SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 1st Class Chantel King, a native of Riverside, California, felt stagnant after high school and wanted a way to make a difference and better herself.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
Now, eight years later, King is stationed with a command responsible for teaching future information warriors the skills required to defend America around the world.
“It's one of the first commands where I feel like I'm making a direct impact," said King. "I see the light bulb go off when the students get something and then they take it to the fleet and apply it.”
“It's one of the first commands where I feel like I'm making a direct impact," said King. "I see the light bulb go off when the students get something and then they take it to the fleet and apply it.”
King, a 2010 graduate of Riverside Polytechnic High School, is an information systems technician operating from the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) in San Diego.
King credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Riverside.
“I was taught the importance of always hitting all the wickets," said King. "Be well rounded and focus on all aspects of your life; education, career, leadership development and family.”
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 King is most proud of making rank and receiving a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
“I volunteer with traveling stories,” said King. “We read to children in underserved communities. I love being a part of the local community and giving back. I grew up here and I think it's important to go back to where you came from and give back.”
America is a maritime nation, and 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, King 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.
“Serving in the Navy means making a difference every day and having that pride of being a part of something,” said King.