PENSACOLA, Fla. - Those serving at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station learn the importance of information warfare as part of modern warfare.
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| Photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
One of the sailors continuing the tradition of maritime superiority through information warfare is Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Ford, a native of Brooklyn, New York.
Ford is a 2005 graduate of White Plains High School.
Ford joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Ford serves as a master-at-arms.
“My father was in the Marine Corps, and I wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps, so I tried to join after high school,” Ford said. "My dad found out and stopped me and advised me to go to school and work a few jobs, but a part of me was missing and so eventually one of my best friends who was in the Navy got me to join the Navy."
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Brooklyn.
“I grew up wanting to explore different opportunities because I knew I had a drive and motivation to do something positive with my life,” Ford said.
IWTC Corry Station is located at Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Corry Station, known as the “cradle of cryptology.” It falls under the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), one of the largest Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) learning centers. Through its “street to fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the Navy’s current and future needs. With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT provides instruction for more than 26,000 students every year, delivering information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services.
The CIWT domain, along with all other Navy training commands, is transforming and innovating its training programs through Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL), a pillar of Sailor 2025. Sailor 2025 is a program used to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward and retain the force of tomorrow. It focuses on empowering sailors, updating policies, procedures, and operating systems, and providing the right training at the right time in the right way to ensure sailors are ready for the fleet.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Ford serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
Ford has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“One of the things I'm proud of was helping to guard Air Force One at Travis Air Force in 2008,” Ford said. "I'm also proud of protecting a ship from an insider civilian threat who was trying to sabotage the mission in the Red Sea in 2021. My 12-man team searched the ship, found the person and took him down."
Ford can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy is about protecting my sailors from anything that can harm them and knowing I'm supporting a mission that keeps our nation safe,” Ford said.
Ford is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to honor Petty Officer 2nd Class Naem Igrayeb, who is no longer with us,” Ford added. "He was a big reason that I joined the Navy, and why I've continued to stay in the Navy. I also want to thank my brothers, Nasir 'Flaco' Morales and Jose Morales. I want to thank my dad for always pushing me to be better."