PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Virginia Beach, Virginia native is stationed at a Navy training command to learn how to be an information warfare professional who is armed with the skills necessary to protect and defend America around the world.

Over the past two months, Seaman Brandon Sims has been stationed onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida, at the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station for Information Systems Technician (IT) “A” School.

An IT is responsible operating and maintaining Navy global satellite telecommunications systems, servings as admins on mainframe computers and local and wide area networks, implementing micro-computer systems throughout the fleet and ensuring the viability of essential communications links.

Sims graduated from Salem High School in 2016 before deciding to leave his hometown to join the Navy in November of 2020.

Sims is looking forward to meeting new people and traveling around the world.

“College wasn’t for me, so I decided to follow in my father’s footsteps,” said Sims. “I picked IT because I wanted a job that translated well to the civilian world. I’m hoping to get as many qualifications as I can so I do well in here, and so I can qualify for even better jobs once I am out of the military.”

As an information warfare Sailor, Sims said he expects to grow and mature as a man while his connections with shipmates grow.

“I think a lot of people think of the military as a last resort, but that’s false,” said Sims. “Growing up, I saw my father have a brotherhood that I want now. I saw the connections he made with the people he met and watched him grow as the man I know while he gained opportunities for our family. That’s what I expect to get.”

IWTC Corry Station is one component that makes up the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) domain. IWTC Corry Station, as part of the CIWT, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that 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.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.