IWTC Monterey welcomes their first female senior enlisted leader

FromCenterforInformation WarfareTraining

MONTEREY Calif Languagehasalways beenaninterestofMasterChiefCryptologic Technician Interpretive Laura Stout, and she has served as Navy linguist for the past 25 years before being selected as Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Monterey’s first female Senior Enlisted Leader(SEL).

IWTC Monterey is the first stop on a Sailor’sjourneytobecomingalinguist nowafter more than two decades Stout has returned asthetopenlistedSailorforthecommand.

AnativeofSt Petersburg,Fla.,Stoutjoined theNavyasanundesignatedSailorandupon completion of her enlistment, planned to return to Florida to become a high school Spanish teacher However, a Link Magazine containing the cryptologic technician interpretive (CTI) detailer’s contact information coupled with a conversation with a female leader in Groton Conn. where she was stationed onboard the USS Oak Ridge (ARDM 1), led her down the path to becoming a CTI. She was later promoted to mess management specialist 3rd class, and on the same day as the arrival of her results, she received orders to attend language training at the Defense Language Institute Foreign LanguageCenterinMonterey Calif

“Having an honest conversation with a lieutenantwhoaskedmeaboutmygoalsand directionintheNavy,andChiefJimMurphy, theCTIdetaileratthetime,takingmycalland walking me through theprocessto request a rating, are the reasons I am a linguist in the

Navytoday.”

Stout challenged herself taking a tour outside of the information warfare domain whereshewasultimatelypromotedtomaster chief while stationed at the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island After that tour, she transferred to staff duty with the Chief of Naval Personnel in the Office of theNavySeniorLanguageAuthority,OPNAV N13F, serving as the principal advisor for Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture policyandprograms.Uponcompletionofher tourwithOPNAV,shewasselectedtofillthe positionofSELforIWTCMonterey.

“I’vehadaverydiversecareerasalinguist, Stoutsaidofthejobtitlesshe’sheld.“I’vebeen incrediblyluckytohavehadtheopportunity to work as a cryptologic linguist onboard ships and aircraft, while also being a part of Naval Education and Training Command’s street to fleet training pipeline. Diversity in assignments and embracing unique opportunities has enabled me to grow as a linguist andaleader.”

Stout said a lot has changed in the past 25 years She sees more women in command andleadershiprollsthaneverbefore.During her time in the Navy, she has served at eight commands, including time onboard surface vessels, and a tour at Recruit Training Commandasarecruitdivisioncommander.

“It’simperativeforSailorstoseerepresentationofwhattheywanttobeandwhatthey canbewithintheranks,”saidStout “Women arenowactivelyrecruitedforallratings,and as commissioned officers, and are no longer secret code breakers hidden from the world likethewomenbreakingcodesduringWorld

War II. Their exceptional accomplishments are detailed in the book Code Girls by Liza Mundy.”

Stout said she enjoys talking to Sailors about the different opportunities the Navy has to offer and the value of diversity and inclusion

“A more diverse and inclusive Navy that values people as its greatest asset is a Navy thatcanandwillwinwars,”saidStout

“I feel incredibly honored to have an opportunitytoreturntoMontereyandserve as the Senior Enlisted Leader for InformationWarfareTrainingCommandMonterey, said Stout. “I work with a phenomenal staff of incredibly talented military and civilian professionals who spend their days mentoring, guiding, leading, and training the next generation of linguists I am completely humbledbythisexperience.”

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 thefullspectrumofmilitaryoperations

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout theUnitedStatesandJapan,CenterforInformation Warfare Training trains over 26,000 studentseveryyear,deliveringtrainedinformation warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services Center for Information Warfare Training also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers intheinformationwarfarecommunity

Q: Whattypesoffamily housingareavailable?

A: There are three types of housing available to families:

Public/PrivateVenture(PPV)

Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy

The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible forthe construction, renovation,maintenance and day-to-day management ofthe housing PPVhousing may be located on oroffgovernment property and in most cases will be formermilitary housing GovernmentOwned (also known as Military Housing orNavy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing While only available in limited quantities CONUS,Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. CommunityHousing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPVor government operated This is housing outside ofthe base that is privately owned and operated

NAVY HOUSING

Norfolk: 757.445.2832

JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792

Oceana/DamNeck: 757.433.3268

Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

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SERVICESFFSCPROVIDES:

ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couplesand ChildCounseling

Personal Financial Management

Information & Referral

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TransitionAssistance

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