Employment Training
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Like all General Entry sailors, Cryptologic Systems (CTS) sailors begin their careers at HMAS CERBERUS at Western Port in Victoria to undergo 11 weeks of common basic training. Here they are trained in all the basic skills that sailors need to prepare themselves for a career at sea and ashore.
After recruit training, CTS sailors complete a two-stage course of operator training. The first stage lasts for 21 weeks and is conducted at the Electronic Warfare Wing of Defence Force School of Signals at Cabarlah, Queensland. It is here that CTS sailors gain their computer operator skills which concentrate on data formatting and database maintenance.
After this, CTS sailors commence phase two which is their Technical Signals (Techsig) training also undertaken at the Electronic Warfare Wing. This phase is of 10 weeks duration where trainees undergo basic electronic signals analysis technique training.
What happens after CTS training is completed?
As soon as they are qualified, CTS sailors usually begin by applying their skills at the Defence Signals Directorate. Here they will consolidate their training before posting to the RAN Tactical Electronic Warfare Support Section (RANTEWSS) at HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra, NSW. At RANTEWSS a CTS sailor can expect to be included as a member of a specialist Intelligence Support team that may deploy to Navy assets at short notice.
CTS sailors can expect to be posted to ships at sea or any of the Cryptologic sites in Australia for further training and consolidation. Continuation training is in the form of advanced courses linked to promotion and advancement.
