PENSACOLA, Fla.-Sailors assigned to Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) and Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station reflected on the history of their service during an observance of the Navy's 241st birthday held in the Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station chapel, Oct. 13.
The annual event celebrates the establishment of the Continental Navy on Oct. 13, 1775. The theme of this year's birthday observance was "America's Sailor. For 241 Years: Tough, Bold, and Ready," and Capt. Bill Lintz, CIWT's commanding officer remarked on how Sailors live up to those words.
"Two hundred forty-one years ago today, Congress established our Navy and established the tradition that all Sailors, their families, and all of our retirees have participated in: honorably serving this great country and supporting each other," said Lintz. "We serve afloat. We serve ashore. We protect our country. We serve the interests of our nation. We support our allies. We deliver aid, and we vigilantly guard the sea."
Following Lintz's remarks, Lt. Gregory Brown read a brief history of the Navy and emphasized the crucial role of the Navy in protecting and serving the United States.
"From the convoys of World War I to the major fleet actions at Coral Sea and Midway; from the blockade of Cuba in October of 1962 to the riverine operations on the Tigress and the Euphrates, our Navy has boldly and proudly put our shoulder to the wheel," said Brown. "We have championed peace, and we continue to shield the republic."
Brown then led the audience in singing "Anchors Aweigh."
The observance ended with a traditional cake cutting in which the oldest and youngest Sailors present made the first slices using a sword, a reminder that Sailors represent a band of warriors, committed to carrying arms so that the nation may live in peace. The cake cutters were Cmdr. James Dudley, the oldest Sailor, and Seaman Jacob Lodes, the youngest.
"It feels great celebrating my first of many Navy birthdays," said Lodes, currently a student at IWTC Corry Station. "Being the youngest Sailor here means I'll be taking over when everyone else moves on, and I'm ready to get out to the fleet and take on new responsibilities."
Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.