Job Details

Other Ranks (Non Technical)

As a Cryptologic Linguist (CTL) sailor in the Navy you work at sea and at shore based facilities to interpret top secret intelligence information and provide key tactical recommendations for Navy operations.

CTL sailors are selected on their performance in tests designed to predict aptitude for accelerated language training. You do not need any knowledge of foreign languages to perform well in these aptitude tests. These aptitude tests are conducted at recruiting centres throughout Australia on a regular basis.

In the Navy, cryptology covers three main areas.

• The exploitation of the electromagnetic spectrum including interception and identification of radio and radar emissions;
• The employment of electromagnetic energy to reduce or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum and;
• Actions to ensure effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum by friendly forces.

Proficiency in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) operations helps the RAN to distinguish between friends, potential adversaries and innocent bystanders in any given tactical situation.

The two categories of sailors in the Navy that are responsible for performing Signals Intelligence duties are Cryptologic Linguist (CTL) and Cryptologic Systems (CTS).

As a CTL sailor you undertake extensive language training and acquire applied military language skills tailored to meet specific mission requirements. During exercises you will occasionally assist in liaison duties to aid communication between the RAN and friendly navies from our region, but you are not employed by the Navy as an interpreter and should not expect to be trained to that level.

CTL sailors are multi-skilled professionals in most aspects of Cryptologic operations. At sea your primary task is to provide the warfighting team on ships with early warning of threats which can then be avoided or neutralised, providing an information picture to Commanders in order to help assure a winning edge in combat.

You can expect to be posted to a number of warships and serve in several locations ashore during your career. These could include postings to Nowra, Canberra and Queensland as well as on ANZAC class frigates (limited billets). The RAN Tactical Electronic Warfare Support Section (RANTEWSS) located near Nowra on the NSW coast is also the facility where CTL sailors consolidate their skills between deployments. While serving ashore, you will be either remotely supporting tactical warfighters at sea or be involved in Australia’s strategic intelligence collection effort.

Ships at sea are a 24 hour concern. Everyone has a role and the ship is organised around the continuous operation of its sensors and other capabilities. This is why Australian Navy ships employ a system of shift work known as watch keeping. CTL sailors normally conduct shift work when at sea, working with the overall onboard sensor systems to help the Command work out what is going on around the ship.

As all Navy sailors do, you will keep watch on a rotational basis when in port. Periods in harbour are also a chance to complete maintenance and training that you were unable to at sea and of course to rest and relax.

Postings to ANZAC class frigates or to RANTEWSS are normally for about two years. In this time, you could expect to take part in three major deployments each lasting two to six months, though the amount of sea time can vary depending on operational circumstances. Some CTL sailors will also have the opportunity to deploy on submarines and even US or UK vessels, while they transit or exercise in our region.

This line of work offers some fantastic opportunities for high achievers and there are regular opportunities to progress in rank as promotion courses are completed and good work performance maintained.

CTL applicants must undergo aptitude testing and complete a security clearance procedure.