Paul A. Keating, CTMCM USN Retired, 1969-1993


In order to "beat the draft" while attending college (was from a very
conservative area where high school grads either enlisted or went to college
- making it hard on the Selective Service Board to meet its monthly quota
[another story]), I enlisted in the Navy.
 
Went to boot camp in GLAKES, took all the battery tests, and was able to get
myself lined up to be a four-year electronics technician (non-AEF ET).  Was
sent "across the street" to BE&E School (beep school) to learn basic
electricity and electronics.
 
During the third week of school (1st week of "AC" phase), a CTMC on his
twilight tour visited our class and asked if anyone wanted to be a CTM.
Instead of answers, he received questions:  What kind of ships do they 
serve on?  What's their rotation like? What do they do? What do they work on?
and so on.
 
The CTMC answered every question with, "I can't say."  Then, he told a
rather quiet class that the only thing he could tell them about the rate was
that it was an Advanced Electronic Field rating requiring a commitment of
six years service time. Still quiet.  Then he said, "As far as I know, 
they don't go to sea."
 
That was all I needed to hear - four years be damned, my volunteer hand shot
into the air for the only time in my career!
 
Paul A. Keating, CPA
CTMCM, USN(Ret)