Cyber Systems Major Now Offered at CGA

Freda'sMom

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For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will add a new academic program. Beginning with the Class of 2022, the Academy will offer an academic major in Cyber Systems that will allow a generation of young leaders to better meet the emerging operational and support needs of the Service.

In the fall of 2018, the Academy will open a new 2,000 sq. foot cyber lab that will house dedicated servers, a working laboratory and a uniquely designed classroom with $1.5M in funding from the USCGA Alumni Association. Its completion will grow the Academy’s capability to educate and train cadets in cybersecurity, cyber safety, and other engineering topics so that future officers can lead effectively amidst the emerging data-centric challenges facing the Coast Guard today and in the future.

https://www.cgaalumni.org/s/1043/us...3&gid=1&pgid=4515&cid=10162&ecid=10162&crid=0

https://www.uscga.edu/cysys/
 
My personal opinion is that creating another degree program that will greatly influence the future of CGCYBER is awesome. That being said I think we're going to see a dangerous precedence set: two members from the class of 2017 went straight to CYBERCOM. As that trend continues and fewer and fewer officers go straight to sea, we're going to se ourselves losing some of our maritime heritage.

Additionally, we're having a crisis of sorts in underway officers. The shortage is unbelievable and we keep hemorrhaging Junior Officers from the afloat ranks. I think this new program will be great for the development of future leaders, but I hope it DOESN'T come wth more "straight to shore" billets for brand new ENS.

Just my .02.
 
Additionally, we're having a crisis of sorts in underway officers. The shortage is unbelievable and we keep hemorrhaging Junior Officers from the afloat ranks. I think this new program will be great for the development of future leaders, but I hope it DOESN'T come wth more "straight to shore" billets for brand new ENS.

Since there are fewer than 20 Ops-Research and Electrical engineering majors in the class of 2019, I'm actually worried that the number of Cyber Systems majors will erode that number. Maybe Ops-Research is on the way out ?????
 
On the other hand the new Cyber major may attract more great candidates to the USCGA that may not have otherwise thought of applying.
 
ORCA is alive and well with the class of 2021.

I think BBQ - Devil is correct in that it will draw more applicants to USCGA.
 
My personal opinion is that creating another degree program that will greatly influence the future of CGCYBER is awesome. That being said I think we're going to see a dangerous precedence set: two members from the class of 2017 went straight to CYBERCOM. As that trend continues and fewer and fewer officers go straight to sea, we're going to se ourselves losing some of our maritime heritage.

Additionally, we're having a crisis of sorts in underway officers. The shortage is unbelievable and we keep hemorrhaging Junior Officers from the afloat ranks. I think this new program will be great for the development of future leaders, but I hope it DOESN'T come wth more "straight to shore" billets for brand new ENS.

Just my .02.
Any correlation to the larger numbers of female cadets and hemorrhaging officers from afloat ranks? I’ve noticed that there aren’t 40% female officers on the boats to go along with the percentage at the academy. I wonder if there are statistics on this?
 
My personal opinion is that creating another degree program that will greatly influence the future of CGCYBER is awesome. That being said I think we're going to see a dangerous precedence set: two members from the class of 2017 went straight to CYBERCOM. As that trend continues and fewer and fewer officers go straight to sea, we're going to se ourselves losing some of our maritime heritage.

Additionally, we're having a crisis of sorts in underway officers. The shortage is unbelievable and we keep hemorrhaging Junior Officers from the afloat ranks. I think this new program will be great for the development of future leaders, but I hope it DOESN'T come wth more "straight to shore" billets for brand new ENS.

Just my .02.
Any correlation to the larger numbers of female cadets and hemorrhaging officers from afloat ranks? I’ve noticed that there aren’t 40% female officers on the boats to go along with the percentage at the academy. I wonder if there are statistics on this?

Are you looking for something like this?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/federa...-the-coast-guards-mid-career-women-going/amp/
 
My personal opinion is that creating another degree program that will greatly influence the future of CGCYBER is awesome. That being said I think we're going to see a dangerous precedence set: two members from the class of 2017 went straight to CYBERCOM. As that trend continues and fewer and fewer officers go straight to sea, we're going to se ourselves losing some of our maritime heritage.

Additionally, we're having a crisis of sorts in underway officers. The shortage is unbelievable and we keep hemorrhaging Junior Officers from the afloat ranks. I think this new program will be great for the development of future leaders, but I hope it DOESN'T come wth more "straight to shore" billets for brand new ENS.

Just my .02.
Any correlation to the larger numbers of female cadets and hemorrhaging officers from afloat ranks? I’ve noticed that there aren’t 40% female officers on the boats to go along with the percentage at the academy. I wonder if there are statistics on this?

