CYBER WARFARE TECHNICIAN (CWT)

OVERVIEW

Cyber Warfare Technician (CWT) is the U.S. Navy's newest cryptologic source rating, established in October 2022 to consolidate the cyberspace-operations workforce. CWTs conduct full-spectrum cyberspace operations — defensive, offensive, and DoD Information Network — alongside the existing CTN, CTM, and CTR communities, and source enlisted Sailors directly into the Navy's contribution to U.S. Cyber Command's Cyber Mission Force.

CWT is one of the few new source ratings established in the 21st century and reflects the Navy's recognition that cyber warfare is a distinct enlisted career field requiring a dedicated accession path.

The cryptologic / information warfare community conducts signals intelligence, cyberspace operations, and electronic warfare for U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet. All cryptologic ratings require a TS/SCI clearance, polygraph eligibility, and intensive language, technical, or analytic training at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT).

A-school for the rating runs ~30 weeks at Center for Information Warfare Training, Corry Station, Pensacola FL, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score AR+MK+EI+GS=222 (TS/SCI required) and an enlistment obligation of 6–6 years. CWTs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior CWTs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.

Across the active force, CWT Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.

WHAT CWTs DO

CWTs conduct cyberspace operations including defensive (DCO), offensive (OCO), and DoD Information Network (DODIN) operations; perform vulnerability assessments and threat hunting; develop and employ cyber capabilities; and operate as part of joint Cyber Mission Force teams supporting U.S. Cyber Command and Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• CWTs conduct cyberspace operations including defensive (DCO), offensive (OCO), and DoD Information Network (DODIN) operations; perform vulnerability assessments and threat hunting; develop and employ cyber capabilities; and operate as part of joint Cyber Mission Force teams supporting U.S. Cyber Command and Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet.
• Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior CWTs as required by the chain of command.
• Lead the CWT work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
• Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.

HISTORY

Cyber Warfare Technician was established as a new Navy source rating on 1 October 2022 by NAVADMIN 213/22, recognizing that cyberspace operations had matured into a distinct enlisted career field. CWT consolidates the cyber-relevant accession pipeline and provides a direct entry point into Navy cyber operations without first cross-decking from CTN or IT.

The cryptologic community traces to OP-20-G — the Navy's World War II signals-intelligence organization that broke the Japanese JN-25 code and contributed to the victory at Midway. Post-war the community evolved through the Communications Technician (CT) ratings, was reorganized in 1976, and again restructured in 2008 into the modern CTI/CTM/CTN/CTR/CTT specialties under the Information Warfare community.

Today the Cyber Warfare Technician (CWT) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern CWTs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.

The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring CWTs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
   Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
   Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors.
2. 2. Cyber Warfare Technician Pipeline~30 weeks
   Center for Information Warfare Training, Corry Station, Pensacola FL
   Apprentice/striker training in the cryptologic accession pipeline before sub-rating designation.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. E-1/E-3
   Cyber Warfare Technician
   Entry tier; cyber warfare technician accession track in the cryptologic community.
2. E-4
   Designated Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Designation into a target rating with full A-/C-school qualification.
3. E-7+
   Chief Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Senior enlisted leader of the designated rating in the command.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

• U.S. Cyber Command Cyber Mission Force teams
• Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, Suffolk VA
• Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet

EXAMPLE NECs

• CWT-9301 Cyberspace Operations Specialist
• CWT-9305 Cyber Operations Technician

RELATED RATINGS

• CTN · Cryptologic & IW
  Cryptologic Technician (Networks)
• CTR · Cryptologic & IW
  Cryptologic Technician (Collection)
• IT · Cryptologic & IW
  Information Systems Technician

RELATED BASES

• Navy Base · MD
  Fort George G. Meade
• Navy Base · VA
  Naval Station Norfolk

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• Navy Cyber Warfare Technician (navy.com)
• My Navy HR — Enlisted Community Management
• Navy COOL — Rating Detail