It is hard to say when the Cryptologic Limited Duty Officer (LDO) was first established, but to give you an idea of the history, the first LDO promoted to Captain was Albert Ross. He received his LDO commission in 1970 – 51 years ago.
On April 6, 2021, the cryptologic LDO program was officially terminated. Because of the huge influence LDOs contributed to the navy and the cryptologic community throughout the years, it is only right to recognize these officers who served or is serving “Up from the Ranks” as an LDO (644X/681X).
Honor these cryptologic LDOs you served with in the comments below.
Station HYPO 
11 April 2021 at 11:05
Was there any particular reason why they terminated the program? Our officer corps (both Navy and Marine Corps) had a lot of CWO/LDO, and also a lot of non-LDO Mustangs (anyone with previous enlisted time); in part because the best way to learn the business was to work the job. There might be a college somewhere that offers a degree in cryptology, but if there is, there aren’t many. Sorry to see the program go, hopefully someone will reconsider.
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11 April 2021 at 12:18
As an out sider since 1972 when I left the CT community, I have noticed that there are fewer and fewer large size bases and more and more smaller groups to do the CT work, such as, Outboard groups aboard Destroyers and Frigates instead of an entire ship like the Oxford, Liberty and others. It does not take an officer to lead such smaller groups in most cases and if one is needed then use a line officer from CT community. Just how many bases overseas exist from the time of the 1970s? Most of the places I served at in my 13 years as a CT are gone. Just as many jobs are or have been moved from the office to the home it looks like much of the work once done in foreign and national locations are now being done in the Big House at NSA and its locations in Georgia, Utah, and Hawaii. The advent of solar technology has changed the CT world to what it was like in the decade after World War 2 and that means the demand for LDOs has shrunk along with the CT world.
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11 April 2021 at 13:35
What is/where can I find the source stating the Cryptologic LDO program was terminated April 6th? I just became eligible and am planning on submitting a package this year…
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11 April 2021 at 14:27
Trevor,
The program was terminated via a memo put out last week by RDML Scheidt.
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11 April 2021 at 14:38
Bob Morrison’s comment is right on! WTF!
I recently wrote that helping so many of the fine petty officers that worked with me in Misawa, and then at Atsugi, transition to LDO was one of my absolute proudest achievements.
At at Atsugi I was able to assist 7 of the 35 men working for me become either LDOs or WOs.
I am very proud of that fact. I know I did the NAVY a service!
And it was about as important as anything else I ever did.
CAPT Tom Botulinski is a shining example. Bob Klein was another.
Have always believed that, but as I get older and look back on my career, that fact becomes clearer and clearer.
As I said about: WTF? over!
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11 April 2021 at 16:16
I just find it quite ironic that many of our largest and most important sites are currently (and formerly) being led by prior LDOs.
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11 April 2021 at 16:45
It would be great if someone with any real knowledge of the reasoning behind this decision could help us all understand this. As it is, Navy has said “thank you for your service” and that’s about all. Cryptologic officers were restricted line when I was on active duty. Cryptologic LDOs were not, and I qualified as a SWO during my OUTBOARD tour.
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11 April 2021 at 19:14
Perhaps it’s a realization that this community does a very poor job accessing and growing Officer talent. As stated above, many leadership roles are filled by priors even as the community has tried to kill the opportunity for prior enlisted Sailors to join it. Instead of recognizing this as a strength in our community, I feel that many view LDO/CWOs as a crutch that allow unsatisfactory Academy, OCS, Lateral and POCR Officers to hide and promote. It goes without saying that there are many exceptional Officers that commission through those programs as well, but in a community seemingly hellbent on making generalists, it must be embarrassing to have so many online university educated technical specialists “showing up” the STEM degree darlings that VADM Tighe decided were the true future of our community. Clearly community leadership has the right to change how we do business, but I think a hollow memo with generic references to GPC that provides no substantive detail is worse than providing no memo at all. Good luck to all our fine enlisted Sailors…I suppose you can still strive for CWO, or I’m sure our IP brethren would be happy to poach you.
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12 April 2021 at 00:37
“ it must be embarrassing to have so many online university educated technical specialists “showing up” the STEM degree darlings that VADM Tighe decided were the true future of our community. ”
NAILED it
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12 April 2021 at 13:02
Any idea if the “Up From The Ranks” logo is available on a challenge coin or patch?
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12 April 2021 at 14:14
What a shame….a crying shame
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12 April 2021 at 14:21
where is the memo available?
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13 April 2021 at 02:23
Considering it’s hard to meet an Officer in our community that has any knowledge of the technical aspects of our job, this is insanely sad.
The effects will be felt in a number of areas, mainly training and mentorship.
Once all these salts are done we will be nothing more than SWO’s without the sea time.
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13 April 2021 at 21:01
Sigh … what were they thinking when they made that decision?
I can remember being proud of my newly minted STEM degree when I entered active duty decades ago. I soon found it to be a good door opener … and little more. I’m grateful for those outstanding LDOs and Chiefs who caught this clueless JO as he stumbled through the door, took him under their wings, and helped guide him onto the correct path.
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14 April 2021 at 11:51
As I understand it, the reason for the demise Cryptologic LDO program was the belief that there were sufficient numbers of JO coming into the community via the Academy, ROTC and OCS.
If this is correct, then I believe our leaders have it just backwards as an LDO JO (ensign to lieutenant, is much more effective than your average “newly minted” JO from ROTC and OCS.
We should cut input from ROTC and OCS long before we delete the LDO program.
Yes, an LDO LT makes a good bit more than an ROTC LT, but I believe the different ineffectiveness more than pays for the difference.
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14 April 2021 at 09:35
RDML Scheidt has hated LDOs since he was a JO. I remember back in the day when he was a JO he wanted to rid the community of LDOs. This will be another mistake for our community like the “make an O5 feel Good” commands he established at Fort Meade, or like the “We don’t need no CTMs” plan he helped craft back when he was a JO at CNSG.
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14 April 2021 at 11:25
An old article that may help with the background on this issue — https://stationhypo.com/2016/04/25/beating-a-dead-horse/
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14 April 2021 at 14:35
It was with a heavy heart that I read that the Cryptologic Limited Duty Officer Program is no more. I am extremely grateful to have served as both a Cryptologic Warrant Officer and Cryptologic Limited Duty Officer. The skills that I learned during my Naval career have served me well in life and in the Defense Industry. I fondly remember every CWO and LDO that shaped me as a person and a professional. It saddens me that our young Sailors won’t have the benefit of that mentorship going forward.
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16 April 2021 at 00:40
Why is someone in a joint job making Navy policy?
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28 April 2023 at 22:21
Guy thomas could you please reach out to me
Goosehonker67@yahoo.com
Zac klein
Bob klein’s son
Thank you
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