CIWT Command Team Visit IWTC Virginia Beach

On Nov. 30, 2021, Capt. Marc Ratkus, commander, Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), and CIWT Command Master Chief Jason Thibodeaux visited Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach (IWTCVB).

Ratkus and Thibodeaux spent the day touring the IWTCVB campus, talking to students and staff, and holding an all-hands call.

Ratkus began his morning touring Layton Hall and visiting various intelligence-related courses. The tour included Joint Targeting School, Intelligence Specialist “A” School, and Navy Intelligence Officer Basic Course. In the afternoon, Ratkus visited Walker and Raborn Halls, and observed a variety of information professional, information technician, and cryptologic courses. 

The tour was broken up by an all-hands call in Taylor Auditorium held at midday. Cmdr. James Brennan, commander of IWTCVB, Ratkus and Thibodeaux, addressed the IWTCVB instructors and staff. They began the session with a presentation of awards to various instructors and staff who demonstrated superior performance of duty. Ratkus also presented three instructors with their Master Training Specialist qualifications and congratulated them on their achievement.

Before opening the all-hands for a question and answer session, Ratkus discussed the importance of IWTCVB and the impact it has on the fleet at large stating, “The significance that this community and command has on the Warfighter cannot be overstated.”

Ratkus spoke of his four main priorities for CIWT and his subordinate commands: curriculum development and the associated manpower to execute training, cyber warfare, command sustainment, and necessary support for each command.

Brennan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity for a command visit saying, “We are very fortunate for the visit from CIWT leadership. Our students, staff, and instructors benefit greatly from understanding strategic direction from a higher level, as well as hearing of the positive impact that their hard work and dedication to their tradecraft brings to the fleet.”

IWTCVB currently offers 56 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology, and intelligence, providing training to more than 6,600 students annually at five training sites in the Hampton Roads area. One of CIWT’s four geographically dispersed schoolhouses, IWTCVB also oversees learning sites at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; Jacksonville and Mayport, Fla.; Kings Bay, Ga.; and Groton, Conn., continuing to align training for the information warfare community.