Ask A Spook! Cryptologic Questions

FlyNavy · 03-04-2016, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGladhill

I'm fairly certain you don't have to volunteer for air or subs. And though I'm not heading in as a CTI, I think I've read that you really get no choice in what language you get.

Enjoy basic though, I leave Monday and it's supposed to be a warmer than average spring up in Great Lakes! #excited

In order to go Aircrew of Subs you must volunteer. If you don't want to go there then don't volunteer yourself. You can't be assigned those duties without that signed Page 13 though. Also, if you want out of those programs later on you can always drop out of them, as they are volunteer only.

Also, CTI's usually do get some limited pick based on their scores and what's available. All of the CTI's I work with had some what of a say (again, only based on what was available and what they qualified for).

/r
CTT1

ejrwelch · 03-10-2016, 04:16 PM

So I'm answering in reverse order. I graduated about a year and a half ago from DLI anywho here we go!

when you sign for CTI you DO sign a paper saying you volunteer for aircrew/sub. Those billets are sparse though. During your last few months at A school you'll get a dream sheet and can put shore as your top 3 choices. chance are you will get it. You do not go to sub school as a rider but would go to aircrew school as aircrew. You will NOT get outconus orders your first tour since you have to go to your F school which is located at one of the four permanent duty stations.

You can not make e4 until after you graduate your a school. So if you take one of the harder languages thats almost a year and a half in. You may get frocked right after graduation or a few months later at your PDS. Depending on when you make e4 will depend on which cycle you'll be able to test for e5 first. For example I got frocked in Dec and that was the cut off for the Mar cycle. You can make E5 fairly quickly but the advancement exam is killer. That's about all I can say on it. I do know several people who did pass it on their first time up though. I just tested for the third time today! -_- E5 is the technical expert so having experience helps alot and will make you a better E5.

What you find on the Internet about where people go is pretty accurate. Those are the four you can go to on first tour depending on language. good job researching it prior to!

if you reenlist you can get it in your contract to go back to DLI. I'd personally never want to go back. There are a lot of resources (open to everyone in the military! pm if in and interested in learning a second language!) available to teach yourself an additional language. I'm working on language 3 and 4 right now! Yay me!

Language assignment is very random and needs of the navy. I got lucky as was asked what I wanted and got my 2nd choice. woo. The CTICS who assigns the language won't know about your experience unless you tell them. So don't bring it up if you don't want to. They also try to put you in something other than what you know so they can get the most out of you. You can DLPT in Chinese and try to get that extra pay if you think you can do well enough!

Jack · 04-06-2016, 10:51 PM

General question re: the SSBI, how deep do they go? Only reason I ask is I had a few speeding tickets in my younger years that my recruiter told me weren't on my record anymore and thus she didn't put it on my SF-86 (although I have an unnerving feeling this is a mistake). Any advice on the subject? I take my DLAB on the 18th and I'm nervous that it will all be a waste of time

FlyNavy · 04-07-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack

General question re: the SSBI, how deep do they go? Only reason I ask is I had a few speeding tickets in my younger years that my recruiter told me weren't on my record anymore and thus she didn't put it on my SF-86 (although I have an unnerving feeling this is a mistake). Any advice on the subject? I take my DLAB on the 18th and I'm nervous that it will all be a waste of time

An SSBI goes back 10 years.

That being said, if they DO find something that they don't like then your investigator will talk to you about it and you can explain what's up. Just be straight forward and honest and you should be fine. Speeding tickets (as long as we're not talking habitual or felony level) shouldn't be a huge issue.

Things that would really trip up an investigation would be things like ties to foreign countries/nationals, excessive unexplained debt (ie, not a car loan or student debt), drug or alcohol issues, that kind of thing.

tl;dr
Don't sweat it, you're fine.

/r
CTT1

Jack · 04-07-2016, 06:16 PM

Foreign nations might trip me up. I have a few friends from Israel who serve in intelligence and special units, but I put all of them down on my SSBI. As for my loans, my credit is all good so I'm not worried

FlyNavy · 04-07-2016, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack

Foreign nations might trip me up. I have a few friends from Israel who serve in intelligence and special units, but I put all of them down on my SSBI. As for my loans, my credit is all good so I'm not worried

Oh yea, I would say that's important!

Your best bet is to be 100% open with that stuff. If they even have an idea you might be lying and it's concerning ties to something like Israeli intelligence? They aren't going to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Be 100% forthcoming and honest. That's my best advice. If you hide it they will find it, and that'll be the end of the road. So just don't haha That's not a disqualifying factor in itself, but you will need to be very clear about it if they have questions.

/r
CTT1

Barbazu · 04-08-2016, 05:55 AM

How much can a spook tell their wife about what they do? Can I just say, "I work with computers (CTN)" or can I tell her more?

03-10-2016, 04:16 PM	#2
ejrwelch Active Duty Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: GA Posts: 185 Rep Power: 0	So I'm answering in reverse order. I graduated about a year and a half ago from DLI anywho here we go! when you sign for CTI you DO sign a paper saying you volunteer for aircrew/sub. Those billets are sparse though. During your last few months at A school you'll get a dream sheet and can put shore as your top 3 choices. chance are you will get it. You do not go to sub school as a rider but would go to aircrew school as aircrew. You will NOT get outconus orders your first tour since you have to go to your F school which is located at one of the four permanent duty stations. You can not make e4 until after you graduate your a school. So if you take one of the harder languages thats almost a year and a half in. You may get frocked right after graduation or a few months later at your PDS. Depending on when you make e4 will depend on which cycle you'll be able to test for e5 first. For example I got frocked in Dec and that was the cut off for the Mar cycle. You can make E5 fairly quickly but the advancement exam is killer. That's about all I can say on it. I do know several people who did pass it on their first time up though. I just tested for the third time today! -_- E5 is the technical expert so having experience helps alot and will make you a better E5. What you find on the Internet about where people go is pretty accurate. Those are the four you can go to on first tour depending on language. good job researching it prior to! if you reenlist you can get it in your contract to go back to DLI. I'd personally never want to go back. There are a lot of resources (open to everyone in the military! pm if in and interested in learning a second language!) available to teach yourself an additional language. I'm working on language 3 and 4 right now! Yay me! Language assignment is very random and needs of the navy. I got lucky as was asked what I wanted and got my 2nd choice. woo. The CTICS who assigns the language won't know about your experience unless you tell them. So don't bring it up if you don't want to. They also try to put you in something other than what you know so they can get the most out of you. You can DLPT in Chinese and try to get that extra pay if you think you can do well enough!

04-06-2016, 10:51 PM	#3
Jack Newbie Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	General question re: the SSBI, how deep do they go? Only reason I ask is I had a few speeding tickets in my younger years that my recruiter told me weren't on my record anymore and thus she didn't put it on my SF-86 (although I have an unnerving feeling this is a mistake). Any advice on the subject? I take my DLAB on the 18th and I'm nervous that it will all be a waste of time

04-07-2016, 06:16 PM	#5
Jack Newbie Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Foreign nations might trip me up. I have a few friends from Israel who serve in intelligence and special units, but I put all of them down on my SSBI. As for my loans, my credit is all good so I'm not worried

04-08-2016, 05:55 AM	#7
Barbazu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Arkansas Posts: 237 Rep Power: 0	How much can a spook tell their wife about what they do? Can I just say, "I work with computers (CTN)" or can I tell her more?