CIWT Commanding Officer Visits IWTC Virginia Beach, Discusses Training Priorities

Courtesy Photo | Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach Command Logo  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES

07.11.2018

Courtesy Story

Center for Information Warfare Training

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Center for Information Warfare Training’s (CIWT) Commanding Officer Capt. Nick Andrews visited the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach for the first time, July 10-11, since recently taking command.

Andrews met with IWTC Virginia Beach staff and students, spoke at the joint information professional and intelligence officer graduation ceremony, and toured the IWTC Virginia Beach training footprint across the Dam Neck, Virginia, base.

Taking the opportunity to speak with the IWTC Virginia Beach’s leadership, Andrews was offered and discussed priorities and issues affecting the IWTC enterprise training mission.

“It is imperative that we train our Sailors to be better able to fight and win wars,” said Cmdr. Andrew Boyden, IWTC Virginia Beach’s commanding officer. “We are pleased to be able to host Capt. Andrews to share our perspective on how we are getting after our training mission by removing barriers to learning and aligning the training vision with fleet requirements."

Recognizing IWTC Virginia Beach’s unique claimancy composed of a mix of training new accession, Reserve force, officer leadership development, and fleet Sailors across the Navy’s largest information warfare training enterprise on the East Coast, Andrews and the IWTC Virginia Beach training staff discussed the challenges that come with managing multiple training courses located in different areas. The relatively new addition of learning sites to the Virginia Beach enterprise has allowed the training pipelines to be better managed, has improved and standardized training, and has provided the Fleet with a more agile and better trained Sailor.

While Andrews toured the different facilities, Boyden provided honest and direct feedback regarding barriers to staff and students coupled with solutions that will enhance the training mission. As the Navy moves into Ready, Relevant Learning, there are needed changes to enhance the training environment to meet the needs of the dynamic and advancing information warfare community.

“Capt. Andrews understands the need for a commitment to life-long learning in order for us to fight and win,” said Lt. Cmdr. Eric Dobson, IWTC Virginia Beach’s executive officer. “As the information warfare community continues to evolve, we must continue to be good stewards for our community and our nation."

IWTC Virginia Beach was honored to have Andrews as the guest speaker for the joint Information Professional Basic Course and Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course graduation. Reflecting on his past, Andrews recounted the necessity for foundational training and the resolution to get it right. He spoke to the graduates about their futures and the evolution of information warfare, urging them to continue to progress as they will inform decisions that will shape the battlespace in the warfighting realm.

"It is on you, as the future of our force, to remain engaged and tell us if we are going off track,” added Andrews. “I have every confidence that you will."

Andrews also shared he wished he could trade places with the young junior officers, offering that the first operational tour is usually the best. He concluded by relating the need to continue to learn to stay relevant in a dramatically changing environment.

IWTC Virginia Beach currently offers 65 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology, and intelligence with an instructor and support staff of 280 military, civilian, and contract members who train over 6,400 students every year at five training sites in the Hampton Roads area. It is one of four school houses for Center for Information Warfare Training and also oversees learning sites at Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut to continue aligning IW community training.

For more news from the Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cid/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.

• Date Taken: 07.11.2018
• Date Posted: 07.13.2018 13:29
• Story ID: 284145
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US