IT "A" SCHOOL CONVENES INAUGURAL BLOCK 1 OF NAVY'S RRL INITIATIVE

By Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station recently convened the inaugural Information Systems Technician (IT) "A" school Block 1 learning stage of the Navy's Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) initiative.

Block 1 is designed to be the final stage of the entry-level training delivered under a transformed training construct of the RRL pillar of Sailor 2025.

RRL focuses on providing Sailors the right training at the right time and the right way throughout their careers. RRL also focuses on a career-long learning continuum where training is delivered by modern methods to enable faster learning and better knowledge retention at multiple points throughout a career. Sailor 2025 is the Navy's program to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward, and retain the force of tomorrow.

Under this new construct, ITs will return to IWTC Corry Station to attend this course after serving anywhere between 18-24 months at their first operational command. ITs are then awarded the 745A Navy Enlisted Classification code and will return to their command for duty. This is one of the major tenets of RRL.

"This course is the culmination of years of work and countless man hours from training managers and instructional support specialists here at CIWT in conjunction with IWTC Corry Station instructors, with input from the fleet to tailor training to meet emergent requirements and get ITs to the fleet faster," said Master Chief Information Systems Technician Kevin Summers, IT training manager.

The new course, referred to as Block 1, is 33 training days in length and focuses on Cisco Academy training associated with Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Introduction to Networking and Microsoft Academy Windows 10 training.

"I believe what makes Cisco's CCNA course great for our Sailors is the dedication to constantly improve the course material and delivery of the most relevant course material available," said Terri Dizon, a course instructor at IWTC Corry Station.

Navy ITs of the 21st century operate and maintain the Navy's global satellite telecommunications systems, mainframe computers, local and wide area networks, and microcomputer systems used in the fleet. Administrative support is also provided with the operation of automated equipment that keeps records of personnel training, disbursement, health, assignments and promotions within the Navy. They also maintain essential communications links between units at sea and stations ashore.

IWTC Corry Station is a part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT). With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command's top learning center for the past three years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.