How was it? (Specifically as an IT, but I'd like to hear from anyone on this). If you have any info/experiences, share them, if you could. TIA

I didn't work there, but I lived there for 3 years if you are interested...

quote:

Originally posted by AaronM2:
How was it? (Specifically as an IT, but I'd like to hear from anyone on this). If you have any info/experiences, share them, if you could. TIA

EastPac or Guam?

quote:

Originally posted by XSquidling:
I didn't work there, but I lived there for 3 years if you are interested...

Lived where exactly?

quote:

Originally posted by 93Corvette:

quote:

Originally posted by AaronM2:
How was it? (Specifically as an IT, but I'd like to hear from anyone on this). If you have any info/experiences, share them, if you could. TIA

EastPac or Guam?

No specific one. NCTAMS LANT/PAC/MED, NCTS SAN DIEGO, NCTS PUGET SOUND, any of them, anywhere...

I was at NCTAMS Guam. Kind-of sucky duty. I wish I would have went to Hawaii instead. Too much to see in Hawaii. In Guam, your ready to go after 1 week.

Maybe things have change since 1996 when I was there, but hey were talking about Guam, nothing changes.

BTW if your kids goto school, they'll have to learn Chamorro (Guams language). The only place on Gods green earth that speaks that dialect. You would think they would learn better English so you could understand all the graffiti.

quote:

Originally posted by 93Corvette:
I was at NCTAMS Guam. Kind-of sucky duty. I wish I would have went to Hawaii instead. Too much to see in Hawaii. In Guam, your ready to go after 1 week.

Maybe things have change since 1996 when I was there, but hey were talking about Guam, nothing changes.


BTW if your kids goto school, they'll have to learn Chamorro (Guams language). The only place on Gods green earth that speaks that dialect. You would think they would learn better English so you could understand all the graffiti.

Thanks. You were a CTM?
What other ratings were there?
I was just wondering how broad is the spectrum of what goes on there.. I was told if you go there as an IT, you'll learn so much to your rating, more than most ships, likely.. Dont know if that's true, but worth a shot to find out...

quote:

Originally posted by AaronM2:
Thanks. You were a CTM?
What other ratings were there?
I was just wondering how broad is the spectrum of what goes on there.. I was told if you go there as an IT, you'll learn so much to your rating, more than most ships, likely.. Dont know if that's true, but worth a shot to find out...

Yep a CTM, retire from there. We had RM's (now IT's). The CT side was in the same building as the RM's, but had seperate entrances. We rarely saw them. Now that the CTO's have merged with the IT's you probably have alot of opportunity for go DIRSUP.
But again, why goto Guam when there is better parts in the world.

I was at NCTAMS EURCENT for 2 years (1999-2001), and now I am at NCTS Bahrain. It is not bad duty, but all the jobs are seperate, and it is easy to get stuck in one spot doing one thing for your whole tour. I would try and go to a smaller command.

I was lucky enough to get stationed at NCTS Keflavik Iceland before they shut it down back in 2006. Being at a NCTS and working at their tech control was a severely watered down version of a tech control on a ship.
You have all of the crypto gear at a NCTS but the tempo was slow. At most we had to reload/bump gear to support the "fleet" but I can't say I actually learned how to be a radioman there.
Just a FYI note: I am comparing working at a NCTS tech control to the one on my ship. We are a large deck so our capability for different circuits is great.
One thing to think about is the difference between a NCTS and a NCTAMS. My old NCTS had an Officer in Charge, where as a NCTAMS has the old man right there at the command.

I'm serving at a NCTS right now. As far as the IT side of things, 12hr shifts, 2 days on/2 days off, then 3 days on/3days off, 1 month days/1 month nights. A busy streak every once in a while, but mostly just trying to stay awake. A really good place if you want to get some college done. I can't speak for all the NCTS sites of course, but if you need more info, let me know.

To 93 Corvette-The year is 2008 and the location is Guam. DOD now has it own schools so students in DOD schools don't have to learn Chamorro. Today's Chamorro, by the way, has a mix of other languages in it including Spanish. The military here hang out around Tumon Bay when they let themselves out of the base to hang out at either the bars, Hard Rock Cafe, TGI Fridays, or in Tamuning at Lone Star Restaurant. If they can't find anything in the base, they can go to Macy's, Ross, Home Depot, or the Guam Premier Outlets, etc.. Lots to see but not too much like Honolulu.

I was stationed at NCTS Washington. Not bad duty, but I worked security, not in the comm center. They would send ITs to me from time to time TAD until their clearances came through. Being in the DC area is nice in that you get the opportunity to visit the Nation's Capital at a leisurely pace, but the cost of living is pretty high here, although I guess San Diego is much higher.

I know the RMs liked the duty because they got to work closely with JITC (Joint Interoperability Test Center) occasionally.

Thought I would play with Google Earth today and check out NCTAMS. I served as an ET3 from 95-97. It looks like the base has changed quite a bit. Housing has been torn down, barracks, etc. Actually Guam is the most beautiful place I have ever visited in my life. I did two WESTPAC's and got to see the likes of Australia, Thailand, Bali, etc. but my shore duty on Guam was the best (minus the knuckleheads in charge of my division). I had the pleasure of going back after my discharge from actice duty for my new company. It was even better as a civilian. Navy golf course still around? $25 for a months membership...now that's value.

I'm currently at NCTAMS LANT, which isnt a bad duty station compared to what everyone said. My job is pretty easy and the people I work with are great. Currently just changed our work hours to hour shifts, 5 days on 4 days off and we alternate each time from days, mids, and eves. Watch officers are really cool. I know I would like to have gone to other places, but I'm enjoying it so far.

How easy/hard is it to get this type of duty as an IT? I'm hoping that I'd get to take sea duty instead of a shore facility.