|
Sailor Earns Second Chance As Undesignated Seaman
by U.S. Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Demian Ford
Information
Warfare Training Command, Monterey
September 25, 2020
“I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
of America,” stated Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) (CTI) 2nd
Class Caitlin Kennedy as she stood in the gym of the Price Fitness
Center, located onboard the Presidio of Monterey, California.
Her right hand was raised as she repeated the oath of enlistment
after Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Monterey’s
Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Ayala. A fresh graduate of
the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) and
a cross-rate to CTI from yeoman, Kennedy reenlisted for six more
years in the Navy.
|
September 18, 2020
- Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 2nd Class Caitlin Kennedy, attached to Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Monterey and a recent graduate of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
at the Presidio of Monterey, California. IWTC Monterey, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of foreign language training to Navy personnel, which prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Navy
courtesy photo)
|
However, her road to DLIFLC graduation didn’t start at the
beginning of her Russian basic course. Kennedy first came to DLIFLC
in 2014, but was disenrolled for a disciplinary violation.
“I
was arrogant the first time I came to DLIFLC,” shared Kennedy. “I
felt entitled, and didn’t have any self-discipline or good study
habits. I had come into the Navy specifically to be a CTI, and when
I found out that I was disenrolled, it was like a punch in the
face.”
Upon disenrollment, then Kennedy was sent to the
fleet as an undesignated seaman under the Professional
Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) program.
When asked about
that experience, she stated, “At first, I didn’t know how to ‘ship
life’. Because I had come in [to be] a CTI, I had a sense of
superiority. Going through being an undesignated seaman taught me
that everyone has an equally important part to play. I think every
Sailor should experience being an undesignated seaman.”
Kennedy eventually struck into the yeoman rating, qualified as an
Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and was promoted to second
class petty officer. All the while she kept working toward her goal
of returning to DLIFLC, and doing it right.
“I liked Petty
Officer Kennedy from the start because she was clearly a squared
away fleet returnee,” said Chief Cryptologic Technician
(Interpretive) Bryan Burrows, Kennedy’s division chief during her
time as a student. “What impressed me most was that although she had
times when she was struggling academically, she never let up and
never lost sight of who she was as a leader.”
When asked if
she had any advice for Sailors facing adversity or rebounding from
mistakes, Kennedy offered, “Don’t give up. Keep your eyes on your
goal, and you’ll get there or find something better. You know who
you are, and do your best no matter what anyone else says.”
IWTC Monterey, as part of the Center for Information Warfare
Training (CIWT), provides a continuum of foreign language training
to Navy personnel, which prepares them to conduct information
warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
With
four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites
throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains over 22,000
students every year, delivering 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.
Center for Information Warfare Training |
U.S. Navy Gifts |
U.S. Navy
|
U.S.
Department of Defense
Our Valiant Troops |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
|
|
