Reflective Journal 1
During the last 50 hours, I feel like I met three of my four learning objectives almost perfectly. I was in the process of troubleshooting a Red Hat Linux system for one of our student trainer systems. We ran into a problem with clients and host not communicating properly and virtual file systems not being shared from server to client VMs. Working through this problem allowed me to gain valuable experience troubleshooting backend Red Hat system through mostly command line interface and working in the Windows system that is ran as a virtual machine. We ended up finding multiple problems that we had to work through to eventually fix the system. The first problem was that there was an error with blocking USB redirection to the VMs. This required an updated firewall ruleset. After that, we were still running into an issue with not being able to see file systems on clients that were present correctly on the server system. With that in mind we found out that the main server VM and the others had a different password set that wasn’t allowing the connection to the main server VM. We were able to go in and push out a new password change to all of the internal VM systems that allowed them to access the file systems again. We received aid through these troubleshooting techniques from the creators of the system, Lockheed Martin. This was a great experience to learn about the server to client issues that can be seen from something as simple as password management and firewall configurations. This was definitely a great learning experience for Red Hat and Windows operating systems, as well as the type of VM configuration the system uses. In the end, all problems were remedied and information was passed on to other technicians as a training that was held. Not only did I get the technician experience but I also received the leadership experience as I was the lead of that training. I also got to work with the minds that own that system and learned a lot of techniques from them as well. It was an eventful week and I hope I continue to learn and progress.
Reflective Journal 2
The last week was not as eventful as my first 50 hours in this internship. Most of it was classroom training on combat system capabilities, warfare tactics, and some troubleshooting. The troubleshooting was for the same training system in which I was working on in the last journal, AVOT. I had to work on some password management, anti-virus/firewall policies, and data transfer. In doing that, I also was able to train the parties involved with how to do it next time. They were very receptive of the training and should be able to bring up the system, turn on/off the USB blocking policies, and transfer data themselves next time.
During this time, I spent two full days working on certifying a training system for Naval Ship Combat Systems. We ran the system to its full extent and had to write up reports for any “bug” or training that was not able to accomplished. These were called Technical Observation Reports (TOR) and they document the problem and get sent to engineers to look into the issues on a technical level. This was a fun way to spend the days as well as good refresher training for me on the Combat Computer Systems.
I did some leadership tasks, such as aid junior sailors in entering travel information and monetary accounting on the command’s supply system. I also aided in critiquing a junior coworkers teaching and helped them get qualified to teach the course to future students. It wasn’t too much of an eventful week. We have some missions coming up in the coming weeks that will require me to go to ships and teach them Linux command line interface and troubleshooting computer machines and peripherals. That will be fun and exciting to aid them and hopefully learn something new!
Reflective Journal 3
The last 50 hours were only slightly more interesting than the ones before. I didn’t do a whole lot that had to do with my specific area of study, but I did get some leadership time and instructing experience. I was able to teach a course called Combat Identification. Basically, it was about how all the systems available on a ship work together to make a proper identification of an unknown. That is about all I can say about it, as it is a Secret classified course, but I had 13 students. This gave me an opportunity to provide training to them and take on that role as their immediate superior and leader of the classroom. I was also able to instruct for over 18 hours in a lab type environment. It is essentially taking everything that the students learned in about 30 hours of class (and their naval careers) and implementing it in a scenario-based setting. Again, in this lab class I was able to teach two students hands-on giving them immediate critique and instruction. I have what is called an Aegis Computer Network Technician Self-Assessment Groom and Training (ACNT SAGT) coming up in the next 50 hours (the military loves their acronyms). This means I will be hands-on instructing sailors on the ship in Command Line Interface, troubleshooting Linux based systems and CISCO switches, and working with a multi-layer computing infrastructure. I am much happier doing the upcoming training than the slower training that was conducted this week.
Reflective Journal 4
These 50 hours started with some travel. I had to fly from Norfolk to Jacksonville on Sunday to meet the students I was going to be teaching. I think that this was a very productive week of training, both for my students and for myself. This was a very new computer system that was able to utilize VMs and cloud computing. I was able to give training on maintenance techniques and command line interface. I had a range of student knowledge to work with, so I focused my basic training on the newer students and exchanged valuable information with the more senior students. Not every system that I train on or that we have in our arsenal is exactly the same. I was able to give training on documented procedures and known issues, as well as cybersecurity techniques and operations. These include password changing procedures and policies that outline proper procedures. I also did much research on a type of cloud computing and over-the-air commercial system. It is difficult to go into much more detail as most things are classified but I will say that it is great being able to learn and teach the students and other instructors about our cutting-edge technology and what we can do with it. The next 50 hours is going to be putting the system through tests and training while the system is in use.
Reflective Journal 5
I am a little late writing about my “last 50 hours” as I was on travel for all of it. I embarked on a ship out of Mayport, FL. I was on that ship 24 hours-a-day for five days, so I had a lot of time to talk with fellow computer network technicians and teach multiple students about networks, maintenance, and Command Line Interface (CLI). I was also able to monitor and critique watch standing (the time specified to a person that they are on-call via internal comms or radio, while aboard a US Navy Vessel) efficiency and response.
I was able to spend all my time learning about the newest computer system that has been installed on US Navy Ships and the quirks and topology of that network. Every combat systems computer suite is different, as it has different systems to integrate that are specific to that ship. It was fun tracing the network and seeing the newest system the Navy has to offer. I was also able to give valuable training to five students as they were not as familiar with newer commercial-type computer systems and software. Being in the computer field for school has enabled me to bring better training to my students. It is almost like having an interdisciplinary outlook on the systems I teach, as my training comes from different backgrounds (Combat focused training from the Navy and Commercial efficiency and design from school).
I really enjoyed passing on my knowledge and learning about new network infrastructures. I hope I can teach at least a few more students and keep learning throughout my time left in the military.
Reflective Journal 6
It has been a little bit more than 50 hours since my last journal but this should conclude my journal entries. Not much has happened since my last mission that I was able to do many things that contributed to my experience and learning. Most of what I have done during this time is study and training for something called Master Training Specialist (MTS). I am trying to get this qualification before I leave the Navy and this command. It is essentially a qualification that says you are a master instructor and subject matter expert on those subjects in which you are entrusted to teach. It requires signatures from the people that are qualified that signify they have taught you certain parts of the checklist. After that you must complete a Formal Course Review (FCR), which is essentially going through a teaching subject and verifying everything is up-to-date and suitable for the course. Then you have to take a test and answer questions about the information learned during receiving the signatures. You must also teach two different courses while having someone who is already qualified sit in and grade you, one from your department and one from a completely separate department. Finally, you have to do a teach on all of the topics within the MTS training curriculum. This is all after you have received 150 or more podium hours for teaching courses to students. I think it is a good program to allow you to receive more training and actually get the recognition for taking the time to earn it and show that you are able to teach students to the best of your ability.