Do we need a Cyber Corps as a 5th service?

Sgt Pedro Morales — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:24:33 -0400

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that a new, independent branch is “one of the futures cyber might have.”

Article Author:
"An expectation of a strict physical fitness regimen bares little relevance to a soldier whose entire contribution will take place within an office in front of a computer screen. Standard, mandatory training requirements such as swimming tests and rifle qualifications similarly are distractions from a cyber warfare specialist’s mission."

https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/18/we-need-a-cyber-corps-as-a-5th-service/

We need a cyber corps as a 5th service

At U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade last week, newly appointed Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that a new, independent branch is “one of…

Response by COL Randall C. made Apr 8 at 2015 8:10 PM

COL Randall C. — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 20:10:16 -0400

Sgt Pedro Morales, this question has been asked in different forms for the last few years at various levels of DoD for many years with strong views on either side of the argument.

Arguments in favor of it standing up as it's own Service center around the commonality of cyberspace operations between the Services, the fact that the other warfighting domains have a Service that has the lead, and that it would provide a greater unity of effort.

Some of the main arguments against it are that each Service has Service specific requirements that need to be addressed, often have differing institutional/cultural approaches towards problem solving (for instance, the Army has a much more regionally focused model that has many more tactical requirements than the Air Force does), and that the infrastructure between the Services is different (although the further down the road we get with JIE implementation, the less these will be).

Much of the debate centers around the view on cyberspace operations - are these primarily supporting or supported operations, are they inherently Joint operations, and are there many resources that are being wasted because of the duplication of capabilities?

Personally, I feel that many of the arguments for it standing up as its own Service are being addressed by the establishment of US Cyber Command as that organization is addressing many of the "we need a separate Service" points (not all, but many). I do see that we might get to that point (maybe in 10 or 20 years), but not before many other aspects of cyberspace operations are addressed or the possible solutions are proven to work or not work.

As to many of the other comments in the article, take them with a grain of salt. While the 300 pound guy with a ponytail may be God's gift to hacking, I don't see a time when the military will wave the basic physical standards. Hire them as a DoD civilian or a contractor, but not as someone wearing a uniform.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 8 at 2015 8:13 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 20:13:16 -0400

Does this mean new uniforms?

I'm still against the idea of having as many separate forces as we do. Finding more consolidation of forces and increasing the overall unity of effort could greatly increase our ability to fight while still reducing the expenses we accrue.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 8 at 2015 8:24 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 20:24:52 -0400

The Army Air Corps fought in a new domain then spun off into the Air Force. The Cyber Corps could do the same.