Cryptologic Technician Maintenance |
|
|
Service Photo |
Service Details |
|
|
Current Service Status
USN Retired
|
Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer First Class
|
Current/Last Primary NEC
CTM-9282-FES Maintenance Technician
|
Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Cryptologic Technician Maintenance
|
Primary Unit
1992-1994, CT-9296, NSGA Support Detachment (NSGASD) Norfolk, VA
|
Previously Held NEC
AME-0000-Aviation Structrual Mechanic Safety Equipment
CT-0000-Cryptologic Technician
ET-1435-Communications Security Devices Equip KW-37R; KW-7 Tech.
CT-9188-Navy Integrated Cryptologic Communications Systems
ET-1436-KWR-37/KG-14 Crypto Maintenance
CT-9182-Automated Telecommmunications Systems Technician
CT-9296-Communications Electronics Equipment Installer
|
Service Years
1976 - 1994
|
Other Languages
Spanish
|
Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Cold War
Plank Owner
|
|
|
What are you doing now:
After working at CENTCOM for over 10 years, I was offered the chance to go work in England. I'm still a DOD contractor and right now I am the Deputy Site Lead under the IT/IS contract with NGA. Even if oportunities come to you later in life you need to take advantage of those and move on up and at them. This is not hot and muggy Tampa, and the customs are a bit different than what I was use to, but people are friendly here and the job keeps me busy. Besides I still feel like I am serving the country doing what I'm doing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1976-1977, AME-0000, NATTC (Staff) Millington, TN, Naval Air Technical Training Command (Staff)
|
|
1977-1979, AME-0000, Naval Station (NAVSTA) Roosevelt Roads, PR
|
|
1979-1980, NTTCD Corry Station, Pensacola, FL (Staff)
|
|
1980-1981, CT-0000, CNO - OPNAV
|
|
1981-1984, ET-1435, Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Yokosuka, Japan
|
|
1981-1984, ET-1435, Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Yokosuka, Japan
|
|
1984-1986, CT-9188, Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Norfolk
|
|
1986-1989, ET-1436, Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Sabana Seca, PR
|
|
1989-1991, CT-9182, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT), Commander, Submarine Force (COMNAVSUBFOR)
|
|
1992-1994, CT-9296, NSGA Support Detachment (NSGASD) Norfolk, VA
|
|
|
|
|
Reflections on PO1 Zayas's
US Navy Service
|
|
|
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
It was the Summer of 1976 and I had just graduated from a Vocational High School in my native Puerto Rico, been that I did not want to burden my Mother with the cost of College and knowing that the military was a good option as my own Dad was an Army Retiree and my brother had volunteer during the Vietnam War I decided that the Navy was a good option.
|
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
To be trully honest I never thought I would stay pass my first enlistment. When I was offered a chance to apply for Officer Candidate School I turned it down because I did not envisioned myself staying around much longer. Then I looked around to what would be waiting for me on the outside if I got out and decided that staying was the best option. Although before I re-enlisted I change rates from AME (Aviation Structural Mechanic "E" Emergency Systems) to CTM (Cryptologic Technician Maintenance) in which I served the rest of my career.
|
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I'd never participated in Combat operations, althought the job of the CT's took me to some interesting places doing very interesting things. Been TDY onboard different ships offer the opportunity to be in the right place when significant events took place. I was on the USS Reeves cruising by the coast of Vietnam towards Thailand when some of CT's spotted a couple of dingies on the water. The ship went closer and picked up about 30 - 40 Vietnamese refugees. That earned us the Humanitarian Service medal. I was called on a Sunday morning and was told to get my seabag and head to my shop, some hours later I was in Guantanamo Bay Cuba installing equipment on some ships that would later be involved in Operation Uphold Democracy. Doing that to me meant that my service meant something more than just a job.
|
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I have fond memories of each and every duty Station. I have memories of been a green AMEAA at Rossevelt Roads, PR. Ironic that I joined the Navy and the first place I was sent was home. But to tell the truth, the ones that really did it for me were the last three, NSGA Saban Seca, COMSUBLANT and NSGA Norfolk. At Saban Seca I found friends that I still keep in touch with, there also I was mentored by one great Master Chief, CTMCM Heston, (RIP) he mentored me and showed me the errors of my ways. At SUBLANT I was sent there to be the Maintenance person for the SI submarine communications facility. Little did I know that I would meet the most demanding, hard headed, crusty old Warrant Officer in the US Navy there and that by his actions demaining of racial intolerance would actually backfire on him and make me a better Sailor, better than that made me Sailor of the Quarter and Sailor of the Year at SUBALANT. I remember when the Admiral pinned two Navy Achievement Medals on me that day and told everyone to take a good look at my decorations, "no where can you see a set of Dolphins or Surface Warfare on his chest and he beat people who did, that is a testament of his hard work" he said Then came my last tour in the Navy, NSGA Norfolk, I was a plank owner of the command LPO of my division the Fleet Electronic Support, 21 guys working their hearts under conditions I could not believe unless I was there with them. From the time I recieved my orders to that command I made it my business to make it a better place. To have the back of each and everyone of those guys working for me. I took them from working with outdated TTY equipment to working with PC's. From spending days to spending hours to complete an installation. I had guys there that became Officers and are still serving, the pride I feel whenever I read about them makes my chest swell up.
|
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I tried my hand at several things after I retired. I did some social work, I became a Case worker for Cuban Refugees placing them in and around the Hampton Roads area. Taught High School Spanish at Booker T Washington High in Norfolk. Been that I had three kids at the time I needed something that would put a little more bread on the table than those jobs, so I found work as a DOD contractor with one of the many companies out there. Presently I am still doing contract work, but this time as a Site IT Manager on a project for the Veterans Administration. Feels extremely good to work here. I know there are a lot of stories out there about the VA and how atrocious that has been to many of our brothers in arms, but let me tell you the folks at this hospital that have contact with the Vets that come here for care will try to do what they can to help you out. The problems come from above, the managers that get bonuses for saving the VA money that should have been spent on the care of the Vets.
|
|