Hartsville sailor trains information warriors
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A 2005 Socastee High School graduate and Hartsville native is stationed with a command responsible for teaching future information warriors the skills required to defend America.
Lt. Darrin Hayes works as an instructor and serves with the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach. A Navy instructor is responsible for training new intel officers for the fleet.
Hayes credits success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in Hartsville.
“Hard work always pays off,” said Hayes. “There are no shortcuts to success.”
IWTC Virginia Beach provides a continuum of information warfare training to Navy and joint service personnel, preparing them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
The training command currently offers 65 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology and intelligence with an instructor and support staff of 280 military, civilian and contract members who train more than 6,500 students every year at five training sites.
Hayes is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
IWTC Virginia Beach is one of four schoolhouses for the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) and also oversees learning sites at Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut, to continue aligning the information warfare community training.
“Our IWTC Virginia Beach staff members clearly demonstrate exemplary performance and leadership, shown through their significant contributions to deliver trained information warfare professionals to the fleet,” said Cmdr. Richard Bosworth IWTC Virginia Beach commanding officer.
Charged with developing the future technical cadre of the information warfare community, the CIWT domain leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training to 22,000 students annually.
With 1,200 military, civilian and contracted staff members, CIWT oversees about 200 courses at four information warfare training commands, two detachments and additional learning sites located throughout the United States and Japan.
CIWT is responsible for training enlisted cryptologic technicians, information systems technicians, intelligence specialists and electronics technicians. CIWT also provides training to cryptologic warfare, information professional, intelligence and foreign area officers, which prepares sailors to wage battle and assure the nation’s success in this burgeoning warfare arena.
“The CIWT team is successful because each of our domain members is committed to our job of preparing sailors to fight and win in the arena of information warfare,” said Capt. Nick Andrews, CIWT’s commanding officer.
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Hayes is most proud of earning four sea service ribbons and a Navy Commendation Medal.
“It was nice to be recognized for the hard work for the end of tour award after deployment,” said Hayes.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Hayes, who has military ties with family members who have previously served.
Hayes is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My grandfather was in the Navy,” said Hayes. “It was important for me to do my part and serve my country.”