[CW] US Navy training speeds - "quals" and performance standards

[George]

Sorry, I failed to identify myself.  George N0̸GM

> On Mar 27, 2023, at 5:53 PM, George <grmjunior at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> Graduated from Radio School in San Diego in 1968.  As I remember (long time ago!) to graduate RM's only had to send and receive 18 wpm.  (I actually then went to High Speed Morse Code school for a few weeks but quickly tested out, so I'm guessing that speed was only 25-30 wpm.)   Subsequently I was stationed at NAVCOMSTA Japan for 2 years and sat on a Ship to Shore CW circuit; if one qualified at 30wpm+ and sat on the circuit for a full year, they were gifted a free Vibroplex Speed Key.  However, I opted to move on to TTY / Orestes because I found that more interesting, although CW with the USNS ships was very enjoyable, several invited me down to visit when they were in port Yokosuka.  Those merchant ships had lots of chirpy transmitters!
> 
>> On Mar 27, 2023, at 3:50 PM, Chris R. NW6V <chrisrut7 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Greetings group.
>> 
>> To be clear - my admiration of Navy radiomen is extreme - I was raised by a Navy radioman (Chief Warrant Office 4) and he had me copying and sending 18 WPM code groups fast when I was 11 years old.  
>> 
>> Anyway, a fellow recently claimed that in 1986, in the Navy "International Morse Code Operator School," he and other students had to be able to SEND at 28 WPM on a straight key. 
>> 
>> 28 WPM on an SK could win championships - I managed 26 WPM on mixed groups (in a contest), and it required months of training and was very demanding. I suspect the fellow is suffering from memory magnifications (the fish we catch - and the ones that get away - both grow larger as time passes). My recollection is that the RM3 rating required closer to 18 than 28.
>> 
>> But I prefer facts to recollections. So, a couple of questions. 
>> 
>> 1. Do any of you know or have access to the actual  "quals" or "performance standards" for the Navy schools or ratings? 
>> 
>> 2. Do you know the requirements to be issued a "speed key" certificate? My understanding is that there was no official requirement, but that it was done somewhat ad hoc on a unit-by-unit basis.
>> 
>> Thanks for the bandwidth.
>> 
>> 73 Chris NW6V
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> =30=
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