When I was in (from 74 through 82) I know for absolutely sure that there was at least 1 OT because I were one. That means that there probably was at least 2 because I think someone gave me some training somewhere along the way.

I know also that the OT rate was not a big rate so there probably was not a million OTs in there.

So I put my very super scientifical SWAG at somewhere between 2 and 1 million.

You must have trained Nick McConnell. Your mathematical approach as stated resembles Nick's approach to acoustic analysis.

J

No idea but some of us OTM's were analyst's before rate split in '84. When I made Chief it was still OTC. Granted I wasn't near the caliber of most of you out there but pounded mats for a few years.

My tour at my first NavFac(CoosHead), was cut short due to the fact that there was a shortage of OTs on Guam at the time. Upon arriving at NavFac Guam, there were so many OTs there that we were standing three on three off, three on three off, three on three off watches for several months. There was no room in the barracks and anyone E4 and up could live off base if they so desired. I guess what I'm trying to say is no one even back in 1970 knew how many OTs there were!

The attached link to the Website Discovery of Sound in the Sea provides details of Manning numbers.

Regards,
George W. Willis

George, This was an amazing comment. There were 3,500 to 4,000 folks manning the IUSS sites at our peak in the 1980s. Counting OT analysts is impossible because it took many types of individuals, military and civilian of all ranks and many ratings/designators to conduct the Undersea Surveillance mission. Thank you for bringing us back to reality. Bravo Zulu to you! - Jim