Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Aloha Native Trains as a U.S. Navy Information Warrior

By Lt. Sandra Niedzwiecki, Navy Office of Community Outreach

SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Kaila Lammert, a native of Aloha, Oregon, wanted to lead the way for her family by joining the Navy.

Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown
“I was the oldest of four kids and I want to set an example for my siblings,” said Lammert.

Now, nine years later, Lammert is stationed with a command responsible for teaching future information warriors the skills required to defend America around the world.

“IWTC is preparing me for my future in the Navy,” said Lammert. “I have been able to sit in other IT courses at IWTC to enhance my overall knowledge in IT which will help advance in my career.”

Lammert, a 2010 graduate of Hillsboro High School, is an information systems technician operating from the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) in San Diego.

“I am a course supervisor at IWTC, I oversee all the course material that the students receive and to ensure that the information stays relevant,” said Lammert. “I also manage the instructors that teach the course that I supervise.”

Lammert credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Aloha.

“I learned that nothing comes easy and you have to work for what you want,” said Lammert.

IWTC San Diego is just one component that makes up the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) domain, headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, Florida.

Charged with developing the future technical cadre of the information warfare community, the CIWT domain leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training to 22,000 students annually. With 1,200 military, civilian and contracted staff members, CIWT oversees about 200 courses at four information warfare training commands, two detachments, and additional learning sites located throughout the United States and Japan.

CIWT is responsible for training enlisted cryptologic technicians, information systems technicians, intelligence specialists, and electronics technicians. CIWT also provides training to cryptologic warfare, information professional, intelligence, and foreign area officers that prepares them to be prepared to wage battle and assure the nation’s success in this burgeoning warfare arena.

There are many reasons to be proud of naval service, and Lammert is most proud of earning Junior Sailor of the Year.

“I am proud of this accomplishment because I worked really hard for this," said Lammert. "It was a goal of mine and it felt really good to be recognized for my hard work and accomplishments.”

A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.

“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Lammert and other sailors and staff know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes serving as a key part of the information warfare community in its mission to gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of adversaries, and developing unmatched knowledge of the battlespace during wartime.

These sailors and staff have a tremendous responsibility in creating war-fighting options for fleet commanders and advising decision-makers at all levels as they serve worldwide aboard ships, submarines and aircraft.

“I love the Navy, serving in the Navy means everything to me,” said Lammert. “I am very passionate about the military, all branches of the military bring something to table and I am honored to be able to wear the uniform and serve my country.”