Photo By Spc. Justin Malone | The Information Dominance Warfare Pin is worn by Sailors who have successfully...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Recently, history was made at Joint Task Force Guantanamo when Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeffrey Egbert, an intelligence specialist, became the first Coast Guardsman to earn a Navy warfare pin here. On Jan. 20, Egbert, a member of the Maritime Security Detachment, was pinned by JTF Deputy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Burkett with the Information Dominance Warfare Pin.
Earning the pin was not easy for Egbert but with perseverance and determination, he was able to do it.
The IDW pin represents the accumulation of knowledge and mastery of all things information based, which includes intelligence, information technology, meteorology and similar subjects, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Mace, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the JTF strategic fusion cell. The test is meant to expand Sailors’ knowledge base as the U.S. and its adversaries move toward more of an information-based warfare.
Initially Egbert was told he could not qualify because he is in the Coast Guard. After meeting Navy Master Chief Camila Plaisted, a cryptologic technician with the J2, Mace and other Sailors, a rare opportunity presented itself.
At the time Egbert was taking a class designed to prepare Naval personnel for the tests and boards required to qualify for the IDW. He attended the classes in order to learn the subject matter to enhance his education and overall career. Eventually, after the help of Plaisted, Mace and other members of the Navy, Egbert was able to get into the program to qualify for the IDW.
“He came to me and said, ‘Hey I’m interested in doing this,’” said Mace. “So we spoke to our enlisted leaders and, at first, it was a no. It’s just not something we normally do. Then they pushed more and they came back and allowed him to do it.”
Getting into the class was only part of the battle. From there, Egbert began studying and preparing for the rigorous testing that lay ahead.
There are three different books that needed to get signed off on, proving that participants knew the materials, said Egbert. The first one is information that all Sailors should know, the second is theater-specific knowledge, for everyone at U.S. Southern Command and then there is a unit specific book for everyone at GTMO. The books covered everything from intelligence, meteorological data to knowledge about the base. After learning the material, sitting in on briefings, tours and numerous hours of classes, Egbert then took a written exam consisting of approximately 150 questions, which he passed with flying colors, according to Mace. After the test, he prepared for what is known as a “murder board,” where participants are grilled on knowledge by a panel.
“In the seven months that I have been here we have only graduated five or six,” said Mace, about the number of service members who have completed the program here. “He got through extremely quick, which you don’t see very often. He didn’t just get by, he scored in the 99 percentile on his test and on his board he answered every question correctly and in general they’re not simple questions.”
After the written exam and murder board, came the final challenge. Egbert had to successfully complete the final board via video teleconference, with various service members at U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida. Once that was done, Egbert could finally relax and enjoy his accomplishment.
“History is a big part of Coast Guard tradition and it’s something that we honor,” said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jason Wallace, the electronics technician chief and communications officer at the MARSECDET. “To have someone, to the best of our knowledge, that has obtained this, is impressive. I’m proud of him. Just do it in generally is a very difficult task and to have him do it as part of his specialty is good for his professional development.”
After doing some research, Egbert and his team of supporters found out that Egbert was the first enlisted Coast Guardsman to receive the pin.
“I think the coolest part is all the interviews and everything that comes out of this,” said Egbert. “I can send this (information) back to my friends in San Antonio and see if they can use it as ammunition to get into the program too. So hopefully I won’t be the first and the last, I will just be the first of many.”
Mace, who is responsible for conducting all of the training and preparing of the participants here, said he was impressed with Egbert. Normally it takes participants up to a year to complete the program but he was able to complete the course in just four months.
“It was a pleasure working with IS2 Egbert throughout his qualification process,” said Mace. “IS2 (Egbert) worked very hard in order to complete his qualification, doing so in half the time most members take here at GTMO, he scored a near perfect on his written test while acing the oral board held with USSOUTHCOM subject matter experts. Frankly, this high level of performance is what I have come to expect while working with the men and women of our Coast Guard.”
With his new pin on his uniform and smile on his face, Egbert claims this pin is only the first of more to come. Egbert plans to earn Port Security Unit Pin as well as learning Russian and sailing. Egbert plans to spend the rest of his time at GTMO bettering himself and furthering his career, which should not be a problem for this historic Coast Guardsman.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2016 11:44 |
| Story ID: | 190651 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 492 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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