CNIFR and CIWT Strengthen Reserve IW Training and Collaboration

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Rear Adm. James Butler, commander, Naval Information Force Reserve (CNIFR) along with CNIFR’s Command Master Chief Kristie Barbier, visited the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) and Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station to review information warfare (IW) training initiatives and discuss current and future training for the Navy’s Reserve IW force, June 24.

CNIFR provides Navy and joint service customers with skilled, trained and ready information warfare Reserve professionals in support of mobilization, contingency and peacetime operations.

This was Butler’s and Barbier’s first visit to CIWT since Butler took the helm of CNIFR in October 2020. Their visit offered an opportunity to update them on the latest Reserve force development approaches for building a talented IW fleet through initiatives, such as Ready, Relevant Learning, that take recruits from "street to fleet" and transform civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters.

Butler and Barbier began their visit with CIWT Commanding Officer Capt. Marc Ratkus and IWTC Corry Station’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. Zach McKeehan, where Butler and Barbier were given a “bird’s eye” overview of Corry Station from atop building 501, along with an overview of the entire CIWT domain.

“Our Navy Reserve information warfare professionals are the important linchpin who help add strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities to our Navy and nation, in times of peace or war,” said Capt. Marc Ratkus, commanding officer of CIWT. “It was our distinct pleasure to discuss current and future Reserve training opportunities with Rear Adm. Butler and Command Master Chief Barbier to better support their mission of providing Navy and joint service customers with skilled, trained and ready information warfare Reserve professionals in support of mobilization, contingency and peacetime operations.”

Butler and Barbier then participated in a Reserve IW training roundtable discussion with various CIWT and IWTC Corry Station leaders. CIWT successes, initiatives and challenges topics ranged from Persistent Cyber Training Environment to revolutionizing IW Reserve training to the Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System 3D®, or MRTS 3D®.

Other events included an AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare systems and Surface Ships Radio Room MRTS 3D® demonstration and discussion.

“It’s great to see firsthand how the entire CIWT domain is working diligently to help forge our Reserve information warfare force to best support warfighting readiness,” said Bulter. “During this time of strategic competition, it’s even more critical our Reserve team is always ready as the ‘go-to force’ that provides valuable, vital support to all areas of the Navy.”

Butler and Barbier completed the visit with a working luncheon with local Reserve IW warriors, and then departed for Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola.

“Our IW Reserve force is committed to being highly trained, ready and skilled to fight and win on day one,” shared Barbier. “The CNIFR and CIWT teams are postured well to continue to leverage the best training opportunities and initiatives to ensure our entire force is always warfighter ready.”

With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains approximately 26,000 students every year, delivering trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

For more news from the Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/CIWT, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.