Thirty-three chief petty officers and petty officers first class assigned to Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) San Diego gathered in the afternoon hours, Nov. 17, at Mission Trails Regional Park for a hike at Cowles Mountain.

The three-mile excursion to the highest point within the city of San Diego was part of CPO 365 -- a year-round training initiative which fosters team building and community service, and demonstrates the expectations and accountability which come with earning the anchors of a chief petty officer. It provided the opportunity to develop camaraderie and promote resiliency through exercise.

"This event today and others like it are particularly important as we continue to shape our first class petty officers as leaders," said Chief Petty Officer Zachary Schulz. "Communication is important, especially in the Chiefs Mess, and a hike like this is a chance to network with each other."

Many of the Sailors appreciated the opportunity to hike alongside each other and get to know the chiefs better.

"The CPO 365 Phase I Team came up with this idea, and through determination, hard work, and sweat, the IWTC San Diego first classes were mentored and engaged," said Petty Officer 1st Class Tyshawn Priester. "We don't see each other every day at work, so we can get a lot out of events like this by talking with each other and just learning from a motivating experience."

Petty Officer 1st Class Angel Vargas also enjoyed the time spent with fellow petty officers first class.

"The CPO 365 experience on this hike gave us a sense of accomplishment as we all completed it together, and the perfect weather of San Diego made for a fun day," said Vargas.

At the top of the mountain at an elevation of 1,592 feet, the group paused for a team photo, while taking in the 360-degree panorama of San Diego County.

"Mentorship on a CPO 365 hike helps bring the command together and make it feel more like a family," said Chief Petty Officer Christopher Love, who put on his own anchors this year. "CPO 365 is about building relationships, which are key to everything we do in the Navy. This program provides a common ground for all first class petty officers and strengthens the Chiefs Mess. We all benefit from a CPO 365 training event."

Information Warfare Training Command 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 (IW) across the full spectrum of military operations.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training organization, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/CIWT/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.