A Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course (NIOBC) instructor with Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach visited 35 Midshipmen from class NS473I at the U.S. Naval Academy, Feb. 28.

“Meeting with the Midshipmen was a great opportunity to showcase the information warfare community and answer questions to help prepare them for the future in the fleet,” said Lt. Lee Hayes, the visiting IWTC Virginia Beach instructor.

The visit provided valuable community insight into the expectations of Midshipmen during their upcoming time at IWTC Virginia Beach. Following graduation from the Naval Academy in May, the 35 new commissioned officers will report to IWTC Virginia Beach, where they will attend the three-week Information Warfare Basic Course that will introduce them to the four communities within the information warfare community (IWC): cryptologic warfare; intelligence; information professionals, and meteorology and oceanography. 

“This briefing provided Midshipmen the unique chance to discuss what their basic IWC course would entail with subject matter expert from the schoolhouse,” said Lt. Cmdr. Douglas Marks, a senior U.S. Naval Academy instructor. “While our core instructors for the course have vast experience in their respective IWC fields, many have not been in the schoolhouse environment for several years. Lt. Hayes’ unique career path and schoolhouse knowledge helped ease the apprehension that many midshipmen feel about reporting to their first command after graduation.” 

Hayes also discussed a number of topics ranging from professional development, intelligence officer career paths, and what the Midshipmen can expect during the 20-week NIOBC course. 

“The feedback from the Midshipmen has been extremely positive, and they have remarked on the knowledge and experience they took away from the visit,” said IWTC Virginia Beach’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. Richard Bosworth. “Visits like these continue to not only answer questions and concerns the Midshipmen may have, but also strengthen that network within the training community.” 

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 6,500 students every year at 5 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.

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past three years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers 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.

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