Kenneth J. Halliwell, Former U.S. Navy CTM1 1968-1974

      While growing up in Ohio farm country, my uncle Louie (a former WW2 radar technical staff sergeant and amateur radio operator W8SGH) got me interested in electronics and amateur radio.  After self-studying radio technology and becoming proficient at sending and receiving Morse code, I received my first ham radio license at age 14.
      My interest in radio and electronics led me to enroll at Ohio State University to pursue a BS degree in electrical engineering.  After nearly two years of pre-engineering courses at OSU, poor study habits led to a GPA dipping below C level which ended my studies and student draft deferment.  I needed a “plan B” to keep the draft board off my back.  After a bit of academic counseling, I redirected my educational path.  I enrolled in a junior college to pursue an AAS degree in electronic technology.  One year later, I graduated and passed the FCC test for First Class Radiotelephone license with Radar endorsement.

      While at junior college, I became friendly with a classmate who was a former Navy RM1, and one of my instructors who was a retired Navy EMCM.  Both tried to convince me that the Navy was a great way to further my electronics education, gain practical experience, and “see the world.”  A few months before graduating, I was finally convinced when a surprise letter arrived from my draft board directing me to report for a pre-induction exam.

      The draft board notice led to visions of being covered with mud, leaches and mosquito bites while being shot at by VC snipers.  My choices appeared to be: drafted for two years active service in the Army, or volunteering for four years active service in the Air Force or Navy – the Coast Guard and Marines were not on my list.  Long story short, the Navy recruiter offered me 90 days delayed entry as an E3, and one year schooling in an electronics technology rate.  The only catch was that I had to serve six years active service, but I would receive a bonus after four years.  Considering the possible dire alternative, it sounded good to me; so, I signed the contract.

      I had my sights set on being an ET, not knowing there was such a thing as a CTM.  During boot camp, a career counselor strongly recommended CTM.  He said I would not be disappointed.  He was right.

      After boot camp, I reported to GLTC for BE/E and ET-A School.  I don’t recall how it came about, but I was allowed to take a test for bypassing both BE/E and ET A school.  I passed the BE/E test with ease; and I thought I performed well on the ET test, but apparently not.  So, I spent the Fall, Winter and Spring of 1968/69 at GLTC.  To a great extent, ET-A school was not challenging due to my prior education, but it was interesting when Navy specific radio equipment was involved.

      After ET-A school, I reported to Norfolk Naval Shipyard Crypto C school for TSEC/KY3 training.

      After C school, I reported to NSGA Homestead, FL.  To my surprise, there was no KY3 at Homestead.  So, since I had an FCC radio license, I was assigned to HF transmitter operation and maintenance at Site Bravo.  Six months later, I was assigned to a special projects crew that installed various type equipment at Site Alpha – the HFDF antenna and operations building.

      After two years at Homestead, I was transferred to NSGD Wahiawa, HI.  I worked at building 105, HFDF net control center. There were several KY3s at Wahiawa, but they were so reliable that I had only one occasion for troubleshooting and repair.  Meanwhile, I was assigned to a special projects crew that installed various type equipment in building 105.

      After three years at Wahiawa, and at the end of my six year enlistment, I decided to leave the Navy to return to college for a second attempt at earning a BS degree – which I did.

      My first post-Navy civilian job interview was with a Teletype Corp product service center in Solon, OH.  It was near the end of the 1973-1975 recession period.  Employment opportunities were limited, and I was a bit over qualified for the Teletype Model 40 electronics technician position.  But I needed a job.  Fortunately, the crew at the service center was all ex-Navy.  So, I got the job which eventually led to an engineering career at Teletype, and later Western Electric which morphed into Lucent Technologies.

      In retrospect, I can truly say that joining the Navy and serving as a CTM was one of the most fortuitous happenings of my life.