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Center for Cryptology Offers Tailored Waterfront Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041230-05
Release Date: 12/30/2004 11:50:00 AM

By Darlene Goodwin, Center for Cryptology Corry Station Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla (NNS) -- In October, The Center for Cryptology Corry Station initiated a new training program for sea-based cryptologic technicians (CT), specifically tailored to individual strengths and weaknesses, in the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group (CSG), homeported in Norfolk, Va., and the USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in San Diego.

This first run of the training program will be completed prior to the strike groups' 2005 deployments, followed by fleetwide implementation.

According to Center for Cryptology (CC) Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin R. Hooley, the program represents a major shift in the way cryptologic training is delivered.

"We're moving away from one size fits all training, which I like to say actually fits no one, to a performance based, individual need driven training," said Hooley. "Our primary goal is to provide optimally trained sea warriors to the strike groups for deployment."

Under the old system, all CTs in a CSG or ESG would be sent through pre-deployment training together. The classes were taught on pre-determined topics, which weren't aimed at any particular pay grade or experience level. In that situation, some Sailors would be much more familiar with the subject matter than others, resulting in a less than efficient use of training time and dollars, and a less than optimum training experience for the Sailors.

The new program begins with a Sailor being evaluated by his or her division leading chief petty officer. The chief then takes the Sailor to the CC Learning Site in the ship's homeport -- Norfolk, San Diego, Whidbey Island, Wash., Pearl Harbor, Hawaii or Yokosuka, Japan -- for a comprehensive written examination. Staff members at the learning site evaluate the chief's appraisal and results of the exam, and develop a profile of the Sailor's professional knowledge, skills and abilities.

"We isolate the Sailor's weak points and train to them, and we build on their strengths," said Hooley. "We will do that for each Sailor who is getting ready to deploy. So, when that strike group deploys, we've given them the very best tools (in the form of well trained Sailors) to succeed at their mission."

CC Corry Station's point man on the waterfront training initiative, Lt. William Icenogle, said the individual Sailor profiles will be used to develop blended training solutions, which will likely include various training delivery methods from traditional classroom instruction to online courses.

"For example, security is one of those things all CTs have to know," said Icenogle. "While an eLearning course may suffice perfectly for that, something like cryptologic systems interface -- where the Sailor has to sit at the equipment and perform operations -- might require a combination of things, such as eLearning, curriculum, or hands-on training with a subject matter expert."

Hooley believes the blended solution is key to maximizing the benefit of the waterfront training to the individual Sailor.

"The best way to get the job done -- whether tutoring, touching the equipment, or going to a place to see how they conduct operations -- whatever the answer is, we'll apply it," Hooley said. "This is the continued realization of the Navy's Revolution in Training goal of providing the right training to the right people at the right time and place."