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
(CR) Cryptographer
(IN) Radio Intelligence
(TE) Technician
(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)* (See footnote below)
Rating established in 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) (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)
CTT Communications Technician (Technical Branch)
CTY Communications Technician (Clerk); disestablished in 1948
Cryptologic Technician (CT)
Name change effective on 26 March 1976
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 August 2003, the CTA Vision Message stated that CNSG is proactively engaging a rating merger in partnership with the CTA and service support community managers and other major stakeholders. CTA billets identified by commands, as admin support will be realigned to YN or other support ratings. CTA billets identified, as SSO/Security Program Management will remain.
In October 2003, the EW (Electronic Warfare Technician) Rating was disestablished and merged with the CTT (Cryptologic Technician Technical Branch) Rating.
In February 2004, the CTN (Cryptologic Technician Networks) Rating was established. The networks mission area is currently being performed by the CTM (Cryptologic Technician Maintenance), CTO (Cryptologic Technician Communications) and CTR (Cryptologic Technician Collection) ratings. As Sailors convert over time to CTN, these legacy ratings will be disestablished.
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 Supplementary 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.
* Note of interest: On various Museum Ships, there may be references to CTCs (For example: The Casualty List of the USS ARIZONA (BB-63) Memorial has them listed). The Turret Captain (CT) rate was terminated when Battleships and Cruisers that had turrets were decommissioned and all the gunship Aircraft Carriers had their turrets removed. The Turret Captain's duties were to maintain, instruct and take charge of the gun turret assigned. They were assigned to Aircraft Carriers, Battleships and Cruisers. Each turret was assigned a Chief Turret Captain or First Class Turret Captain or both.
Eyewitness to History: CTSSN/MAC/DPCS Joseph B. "Beikaigun Joe" O’Carroll graduated from CT "S" Class "A" School at Quarters K in Arlington, VA in June, 1953; as a CTSA "S" Brancher, and was assigned to Arlington Hall Station. In 1953/54, because the CT "S" rating was being phased out, he 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. He currently resides at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, in Gulfport, MS.