CHIPS Articles: CID Unit Corry Station Graduates Cyber Warriors

Joined by family, staff and instructors, the graduates represented the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force, as well as both active duty and Reserve service members.

"Today all of you have accomplished the advanced training necessary to complete your mission," said Chief Information Systems Technician (IDW/SW/AW) Christy Riley, CID Unit Corry Station command fitness leader and guest speaker. "Whether the next step in your military journey leads you to a ship, the field, or the runway, the training that you have received here at Corry Station will give you the foundation for success."

One of the larger groups to graduate together in recent memory, the size is indicative of the number of students passing through Corry Station as they join their service as part of the Information Dominance Corps (IDC). Whether on their way to Navy Cyber Units, ships, Navy Information Operations Centers, or a myriad of other commands, the graduates are prepared to support the three core information dominance capabilities of assuring command and control, maintaining battlespace awareness and integrating kinetic and non-kinetic fires.

Half of the graduates are information systems technicians, completing either Information Systems Technical (IT) "A" school or the new Digital Tutor (DT) System Administration Course. Both teach network administration, database management, and computer hardware and software troubleshooting skills.

"I grew a lot as a Sailor and a person," said Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Tristan McCaig about her experience at IT "A" school. "I learned how to manage stress. I also learned the material itself instead of just preparing to pass a standardized test like I did in high school."

Like McCaig, Information Systems Technician Seaman Hannah Leatherwood and many of their fellow Sailors came to Corry Station from boot camp with little technical computer experience.

"We were all from different places and came together," said Leatherwood. "It was like a family instead of a class."

The multiservice students graduating from the Joint Cyber Analysis Course studied topics ranging from computer fundamentals to programming to forensics methodology and malware analysis, while Navy cryptologic technicians (collection) completed the Communications Signals Collection and Processing Course "A" school as they became learned about intercepting signals.

"Cryptology is a growing field in the Navy, and this is a great opportunity to be part of the Information Dominance Corps," said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class (AW) Tiffany Wu, who decided to change her career path after four years in the Navy. "The instructors teach the fundamentals needed for the fleet along with hands-on experience. They are always more than willing to help with questions on any given topic."

With the numerous operational cyber threats that the Navy is countering, the IDC is adding nearly 300 cyber billets in the next four years to support such efforts.

"Your education is just the beginning of preparing you to play the role that you have been charged with," Riley told the graduates.

CID Unit Corry Station delivers Navy and joint forces training in information operations, information warfare, information technology and cryptology, providing training for approximately 12,000 service members each year. With a staff of 300 military and civilian instructors, CID Unit Corry Station oversees the development and administration of 39 courses of instruction.

For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/.