Prior to World War II, the majority of these ratings were Radioman and Yeoman. The early ratings involved in communications intelligence were what we now identify as “General Service” ratings. Many of these graduates formed the nucleus of the communications intelligence operations in the Pacific at the beginning of World War II.

The group became know as the On the Roof Gang (OTRG). During the 12 year life of this school at least 176 (150 Navy and 26 Marine), enlisted radio operators received their training. where especially qualified Radiomen were trained to intercept and analyze foreign radio communications. The success of these early intercept operations led to the establishment of a permanent school on the roof of the Main Navy building on Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. Presumably this mission was to copy traffic from Japanese fleet exercises. Two Marine operators, along with Chief Chauncey, deployed aboard USS TRENTON (CL-11) 1, and two additional Marine operators were deployed aboard USS MEMPHIS (CL-13) for the entire month of September 1928. The Marine detachment in Peiping performed the first known temporary deployment of Communications Intelligence personnel. Chauncey, they established the second radio intercept station. In September 1927, they were transferred to Peiping where, under the leadership of Chief Radioman (CRM) Dorman A. There are:ĭuring the summer of 1927, five Marines attended Katakana training in Shanghai. In the Navy and Coast Guard, pay grades E-4 through E-9 fall within a rating and reflect a distinct level of achievement within the promotion pyramid.

Each rating has its own specialty badge which is worn on the left sleeve by all qualified men and women in that field. What is a “Rating”?Ī Navy rating is defined as an occupation that consists of specific skills and abilities. Today’s Cryptologic Technician can trace his roots back to those enterprising Radiomen who taught themselves the Japanese Katakana code in the early to mid 1920s and established the first intercept station at Shanghai, China.

World war 2 navy ratings