COL Jagdog
Member
The US Army is making great strides with development of it's cyberwarfare doctrine (development of both offensive and defensive capabilities) -- Note: nothing in this post is sensitive information -- it is based on info released by the Dept of the Army.
The US Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) is commanded by LTG Rhett Hewrnandez. He is tasked with developing the standards for a trained and ready cyberwarfare force (in conjunction with US Cyber Command, commanded by GEN Keith Alexander, joint standards will also be developed), capable of intercepting and defeating foreign/domestic cyberthreats and conducting offensive cyberattacks to destroy/render inoperable enemy cyber networks. LTG Hernandez mission statement: "We're focused on providing a professional team of elite, trusted, precise, disciplined cyberwarriors who defend our networks, provide dominant effects in and through cyberspace, enable mission command and ensures a decisive global advantage".
This mission will require the melding of signal and military intelligence assets -- nearly 11,000 people are currently assigned to ARCYBER. Under it's operational control are the 1st Information Operations Command (Land), Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command, and the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (which currently has 600 troops and will expand to 1000 by year's end).
Cryptologic network specialists will fill a wide variety of work roles: cyberwarriors will "patrol" inside and outside military networks looking for intrusions and malicious codes, gathering intelligence beyond their networks, finding and defining cyberthreats, including rogue-state and nonstate-affiliated hackers and shadowy criminal enterprises -- all in defense of military networks. In the event of an intrusion, they will move quickly to defeat or isolate the threat, and reconfigure their own networks to counter, misdirect or "capture' an adversary.
The Army has created 3 new MOS's (military occupational specialities): 255S Information protection, a signals MOS for warrant officers; 25D cyber network defender (requires E-6 rank to qualify); and 35Q cryptologic network warfare specialist. Thus, great opportunites now exist for computer specialists in the Army. The idea is that national and joint commands, Army corps, divisions and brigades will all have a
network assurance cell made up of 25D's and 255's.
Training will include the six-month Joint Cyber Analysis Course
(taught in Pensacola, FL) and the six-month Remote Interactive On-Net Training Course.
Troop leaders will also be required to understand the role of cyberwarfare: already, brigade commanders are recieving a block of cyber training in their pre-command course (just as they get blocks of training on military justice, and other topics outside of their basic branch training) and ultimately the goal is to expand the training to battalion commanders and the mission training command at Ft Leavenworth, Ks. The idea is to train leaders to recognize their networks as a weapons platform, and to defend it as key terrain. Commanders must be able to maneuver on land and in cyberland.
Of particular note is the fact that one of the key leaders and trainers is a Cajun, CW5 Todd Boudreau, who is the regimental chief warrant officer of the Signal Regiment at Fort Gordon, Ga..
The development of ARCYBER clearly demonstrates the importance of cyberwarfare --- in the future (and the future is now), going to war without cyberwarriors will be like going to war with artillery or close-air support -- something a commander would not want to do.
The US Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) is commanded by LTG Rhett Hewrnandez. He is tasked with developing the standards for a trained and ready cyberwarfare force (in conjunction with US Cyber Command, commanded by GEN Keith Alexander, joint standards will also be developed), capable of intercepting and defeating foreign/domestic cyberthreats and conducting offensive cyberattacks to destroy/render inoperable enemy cyber networks. LTG Hernandez mission statement: "We're focused on providing a professional team of elite, trusted, precise, disciplined cyberwarriors who defend our networks, provide dominant effects in and through cyberspace, enable mission command and ensures a decisive global advantage".
This mission will require the melding of signal and military intelligence assets -- nearly 11,000 people are currently assigned to ARCYBER. Under it's operational control are the 1st Information Operations Command (Land), Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command, and the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (which currently has 600 troops and will expand to 1000 by year's end).
Cryptologic network specialists will fill a wide variety of work roles: cyberwarriors will "patrol" inside and outside military networks looking for intrusions and malicious codes, gathering intelligence beyond their networks, finding and defining cyberthreats, including rogue-state and nonstate-affiliated hackers and shadowy criminal enterprises -- all in defense of military networks. In the event of an intrusion, they will move quickly to defeat or isolate the threat, and reconfigure their own networks to counter, misdirect or "capture' an adversary.
The Army has created 3 new MOS's (military occupational specialities): 255S Information protection, a signals MOS for warrant officers; 25D cyber network defender (requires E-6 rank to qualify); and 35Q cryptologic network warfare specialist. Thus, great opportunites now exist for computer specialists in the Army. The idea is that national and joint commands, Army corps, divisions and brigades will all have a
network assurance cell made up of 25D's and 255's.
Training will include the six-month Joint Cyber Analysis Course
(taught in Pensacola, FL) and the six-month Remote Interactive On-Net Training Course.
Troop leaders will also be required to understand the role of cyberwarfare: already, brigade commanders are recieving a block of cyber training in their pre-command course (just as they get blocks of training on military justice, and other topics outside of their basic branch training) and ultimately the goal is to expand the training to battalion commanders and the mission training command at Ft Leavenworth, Ks. The idea is to train leaders to recognize their networks as a weapons platform, and to defend it as key terrain. Commanders must be able to maneuver on land and in cyberland.
Of particular note is the fact that one of the key leaders and trainers is a Cajun, CW5 Todd Boudreau, who is the regimental chief warrant officer of the Signal Regiment at Fort Gordon, Ga..
The development of ARCYBER clearly demonstrates the importance of cyberwarfare --- in the future (and the future is now), going to war without cyberwarriors will be like going to war with artillery or close-air support -- something a commander would not want to do.
