Posted on Sep 26, 2014
How can the DoD build and retain a strong cyber force?
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The Department of Defense (DoD) and the US Cyber Command are currently in a panic stricken state. And for good reason, because creating 133 teams of cyber warriors by the end of 2016 is looking more difficult. Most of the talented, energetic young lot of the country interested in the tech field prefers jobs in the private sector and very few are inclined to pursuing technology in the armed forces.
The United States deals with many security threats in their dense cyber network every day and if these are manhandled, disastrous consequences can occur. For the maintenance of national security, cyber warriors are required as much as soldiers themselves, except that this knowledge is not sufficiently popular.
So how does the US Cyber Command recruit the cream of the crop and retain it?
Computer experts and IT professionals the DoD wants to recruit need to be incentivized. People with this expertise are generally reluctant in joining the armed forces. This is mainly due to lack of motivation, unattractive incentives being provided, the comparatively less income and benefit plans, and potentially more stressful work environment. To form a competent cyber warrior force, such factors need to be eliminated and replaced by significantly better offers.
If the US Cyber Command wants proficient computer experts and to tempt the best into taking up the job, it will have to provide certain incentives, bonuses and privileges regularly to be competitive with the private sector. All service branches are already trying to up their game by developing new recruiting tactics, extended service commitments, training programs, retention bonuses and unique career tracks for the cyber career field. For example, the Navy is offering enlistees an instant boost to an E-4 pay grade if they sign up for a cyber warrior job for six consecutive years. Should other branches implement something similar?
To become a cyber expert and keep up with technology trends, exclusive training is required. The special training is very expensive, especially compared to the DoD’s shrinking overall budget. However, continuous training is crucial to bring in and retain top talent. Now, a 24-week course is offered and chosen people are exempted from many steps of acceptance, leading to immediate training. Many cyber experts are thirsty for knowledge and can appreciate any learning opportunities. What else can the DoD do to keep these experts interested?
Cyber experts have to be especially talented because not only do they require computer skills but also immense knowledge of the cyber network of the military, the threats they have to encounter and the confidential information they have to retain. All service members and civilians who apply go through a “cybertest” which determines whether the applicant has the temperament for a military-related cyber job. That way, the US Cyber Command filters out and selects the best people out there. Complemented with a better income, greater incentives and regular bonuses, they may manage to achieve their goal of a highly competent cyber force.
Do you have any experience in the cyber career field in the military? How can the DoD become more competitive with similar private sector positions?
The United States deals with many security threats in their dense cyber network every day and if these are manhandled, disastrous consequences can occur. For the maintenance of national security, cyber warriors are required as much as soldiers themselves, except that this knowledge is not sufficiently popular.
So how does the US Cyber Command recruit the cream of the crop and retain it?
Computer experts and IT professionals the DoD wants to recruit need to be incentivized. People with this expertise are generally reluctant in joining the armed forces. This is mainly due to lack of motivation, unattractive incentives being provided, the comparatively less income and benefit plans, and potentially more stressful work environment. To form a competent cyber warrior force, such factors need to be eliminated and replaced by significantly better offers.
If the US Cyber Command wants proficient computer experts and to tempt the best into taking up the job, it will have to provide certain incentives, bonuses and privileges regularly to be competitive with the private sector. All service branches are already trying to up their game by developing new recruiting tactics, extended service commitments, training programs, retention bonuses and unique career tracks for the cyber career field. For example, the Navy is offering enlistees an instant boost to an E-4 pay grade if they sign up for a cyber warrior job for six consecutive years. Should other branches implement something similar?
To become a cyber expert and keep up with technology trends, exclusive training is required. The special training is very expensive, especially compared to the DoD’s shrinking overall budget. However, continuous training is crucial to bring in and retain top talent. Now, a 24-week course is offered and chosen people are exempted from many steps of acceptance, leading to immediate training. Many cyber experts are thirsty for knowledge and can appreciate any learning opportunities. What else can the DoD do to keep these experts interested?
Cyber experts have to be especially talented because not only do they require computer skills but also immense knowledge of the cyber network of the military, the threats they have to encounter and the confidential information they have to retain. All service members and civilians who apply go through a “cybertest” which determines whether the applicant has the temperament for a military-related cyber job. That way, the US Cyber Command filters out and selects the best people out there. Complemented with a better income, greater incentives and regular bonuses, they may manage to achieve their goal of a highly competent cyber force.
Do you have any experience in the cyber career field in the military? How can the DoD become more competitive with similar private sector positions?
Cyber
Security
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 20
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I believe the way to build a strong cyber force is to make it largely civilian. The goal for your cyber force is to have strong technical skills...programming, computer security, hacking, penetration...not to run 3 miles wearing hundred pound rucksack. Like it or not, the guys who learned many of these skills during childhood and high school are not the star athletes, and likely shy away from a career in the military that places such physical demands on them. So don't. Hire people as DoD civilians, with a small corps of active duty oversight.
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MSG (Join to see)
Why not make it a Guard/Reserve mission and recruit those that are IT in their civilian occupations, whether for the "troops" or for the oversight?
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Lt Col (Join to see)
I just don't think we're going to get the hacker/techie types in large numbers if we continue to make them do things like the Army PT test. We also will never build the necessary continuity and expertise if we put people in these positions for a few years, only to PCS them in order to "broaden" their careers.
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SGT Jim Z.
Although I agree with making it a largely civilian force you still need to have Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines for spots that civilians don't want to go or cannot. We have tactical networks that are just as vulnerable if not more so.
Also I think DoD should pay the annual fees associated with required certificates.
Also I think DoD should pay the annual fees associated with required certificates.
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How about creating a Joint command similar to S.O.C.O.M that shares the responsibility across the board with all branches and agencies.
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COL (Join to see)
In a way CYBERCOM is already a Functional Component Command that transcends multiple domains. We will see how it plays out in the coming years.
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I know A LOT of people in our community that can "speak" C++ and other languages. They can code, write viruses, etc...
But the Navy wants more cyber people.
Life myself, many of these talented folks can certainly do the job, with one caveat..
They're all gonna need things like - polygraph waivers, bad credit forgiveness, etc.
The DoD's rigidity will have to go to the wayside if they want to come out on top.
But the Navy wants more cyber people.
Life myself, many of these talented folks can certainly do the job, with one caveat..
They're all gonna need things like - polygraph waivers, bad credit forgiveness, etc.
The DoD's rigidity will have to go to the wayside if they want to come out on top.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Bingo. I kind of feel like cyber should be the way military service was in the past...scoop up a young person hacking bank accounts or corporations, then you give them the choice...put those hacking skills to work for Uncle Sam, or serve your jail sentence.
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