U.S. Navy Press Release:
DAHLGREN, Virginia (NNS) – Twenty surface warfare officers graduated from Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center’s (SMWDC) Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) course of instruction during a ceremony held at the Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC) at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Dec. 1.
The event marked a significant milestone as it brought the total number of IAMD WTIs to more than 100 patched officers in the Fleet, since the course’s inception in 2013.
“It’s a great program and I’m not just saying that,” said Lt. Melissa Avidano, a newly-patched WTI who will complete her production tour at the IAMD Division following graduation. “I almost think that every SWO should have the opportunity to go through the course. I had plenty of underway time prior to arriving, but this was the first time in my career I’ve been able to engage tactically – even in a simulated environment – and it was exciting.”
WTIs are junior surface warfare officers, ideally selected for the program in between division officer tours or immediately thereafter, who go through a WTI Baseline Course through SMWDC’s San Diego Headquarters, followed by an advanced course of instruction. WTIs take pride in holding themselves to a higher standard of tactical and doctrinal coherence; and in turn, systematically institutionalizing higher standards and implementing a culture of high-velocity learning to defeat the Navy’s near-peer competitors…
