Brett J. Bashaw, CTMCM USN Retired, 1969-1995 I have not thought about this for years and as we all know, the older we get, the less accurate (or more kind:):) our memories tend to become. It was late 68 or, early 69 and I was a 1st semester sophomore college drop-out. Not at all a good thing to be at that time, especially with a low number in the draft lottery (the 1st one I think?). I had determined that the Navy was the way to go but had not a clue what rating(s) to try for. It must have been a Saturday, as I was working nights in a local Granite quarry during the week. Now there's a profession I do not recommend. I was lending a hand (pumping gas etc.) at the only service station in town at that time. A new Mustang pulled up to the pumps and a smart looking, trim, Naval Officer got out. Another "Mustang" it turned out. I think he was, at some point, a Seal Team Leader or something like that. I seem to remember that he was also an older brother of one of my high school classmates and we started to chat. I told him what my situation was and also that I had been taking courses in Electrical Technology while in college. He asked me a few questions which didn't make much sense at the time but I of course now know were related to if he thought I could qualify for a clearance. He didn't hesitate and said "You need to try for CTM". I remember saying "what the heck is that"? He said Communications Technician Maintenance. It seems to me, but I could be wrong, that if you scored high enough on the ASVAB's??, that you had some choice in rating selection. I don't know if it was ever guaranteed in writing but I do know that the recruiter, when I signed up for the "Cache Program" said that I had scored high enough on the tests and if I could qualify for the clearance I would be a CTM. Don't even ask what I got on the FLAT test:):) GLAKES Boot Camp Company 373, June 1969 and the rest as we say is history. Almost 27 active duty and 13 civilian so far working for the same organization. I think I will make it a career. Best to all, Brett Bashaw DON CIV CTMCM, USN (RET)