PENSACOLA, Fla. -- U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. David Redmon, National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command senior enlisted leader, visited Center for Information Dominance (CID), Dec. 9.
He, along with Chief Master Sgt. Patrick McMahon, command chief for Air Force Space Command, and their colleagues, met with CID headquarters leadership and toured the training facilities at CID Unit Corry Station.
"This really is a great opportunity for us, from not just an Army or Air Force or Navy perspective, to come to take a look at the great job we're doing training folks in this new area of cyber, of intelligence, of information dominance" said Redmon. "We do represent your operational force, so everyone that's going through these courses is going to come out and work for us in some capacity."
The group took a look at the range of training offered at CID Unit Corry Station, including the Joint Cyber Analysis Course, electronic warfare and signals analysis classes, and the information systems technician Digital Tutor course. They also spent time visiting with and talking to students from all services during lunch.
"It was an honor having lunch with all the VIPs, especially Sgt. Maj. (Redmon)," said Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Sarah Yandow, currently a Digital Tutor student. "I learned that all the branches are unique in their own ways, and I really like that aspect of the military. He shared a lot of great points of view on security."
Redmon appreciated the team effort at CID, which he sees as an essential part of the development of the workforce.
"If we're not focused as senior enlisted folks on these young recruits, then they're not going to be able to replace us someday, so it's time always well spent," said Redmon. "When I'm around these young kids again, I get re-energized, so it's pretty cool."
Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (IDW/SW) Eddy Mejias, CID Unit Corry Station command senior enlisted leader, said the staff and instructors who engaged with Redmon and McMahon also benefitted from the visit, in addition to having the opportunity to showcase advancements in instruction since Redmon's last trip to Corry Station.
"They (Redmon and his colleagues) provided us valuable insight into the initiatives and strategies of U.S. Cyber Command, which will enable us to better train our service members for cyber operations around the world," said Mejias.
CID, with its headquarters based at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, is the Naval Education and Training Command learning center that leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint forces training in information operations, information warfare, information technology, cryptology and intelligence.
With nearly 1,300 military, civilian and contracted staff members, CID provides training for approximately 22,000 members of the U.S. armed services and allied forces each year. CID oversees the development and administration of more than 200 courses at four commands, two detachments and 12 learning sites throughout the United States and Japan.