further professional development in the enlisted information dominance warfare specialist program.
Two Sailors in December’s inaugural CIDUCS ATT class, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd Class Lisa Garner and Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd Class Catherine Carter said their quality of life and instruction is improved as a result of having the ATT course at Corry Station.
“Having all the courses at the Center for Information Dominance makes things easier for the students and the staff,” said Carter. “Not having to move all my things from Corry Station to NAS and back to Corry Station in a six-week period is a pleasant thought, not to mention only one check-in and check-out process.”
Garner noted that watch standing and liberty requirements are also easier with only one command’s involvement.
“Our earned liberty phases remain in place and we do not have to requalify on watches that we just qualified on weeks before and that means a lot to us,” she said. “Also, having all the pipeline courses on Corry Station makes for less paperwork for the staff and allows for better student time management”.
Capt. Maureen Fox, CID commanding officer, said the collaborative effort to make the ATT move happen was the correct enterprise alignment.
“I was very happy in the performance of the CID folks, particularly the technical support, functional integration, and training department contributions,” Fox said. “Finding and installing all of the technical training equipment and devices were challenges that the CID facilities staff met with tremendous dedication and extraordinary effort. Anytime we can improve training and at the same time improve the quality of life of our Sailors, that’s true success.”
CIDUCS delivers Navy and joint forces training in information operations, information warfare, information technology and cryptology, providing training for approximately 8,000 service members each year. With a staff of 300 military and civilian instructors, CID UCS oversees the development and administration of 35 courses of instruction.
For more information about the Center for Information Dominance and its field activities, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ceninfodom/