EIDWS Qualification

2014-09-07T23:56:21-04:00

Is this pin really necessary or is it like the trophy everybody gets these days for playing football? Justifiable Warfare Qualification or Boondoggle so that more people can have a pin that just says you are qualified to do your job? Discuss

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Sep 8 at 2014 1:43 AM

2014-09-08T01:43:41-04:00

Chief I have worked with quite a few sailors and all of them were proud of the devices that they had earned. I even had a fellow Marine earn a pin on ship (we don't do much but ride) and he was authorized to wear the pin while on board but not while disembarked.

Response by CPO Tim Dickey made Sep 9 at 2014 10:11 PM

2014-09-09T22:11:15-04:00

I have my strong opinions on the EIDWS qualification. As a former submariner and current expeditionary warfare specialist, I would say it's proper for someone looking to break themselves out of the crowd to have at least one warfare qualification. Always better to know how information dominance works than to fumble for an answer.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2014 1:03 AM

2014-09-12T01:03:46-04:00

I guess I wasn't as clear as I should have been on this post. I have 3 quals, Aircrew(NAC), Air Warfare(AW) and Expeditionary Warfare(EXW). None of these were Rate specific, but based on the platform or assignment. The EIDWS is only open to specific rates and not even all of the rates if they aren't at specific commands. The information needed to obtain these "qauls" is that of knowing your primary job and when they were rolled out the Officers were allowed to take an NKO class and test out to be "Qualified" which is not the way in which credible warfare devices are earned. I know that my Warfare quals were not given to me after testing on NKO...

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-01-07T08:42:05-05:00

Hey brother, can't speak for all the rates involved or the entire IDC, but in my experience (CTT) it's a joke , however we complete it because it's a requirement. I have SS/SW/AW/IDW and IDW will always be last. Just my two cents.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 6:08 PM

2015-07-26T18:08:13-04:00

I am an IS2 at a Submarine Shore Support Command and just qualified EIDWS, and I'm telling you it had nothing to do with my Primary Job or Quals, like so many others on here say it is. Sure there was an Intel Section, but the actual bread and butter of the quals were greatly focused on how the IDC interconnects, relies on each other, and in depth technical fundamentals for all major IDC platforms, for example any platforms conducting ISR or supporting C4ISR. It took a lot of study hours and training just to get my books done and past the tests. Then my board itself was excruciating, with each IDC Rate from my command represented by board members (IT, ITS, AG, IS, ET). And like so many others on here i fully agree that if a command has a "joke" program, then of course the qual will be treated as a joke. It is our job to ensure the quality and integrity of the programs are brought up and held accountable.

Response by CPO Anthony Picciano made Oct 22 at 2015 12:57 AM

2015-10-22T00:57:26-04:00

Wow really. Warfare pins I qualified for. I bet I could still program a harpoon missile or sm1 or II block missile. Load a torpedo. The 5" 54 . And understand Combat control. I was an enginemen. Had to learn every position on the ship. Even a story about the Aegis radar system that I got the answer to 20 years later because the tech did not know how it would work. Has to do with linking ships in auto. I was on the CG that went to Russia when it was still USSR. The Thomas S. Gates CG-51. Had to know how to get it underway to become qualified. Sounds like the program is not that intense anymore. Still remember all the basics.

Response by CPO David Sharp made Oct 31 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-10-31T08:37:49-04:00

This sounds utterly useless, from the name to any form of substance. What are the requirements? Not to be snarky, but, are they how many words can you type by pay grade? How well you write an After Action Report? Security clearance level? What????? A Warfare Qualification should be related to a Warfare Unit, Ship type or aspect in a MAGTF. This Social experimentation is typical of civilian "touchy/feely" everybody wins mentality. Military people are, for the most part, ALFA types who will compete against themselves if they don't have a direct upward challenge. They do not not just participate!