Are you looking for something like this?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/federa...-the-coast-guards-mid-career-women-going/amp/
Yes, thank you. This is a serious issue that does need attention! It’s an issue that is tip toed around and walking on egg shells while they try to “solve” the issue. They must be bring in people who will accomplish the mission and do it on a budget. Diversity is awesome and the officer corps should reflect the enlisted.
 
It is not common for an officer out of the Academy to do his or her five years consecutively on a cutter. Usually 2 years afloat, 2 years ashore, then afloat again. This doesn't include those who go to flight school at some point, or start at sectors. Two ensigns from 2017 and from 2018 went directly to Cyber Command.
 
It is not common for an officer out of the Academy to do his or her five years consecutively on a cutter. Usually 2 years afloat, 2 years ashore, then afloat again. This doesn't include those who go to flight school at some point, or start at sectors. Two ensigns from 2017 and from 2018 went directly to Cyber Command.

2018 grad's, 6 went to flight school, 2 went to Cyber and I think 6 went to Sector. My point to CyberSecurity17 is that if his major is so important that he's choosing his school based on it, having the expectation that it is what he'll be doing immediately after graduation from the USCG, he could be disappointed. Sure two grad's went to Cyber Command, but 2 went to the Cutter Mackinaw in Cheboygan Michigan.
 
2018 grad's, 6 went to flight school, 2 went to Cyber and I think 6 went to Sector. My point to CyberSecurity17 is that if his major is so important that he's choosing his school based on it, having the expectation that it is what he'll be doing immediately after graduation from the USCG, he could be disappointed. Sure two grad's went to Cyber Command, but 2 went to the Cutter Mackinaw in Cheboygan Michigan.

And, realistically, the two who went to cutters will likely have longer careers in the Coast Guard.
 
2018 grad's, 6 went to flight school, 2 went to Cyber and I think 6 went to Sector. My point to CyberSecurity17 is that if his major is so important that he's choosing his school based on it, having the expectation that it is what he'll be doing immediately after graduation from the USCG, he could be disappointed. Sure two grad's went to Cyber Command, but 2 went to the Cutter Mackinaw in Cheboygan Michigan.

For the Class of 2018, the official billet list shows 10 received Flight School, 2 Cyber, 2 Sector and 3 MSU. As for the Cutter Mackinaw, the two who received that as a billet were not at the bottom of the class, so perhaps they actually had that cutter on their dream sheet. The preferences for first billets are quite diverse. For example, some cadets think Alaska would be the worst billet, while for others it is their top choice. Also, the number/type of billets varies from year to year, and no one knows if more cyber billets will be authorized straight out of the Academy in upcoming years.
 
For the Class of 2018, the official billet list shows 10 received Flight School, 2 Cyber, 2 Sector and 3 MSU. As for the Cutter Mackinaw, the two who received that as a billet were not at the bottom of the class, so perhaps they actually had that cutter on their dream sheet. The preferences for first billets are quite diverse. For example, some cadets think Alaska would be the worst billet, while for others it is their top choice. Also, the number/type of billets varies from year to year, and no one knows if more cyber billets will be authorized straight out of the Academy in upcoming years.

I just like saying "Cheboygan". My family is from Northern Wisconsin about an hour from there. If your idea of a good time is pulling a 20lb steelhead trout out a a river, or being in a tree stand on a Sunday, That's the place to be! Additionally, I bet the Mackinaw doesn't spend 30 days straight on deployment, so you're home with your honey a lot. Anyhow Alaska66, where do you have the info on class rankings for 2018? Also, is what AuxNoob says about it not being common to spend the first 5 years on a cutter true?
 
I just like saying "Cheboygan". My family is from Northern Wisconsin about an hour from there. If your idea of a good time is pulling a 20lb steelhead trout out a a river, or being in a tree stand on a Sunday, That's the place to be! Additionally, I bet the Mackinaw doesn't spend 30 days straight on deployment, so you're home with your honey a lot. Anyhow Alaska66, where do you have the info on class rankings for 2018? Also, is what AuxNoob says about it not being common to spend the first 5 years on a cutter true?

Regarding the class ranking, the "anchor" of the class is always recognized at graduation. As for exact class rankings, those are confidential, but cadets know in general where their shipmates are in the class ranking. Regarding the 5 years on a cutter, it seems more recently that most first and second billets are afloat, with the third being ashore. However, as AuxNoob said, there are exceptions, such as flight school, sector, etc.. The billets of course are subject to change with the needs of the service, so future billets may be different.
 
I understand I could be put on a cutter, obviously I would prefer to be on land working at a cyber command center but as long as I can do what I love (cyber security) then life will be fine.
 
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