The Training and Instructional Management Office (TIMO) at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) San Diego recently implemented a new method for students receiving training to submit feedback during course convenes.

Previously, students had to wait until graduation day to provide recommendations in the form of end-of-course critiques. Student feedback is a proven, valuable tool for identifying training and quality of life issues. The purpose is to provide feedback to the training and course supervisors on areas such as training and curriculum effectiveness, instructor performance, safety, and quality of life issues. It also provides a source of feedback to the instructors on their performance.

The new tool has been coined Anytime Recognition and Feedback (ARF), and has been implemented across the IWTC San Diego domain, which encompasses Information Warfare Training Site (IWTS) Yokosuka, IWTS Hawaii and IWTS Pacific Northwest. Thus, ARF is now available to a large number of information warfare students across the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility.

“ARF becomes especially important in longer courses, because we’re able to make changes in week two of a course instead of having to wait until after the conclusion of four months of training to get students’ perspective,” commented Valerie Sanchez, a training specialist with IWTC San Diego’s TIMO. “Also, we wanted to keep the name positive or neutral to avoid receiving only negative feedback from students.”

ARF incorporates best practices delineated by the Council on Occupational Education and enables students to provide feedback anonymously to schoolhouse staff for immediate consideration. Once student input is received, the TIMO works with instructors to determine whether adoption of suggested modifications is feasible and changes are implemented rapidly.

“ARF is going to have a very positive impact on our students’ training experience at IWTC San Diego,” added Capt. Michael Asprocolas, a U.S. Marine Corps instructor who teaches at IWTC San Diego. “The staff here is excited to get students’ feedback while it’s fresh, since their observations during a course may be forgotten by the time graduation day comes. This initiative should enhance both the quantity and quality of input we receive as instructors, and will ultimately improve the training we deliver to the fleet.”

IWTC San Diego, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

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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