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Cryptologic Technician Vs Weapons Engineer

Far be it for me to be duty broken record. But, if the AFCO are ‘pushing’ you in a direction it is usually because based on your scores you are suited.

Once again, there are NO quota or bonus for signing up people to branches. I have a very close knowledge of RN recruiting and can categorically say this IS NOT true.
I would totally agree with that. I spent 2 years in a very senior role in Naval recruiting and can assure you that the Careers Advisers are there to help, not simply to put square pegs in round holes to make the numbers. It is true that I used to have targets to meet to increase the number of Gains to the Trained Strength, and those targets, especially the shortage branches, were regularly communicated to the AFCOs, but at no stage were the individual offices ever given specific targets by branch. Furthermore, that phrase, Gains to the Trained Strength, is the key. The CAs would not push someone in any given direction unless they felt there was a very good chance that they had the necessary skills to complete training and join the fleet.
 
@MACH5 I'm a CT, been in a good few years now. Happy to take questions. The job is changing from what it use to be, our branch is growing, we are now cap tallied to ships, meaning we do part of ship (cleaning and anchoring etc): soon to be expected to keep gangway (holding a rifle on top deck getting a tan, even when it is raining). We are pretty much required on most (bigger) sea going platforms. Subs are a thing, not a specialist though, so any CT can do it. Lots of sea time, also lots of shore drafts too. So you can get a unique career, no two CTs have really done the same career. Training pipeline is quite long compared to some branches (however I expect engineering is probably longer). However you get promoted at the end, so that is a big win. Things change fast but the next promotion after that shouldn't take too long either. It is sold to everyone as a super nerdy branch, where you need to be super clever, but it mainly involves hardwork and a decent amount of revision but nothing ridiculous. Picking engineer will get you real life quals, whilst CT gets you a BTEC for BT.
If you work on a sub are you limited to that for a long time? It's something I'd like to do at some point given the opportunity but wouldn't want to be stuck on subs through my career.

You talk about specialisms. Do you have any info about the specialisms within the CT branch?

What is 'BT'? Do the qualifications and opportunities for CT after the RN pale in comparison to engineering? I heard it opens doors to the SIS and GCHQ, not sure how true this is.

Also, I've been asking this to a lot of people. Do you enjoy your job?
 
//Thread drift!//

I started CT course when it was new and mostly language orientated having passed a week of aptitude tests at SCT Leydene. The language learning was very intense. I had a medical problem which made me miss a couple of months of the course and on my return they very generously offered me my place back. However, I was just too far behind and so had to come off course. I frequently wonder 'what if' as it was very 'interesting'.

Some years later on a sneaky run, one of the guys from my course came onboard my boat to use his skills!

//As you were//
 

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