Cryptology
What is a CTI?
Cryptologic Technicians Interpretive or CTIs are the Navy’s linguists. They gather highly classified intelligence information using foreign language skills for the Navy’s top-level decision makers. CTIs are on the cutting edge of all foreign Naval developments; they gather the most up-to-date information used for strategic planning and tactical (moving ships/troops, keeping accurate targets) purposes. Generating this vital data and information requires the knowledge of a foreign language.
Career paths are available for individuals with no foreign language experience. Language training is offered in Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, French, Korean, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Persian, Tagalog and many other languages. Also needed in the CTI program are native linguists who are fluent in the following languages: Arabic, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, Chinese-Mandarin, Cambodian, Serbo-Croatian, Russian, French, Albanian, Persian-Farsi, Hebrew, Bulgarian, Georgian, Kurdish, Portuguese, Romanian and Ukranian.
Receive a sign-on bonus! Become a CTI by applying for the Advanced Technical Field (ATF) program which includes a generous sign-on bonus. Here’s how it works:
Sign up for six years — get guaranteed advanced technical training, foreign language training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and advance to an E4 upon graduation.
Qualifications:
- Be a U.S. Citizen between 17 and 30 years of age
- Possess exceptionally good character
- Willingness to learn foreign languages
- Attain qualifying scores on Armed Services Vocational Aptitude battery (ASVAB) and Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB)
- Eligibility for a top-secret clearance is determined by the results of an initial Single Scope Background Investigation followed by reinvestigation every five years
- Interest in technology and computer information processing skills
- Volunteer for Duty in Submarines or Duty involving aerial flight
- Normal hearing is required
