Cryptologic Technicians (CT) — Navy enlisted ratings serving in signals intelligence collection, analysis, and cryptologic operations — served aboard Navy ships, submarines, and shore intelligence stations maintaining the Navy’s signals intelligence capability throughout the Cold War. CT ratings operated the SIGINT collection equipment, communications intelligence analysis systems, and cryptologic processing equipment installed in below-decks signals collection spaces and secure compartments aboard destroyers, cruisers, frigates, and submarines. Cryptologic Technicians working in the signals intelligence spaces and SIGINT equipment compartments of Cold War-era naval vessels commissioned during the asbestos construction period accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing pipe insulation and construction materials present in the below-decks hull spaces where CT equipment was installed and maintained.

CT ratings in shipboard signals intelligence spaces accumulated background asbestos:

  • Below-decks signals collection compartment construction — the signals collection spaces, communications intelligence spaces, and SIGINT equipment compartments aboard Cold War-era destroyers and cruisers were constructed within the hull below the main deck using construction materials consistent with the vessel’s construction period. Ships commissioned in the 1950s and 1960s incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation, insulation board, and overhead construction materials in below-decks compartments throughout the hull, including the spaces occupied by CT ratings and their intelligence collection equipment. Cryptologic Technicians working long watch rotations in below-decks signals collection compartments accumulated background asbestos exposure from the hull construction materials throughout their shipboard CT assignments
  • Submarine signals intelligence space construction — submarines assigned CT riders or incorporating dedicated SIGINT collection capability had signals intelligence spaces constructed within the submarine pressure hull using interior construction materials consistent with the submarine’s construction period. Nuclear and conventional submarines commissioned in the 1960s and early 1970s incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials in their interior spaces. CT ratings serving in submarine SIGINT spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the submarine hull construction materials
  • Electronics equipment and cabling insulation — the SIGINT collection and processing equipment installed in CT spaces incorporated electronic components with wiring insulation and component materials consistent with the manufacturing specifications of the installation period. CT ratings performing equipment maintenance and cabling work in SIGINT spaces encountered electronic equipment insulation materials during equipment maintenance operations

Shore Station Asbestos

CT ratings at Navy shore intelligence facilities accumulated facility asbestos:

  • Naval Security Group Activity facility construction — the Naval Security Group Activity shore stations at which CT ratings were trained and stationed — including facilities at Winter Harbor (Maine), Skaggs Island (California), Edzell (Scotland), and other NSGA installations — were constructed using military construction materials that incorporated asbestos-containing building materials in the facility construction consistent with the construction specifications of the period. CT ratings working at NSGA shore facilities accumulated background asbestos exposure from the shore facility construction throughout their shore duty assignments

VA Claims for Cryptologic Technician Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy ship service. Cryptologic Technicians who served aboard Cold War-era naval vessels and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.