The U.S. Army has started a new career field in an effort to present new challenges and opportunities for warfighters who want to enlist as members of the Cyber branch.“Creation of the Cyber branch acknowledges the critical role that our cyber warriors play in the armed forces of today and tomorrow,” Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Fogarty, commanding general of the Cyber Center of Excellence, said Tuesday.
“It will provide us with the structure to make certain that the highly skilled soldiers who are selected for these positions are well-trained, professionally developed and appropriately assigned.
Cyber CoE and Human Resources Command are already working together to establish a career management framework that the Army intends to use to develop the new branch.
The Cyber School within the Cyber CoE will employ a two-stage approach that will work toward recruiting 1,200 officers, warrant officers and enlisted soldiers in the first phase by 2016, and absorbing electronic warfare troops to the fold by the second phase.
Army Cyber School Commandant Col. Jennifer Buckner said the main infrastructure is still being established but much of the eligibility requirements have been set.
“So my advice is, if you can meet the basic requirements, feel you have something to offer to our Cyber branch and are motivated to join what will truly be an elite corps of professionals in our Army, then go ahead and apply.”
Many of the Cyber branch soldiers can expect to be stationed at Fort Gordon and Fort Meade, playing a variety of roles both traditional – leadership, command and staff positions – and new – cyber operators, planners and analysts.
