Charles C. Maack, CTOCM USN Retired, 1949-1976


John Armstrong’s relating how his background may have served for his
selection into the Naval Security Group set my mind to looking back.  When I
quit school in my Senior year and had my Mom sign the authorization for me
to enlist, I had absolutely no “background” that would lead to such
selection.  Apparently my tests in boot camp were high in the administration
area and I was offered Storekeeper or “a new rating that involved learning
about teletype machines along with the combination of postal clerk,” since
this new rating was supposedly going to incorporate what had been the Postal
Clerk rating.  So, I jumped on that band wagon and went the Teleman route.  
I advanced fairly rapidly to TE2 while going to both TE “A” school and a
couple years later to TE “C” school learning how to dismantle, put back
together, and trouble shoot teletype and associated equipment.  The way I
learned of the Naval Security Group was when I saw a CT1 walking by with the
crossed spark and quill and asked him what the heck that rating was.  And,
like John, I was told that this was an “elite” group that is specially
selected only after going through an extensive background investigation by
the FBI and ONI.  Obviously, that lighted up my interest, and I was nearing
reenlistment time.  So, I went to personnel at CINCLANTFLT headquarters
where at the time I worked in the Communication Center and told them I heard
about this special group called the Naval Security Group and I wanted to
apply and would reenlist if accepted.  Lo and behold, I had orders within
two weeks to report to NAVSECSTA.   I spent about three months at NAVSECSTA
working down in the registered pub area, then got orders to Guam.  Since I
didn’t have my clearance yet, I was assigned to COMSEC on Guam in a Quonset
at the old NCS.  The new NCS had already opened and we lived in barracks
there, but several offices still were in operation at old NCS.  I advanced
to TE1 then finally clearance came in and converted to CT as an “O”
brancher.  Like John, I was pretty darn proud to be part of a group that
consisted of others who were selected as the result of having clean
backgrounds sufficient to being authorized to handle Top Secret Codeword
material.  I truly believe that we were an “elite” unit – what one could
consider “The Best Among The Rest.”  Despite bumps along the road of a
Navy/military career, I have nothing but fond memories of where I served and
the men and women with whom I served. 
 
Chuck Maack
CTOCM#44, USN (Retired)(1949-1977)