Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Schoolhouse Delivers New Skills to the Fleet

The Cryptologic Technician Maintenance (CTM) schoolhouse at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station has recently completed the pilot course for the much anticipated Cryptologic Installation Methods, Practices, and Procedures (CRIMP) course.

CRIMP provides additional training to new and fleet returnee CTM Sailors that will be assigned to Fleet Electronic Support (FES) shops or Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Hopper Information Service Centers to support Navy surface, subsurface, and shore mission requirements.

The course pilot provided instructors the opportunity to validate the curriculum, course materials, and equipment delivered by Center for Information Warfare and Training (CIWT). The course pilot consisted of 10 first accession Sailors that recently graduated CTM “A” school. Their inputs provided invaluable course feedback that will be used to adjust refine training for future classes.

“This course helped prepare me to be a more productive Sailor in the Fleet,” said Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 3rd Class Adriana Fernandezcobian, from San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. “It has provided me a better understanding of the requirements that my field will be expecting in the fleet and makes me excited for my role in the Navy.”

CRIMP’s objective is to instill fleet required skills at the E-2 through E-6 level in order to perform cryptologic system installation. CRIMP graduates will then report to their respective shops and support the surface Cryptologic Carry-On Program (CCOP), submarine Carry-On Equipment (COE) program, or one of several ONI Hopper Information Services Centers.

Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 1st Class Devin Brooks said, “It has been a privilege being one of the first instructors to facilitate CRIMP. I can say without any doubt that the curriculum is filling training gaps identified by the fleet. Our students have gained the requisite knowledge of configuring and securing switches and routers. They also have an understanding of how to terminate fiber optic cables and read ship drawings.”

 
The CRIMP curriculum consists of: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) levels one and two, shipboard and shore power, grounding, equipment rack hardware, networking and radio frequency (RF) cable fabrication, networking equipment installation and maintenance, tactical cryptologic system installation and removal, and an introduction to CompTIA Security+.

“We are training to all facets of the CTM rate; software, hardware, power, and RF,” said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Robert Garner, an IWTC Corry Station CRIMP instructor. “It is my hope that the training we provide will allow our graduates to hit the decks sprinting upon reporting to their ultimate duty station.”

The primary mode of instruction is a blended training solution, consisting of knowledge-based instructor-led training, computer-simulated network configuration training, and performance-based lab applications. The course is facilitated in a group-paced environment, consisting of classroom instructional theory which is reinforced by practical applications in the lab.

One student came with previous cyber security experience and provided unique feedback.

“The course was a great refresher and gave a different perspective on how standard technical training aligns with Navy operations,” said Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 3rd Class Duncan Alatar from Alpharetta, Georgia.
CRIMP challenged students at all levels, even those that joined with a greater knowledge base, like Fernandezcobian and Alatar.

“The training was extensive and provided a baseline to build our Navy career. It will raise our capabilities and allow us to support the mission better,” said Alatar.
“This is the course I wish I had before going to FES,” said Garner.

CRIMP is part of the Navy’s Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) objective. It will provide the right training, at the right place, and the right time to enhance the skills of future technicians. This course will increase opportunities to pursue Security+ and CCNA certifications with specialized training from the CompTIA and Cisco developers. In late October, the next class will be convening to continue training the future maintenance technicians to support fleet needs.

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Eddie Kyles stated, “I am excited to see the improvements that this course will provide to the fleet. With complete certainty, the feedback from the fleet identifying CTM training deficiencies have been resolved. Our Information Warriors are better prepared to troubleshoot, maintain, and defend our networks.”

IWTC Corry Station is a part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT). With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains more than 20,000 students every year, delivering 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.