Eleven information systems technicians (submarines) (ITS) graduated from the 16-week System Administration Course at Information Warfare Training Site (IWTS) Groton, July 20.

The course provides journeyman-level training to Navy enlisted personnel in the pay grades E3-E8, and prepares them for assignment to the cyber security workforce as systems administrators.

Students learn key concepts of administering, maintaining, and protecting Department of Defense information systems by focusing on properly installing software and patches; troubleshooting network problems; maintaining data files; monitoring systems; and executing systems backup and recovery.

Graduates also learn to configure Microsoft Windows in an enterprise environment, while gaining the ability to perform network management integration and troubleshooting of local area networks and metropolitan area networks. The Microsoft provided training includes installing, configuring, and administering Windows Server 2008; Network Infrastructure; Active Directory; and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

The last five weeks of training covers Navy networks specific training consisting of an overview of Navy network architecture; information technology (IT) afloat systems; IT shore systems; IT system administration support for applications; and Navy networks troubleshooting.

"This class worked really hard to excel in this academically challenging pipeline, and I could not be more proud of them," said Lt. Joshua Otto, officer in charge of IWTS Groton. "They will be great additions to the submarine community."

Additionally, two top-performing Sailors earned the Personnel Excellence and Class Honorman awards.

Information Systems Technician (Submarines) Seaman Jesse Phipps received the Personal Excellence award for his highly motivated efforts towards academics, commendatory involvement within the course, and positive influence on his peers.

Selected by the ITS instructors, Information Systems Technician (Submarines) Seaman Joshua Droge received the Class Honorman award for his thorough understanding of advanced computer functions, dedication to assisting fellow shipmates in their studies, and all around excellent performance.

"I hope to see them out in the fleet," said Information Systems Technician (Submarines) 1st Class Micheal Hughes, system administration instructor at IWTS Groton.

"IWTS Groton plays a critical role in training the submarine community," said Cmdr. Andrew Boyden, commanding officer of Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach. "It is impressive to see the quality of graduates from our training site and the excellence our team is pushing out to the fleet."

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 6,400 students every year at five 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.

IWTC Virginia Beach, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel, preparing them to conduct information warfare (IW) across the full spectrum of military operations.

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