Photo By Clinton Beaird | Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting...... read more read more
Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) welcomed 39 new surface warfare Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) during a graduation ceremony conducted onboard Naval Station San Diego May 21st.
The newest warfighting tactical experts represent each of the four surface warfare areas – integrated air and missile defense (IAMD), amphibious warfare (AMW), mine warfare (MIW), and anti-submarine warfare / surface warfare (ASW/SUW).
“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work that you have all put in to be here today,” said Alexander. “By demonstrating mastery of the SMWDC Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) Plan, Brief, Evaluate, and Debrief (PBED) standards, you will continue to maintain a uniformed application across the enterprise. The Surface Navy needs you, and you should be proud of your hard work and dedication to better the Surface Force through the Warfare Tactics Instructor program.”
Top-talented junior surface warfare officers submit applications to become WTIs and those selected complete 15-33 weeks of warfighting training (depending on the warfare area) in San Diego, Norfolk Va., Dahlgren Va., and NATO school Ecole de Guerre des Mines (EGUERMIN) [translates as Naval Mine Warfare School], located in Oostende, Belgium. The WTI courses are designed to develop each element of the WTI “Warrior, Thinker, Teacher” model.
The 15-week AMW WTI course incorporates amphibious doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), student-led briefings, practical applications, and open forum discussions. Students exercise tactics in synthetic training evolutions conducted at the Center for Surface Combat Systems’ (CSCS) Ship Self-Defense System trainer onboard Wallops Island, Va., and one-on-one immersion training with Marine Corps personnel from each element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force onboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Immersion teaches students to plan and execute missions across the range of military operations with their Marine Corps counterparts – a crucial element of AMW mission success.
The 32-week MIW WTI course incorporates rigorous classroom instruction, mission planning, and scenarios focused on critical application of the Navy’s most cutting-edge tactics and technologies in MIW with an emphasis on tactical simulations, immersion in doctrinal TTPs, and the development of instructor skills through threat briefs and Capstone presentations. MIW WTI students completed - MIW staff officer, principal warfare officer, amphibious warfare immersion, aviation mine countermeasure airborne systems, mining, and NATO integration training.
The 17-week IAMD WTI course includes classroom instruction with CSCS’ Aegis Training and Readiness Center, tactical training, mission planning, and on-site visits with the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) and various Army and Air Force commands. The IAMD WTI course focuses on the Navy’s most cutting-edge tactics and technologies in the air defense domain, and within the ballistic missile defense mission set.
The 15-week ASW/SUW WTI course includes an emphasis on tactical simulations, immersion in doctrinal TTPs, and the development of instructor skills through threat briefs and capstone presentations. The curriculum featured lectures from subject-matter experts from across the warfighting communities. SMWDC’s Sea Combat Division staff were the primary instructors, but there were guest lecturers from NAWDC, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and other training commands.
“This is the largest graduating class of WTIs since SMWDC stood up in 2015,” said Cmdr. Chad Trubilla, head of SMWDC HQ’s Operations and Training. “These graduates completed the new model for training where WTI candidates complete their warfare area specific training at the individual sites and then complete WTI capstone training, instructor and tactics course here at SMWDC HQ. In the near future, WTIs from all warfare areas will complete most of their training at the WTI University – a state of the art facility complete with innovation cells – onboard Naval Station San Diego.”
The Graduates
AMW WTIs –Lt. Michael Cassidy, Lt. Tarenta Daniels, Lt. Krista Hebenstreit, Lt. Bryan Karg, Lt. j.g. Ian Mack, Lt. Patrick McDonough, Lt. Cmdr. Terra Reber, and Lt. Jacqueline White.
MIW WTIs – Lt. Rodriguez Manuel and Lt. Russell Pattison.
ASW/SUW WTIs – Lt. Steven Badeaux, Lt. Cmdr. Andre Cleveland, Lt. Daniel Correia, Lt. Thomas Foster, Lt. Christopher Habiak, Lt. Angelica Jaimes, Lt. Michael Lacaman, Lt. Cmdr. James Leggett, Lt. Cmdr. Kodi Lock, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan McFadden, Lt. Cmdr. James McLaughlin, Lt. j.g. Alejandra Murillo, Lt. Jennifer Pendleton, Lt. Cmdr. Savannah Peters, Lt. Evan Singleton, Lt. James Strunk, Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Towles, and Lt. Susan Wissmann.
IAMD WTIs – Lt. David Bailey, Lt. Audrey Bigger, Lt. Cmdr. Walter Buitragojr, Lt. Alex Gilbert, Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Jones, Lt. j.g. Connor Keating, Lt. Hayden Marsh, Lt. Jose Oterovera, Lt. Matt Serio, Lt. Zachary Spadoni, and Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey York.
WTIs each have a specific research “focus area” to start them on the path to becoming a subject matter expert on that particular topic. After earning qualification, WTIs complete a production tour, where they bring their skills to the Fleet providing advanced tactical training, developing tactics and doctrine, providing operational support, and crafting capability assessments.
“I am proud to join the WTI cadre of elite surface warfighting tacticians,” said Cleveland. “I’m excited to bring PBED, doctrine, and TTP to the fleet watchstanders and assist in developing their confidence and competence to win the high-end fight!”
Headquartered in San Diego, SMWDC has four Divisions in California and Virginia focused on IAMD, AMW, ASW/SUW and MIW.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2021 18:33 |
| Story ID: | 397115 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,212 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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