PENSACOLA, Fla. – The deputy commander of Naval Education and Training Command, Rear Adm. Scott Ruston, visited the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), on Corry Station, Jan. 28.
During his visit, Ruston was provided an overview of the CIWT training domain, and delved into some of the new training initiatives taking place where the Navy’s next generation of information warriors are trained.
Capt. Marc Ratkus, commander, CIWT, discussed the complexities and relevance of the information warfare community, highlighting how CIWT is aligned to and engaged with both requirement and resource sponsors to produce apprentice, journeyman, and master level graduates capable of satisfying both fleet and joint requirements.
The discussion went in depth into the current cyber training being provided and touched on the future of Navy cyber. Ruston asked if the students in the cyber courses performance was being measured when interacting with the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE), a training platform that replicates the digital environment the students will encounter when conducting cyber defense operations.
Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Aaron Manning, Cryptologic Technician Networks (CTN) Rate Training Manager, explained that the schoolhouse has incorporated those types of metrics into the course framework and they are currently assessing students’ learning needs and adapting what is taught to better meet those needs. Manning also touched on the Learning Management System developed for the cyber program and some of the other cyber courses that would soon be coming online.
Ratkus discussed the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) course using the Training Virtual Environment (TVE) cloud-based delivery capability. This capability allows for expanded training from IWTC Virginia Beach and IWTC San Diego, to eight fleet concentration areas, supporting training for information systems technician (IT) and information systems technician (submarines) ratings.
The CIWT commander also detailed the Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System 3D® (MRTS 3D®) programs that the center uses to provide training for cryptologic technician technical (CTT) students in the AN/SLQ-32 (V)6 maintenance course and the future application of the Surface Ships Radio Room (SSRR) MRTS 3D® for IT students in the journeyman communications course (JCC).
Ruston asked if there was a degradation in training from virtual learning as opposed to actual hands-on training. Ratkus explained that because the Navy owns the MRTS 3D® technology, they can build functions into the training to address any training shortfalls that are identified.
Following the overview at CIWT headquarters, Cryptologic Technician Technical 1st Class Zachary O’Connor offered a demonstration of the AN/SLQ-32 (V)6 MRTS 3D® in one of the center’s two MRTS 3D® enabled classrooms, with the third currently being installed. During the demonstration, O’Connor showed how technical manuals and safety features were integrated into the virtual training and explained some of the time and cost-savings that were achieved by using the MRTS 3D®. The students were able to achieve more sets and reps, each working on their own virtual system, rather than waiting for their turn to work on a roughly $12 million live AN/SLQ-32 (V)6 system that if down severely degraded and slowed down training.
During the SSRR MRTS 3D® demonstration, Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Dennis, the CIWT Information Technology Program Manager, explained that the SSRR MRTS 3D® program is going through the final checks and will soon be used to provide operator radio training in both “A” and “C” schools for enlisted IT students, and will be integrated into their officer courses as well.
Though Ruston was not able to observe cyber training during this visit, he told Ratkus that the hook had been set, that that he would be returning at a later date so he could witness first-hand how the Navy’s cyber professionals were being trained.
Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training organization, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/CIWT/ or http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT.