# I might become a Navy CTN, any advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571 "2015-01-22T14:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/41 "2015-01-27T21:36:02Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I agree with your overall point here, but you should know that the Navy now dresses its enlisted in [blue camo working uniforms](http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/chapter3/MaleEnlisted/ME_Working/Pages/ME_NavyWorking.aspx). I guess so that they can keep steaming along all unknowing if someone should go overboard. That’s very amusing to me. When I was in, the Seabees wore green utilities like [these](http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/11/rich_2.jpg), bloused over the top of the boot. Regular Navy brass was always bitching about it, wanting the Bees to wear those fucking dungarees like the regular Navy. Seabee brass wanted us to be able to wear camo, but were shot down. After I retired, they finally went to camo when Iraq heated up, and now regular Navy wants in on the act. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/42 "2015-01-28T01:08:43Z")
When I see the new blue camo I can only think of [Sam Axe](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EPL6hYFnL._SX133_QL80_.jpg) (apologies for the small picture-it’s all I could find) and how the blue was the perfect camo for Colombia. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/43 "2015-01-28T19:32:50Z")
My experience with trying to join Navy for training/schooling in nuclear stuff (science!): I had already done the ASVAB, been approved to go to MEPS, etc, for Navy enlistment, but then my step-dad’s relative contacted me by phone. He had just served six years in ‘boomer’ service, same MOS as I was ‘guaranteed’ and ready to sign on the doted line, so to speak. Turns out that nearly all the schooling he had been given re: nuclear-stuff training at reactor near Idaho Falls, ID and other related school(s) were ‘classified’ and that he was going to have to start school practically from ‘zero credits’ were he to desire to use his experience(s) in Navy. I went that very day to ask recruiter if that was true - he made a call to someone and affirmed it, so I went to office next door and joined Army instead, who guaranteed that the stuff I learned was only classified (top secret level, fwiw) for the particular systems I was trained/schooled for (BCS/Tacfire/Firefinder stuff…ancient stuff nowadays). The classes I took in electronics, etc were allowed to be credited towards ‘civilian education credits’ (lack of better termage), so I ended up at Ft Sill, OK a week later 🙂 Just be sure to know what you can get after you are ‘non-govt’, so to speak. I am sooooo glad that I got that call from the fellow who had been there and done that. Navy recruiter was very deceptive about what I could obtain after ‘official school’, and when called out on it, had to be honest since I demanded to hear the question answered on speakerphone. Recruiter chased me, literally, into Army’s office to tell me I was making huge mistake. No regrets at all. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/44 "2015-01-28T20:20:34Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > ^^ I agree 100% with everything you wrote there. > > I know that there is probably no real visibility difference in the water between the blue camo and dungarees or coveralls, but I think they are silly in a “ooooh, digicam! me, too!” sort of way. Maybe they did the digi-cams to save money on being able to sole-scource contracting for Uniform manufacturing. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/45 "2015-01-31T01:48:49Z")
I talked with my recruiter again today. After we discussed the CTN program in great detail, he kept trying to push me to sign up for Nuke school. What was that about? When we first met, I asked him about jobs in cybersecurity, and he told me about CTN, which is what I really want to do. Now that I have almost everything I need to know about it, he wants me to do Nuclear. Did he lie about there being jobs in CTN? Does he get a bonus to sign people up for nuke school? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571/46 "2015-01-31T06:41:42Z")
As I think I said way up thread I went nuc. The recruiters do not get a bonus. the nuc program needs a ton of people. Due to guys doing their time and time and getting out and because of the wash out rate during schooling. They try to steer as many smart people as they can into the nuc program. Like i and many others said, it’s entirely up to you. If the recruiter you are dealing with is pressuring you where you feel uncomfortable, go across town and talk to a different one. Loved the Navy, it was a great 4 years. I hope you join and am happy you keep coming back with questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-might-become-a-navy-ctn-any-advice/710571.md?page=2)