Courtesy Photo | 181122-N-XX082-0005 MONTEREY, Calif. (November 22, 2018) Cmdr. Michael Salehi,...... read more read more
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By Seaman Jill Patterson, Information Warfare Training Command Monterey
MONTEREY, Calif. -- Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Monterey leaders spent Thanksgiving at the Presidio of Monterey dining facility serving initial-entry Sailors and service members, Nov. 22.
For many Sailors at IWTC Monterey, an initial-entry training “A” school, this year marks their first Thanksgiving away from home. Some may find themselves missing family and friends and the familiarity of home as they navigate their new lives in the Navy.
IWTC Monterey’s senior leaders, along with multi-service leaders from throughout the Presidio of Monterey, took some time to recognize this sacrifice and give back. As they do each year, they gathered at the on-base dining facility, strapped on hair nets and plastic gloves, and served the Thanksgiving meal to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who were unable to travel home for the holiday.
The meal had all the trappings of a traditional Thanksgiving meal like turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and eggnog. There were also some extras like prime rib and king crab legs; all served to them by their commanding officers, executive officers, and senior enlisted leaders.
The Presidio of Monterey is a joint-service base and home to the Defense Language Institute. As such, leaders from all four military branches were on hand to serve the students. Before and after, participants took time to meet with students, making the experience more personal for both sides.
“Serving service members on Thanksgiving is what military service and service to country is all about,” said Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) David Jennings. “The day I don't feel like supporting my shipmates is the day I know to submit my Fleet Reserve request.”
It may not be enough to make up for being away from home, but it is a gesture. A gesture from the old-timers to let some of the Navy’s newest Sailors know that “we’ve been there, and we get it.”
“It was nice for our superiors to have taken time away from family to serve us, and on Thanksgiving Day no less,” said Seaman Michael Graham. “The eggnog was a nice touch too.”
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, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning for the past two years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers 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.
For more news from the CIWT domain, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2018 17:25 |
| Story ID: | 301094 |
| Location: | MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 227 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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