Army Cyber vs Navy Cyber

Zunty

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Apr 10, 2018
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22
Hello,

I just had a conversation with an officer in the navy who is a cryptologic warfare officer and was able to tell me what it was like and the things he did. For example, he said he was transferring to the a "red team" where, per request, they try to enter a ships network and test how secure the ship is to cyber threats.

His job really interested me and he was able to tell me a little bit about the Army's cyber branch, however, I'm still wondering, what are the different jobs and responsibilities that the Army Cyber branch has specifically? Are they similar to the Navy's cyber branch, or do they have different things they work on?

Thank you.
 
Cyber Branch is the newest branch in the US Army. 30 slots are available for officers every year. 15 slots go to those graduates from WP. Thus, it’s very competitive. Those who are chosen have been identified for a talent in their late to early yuk and cow years. If they branch, a monetary bonus is given. (The only branch to get this). BOLC is the longest of all branches. 11 months. I don’t believe it’s available for BRADSO. There are two groups, offensive and defensive. Offense is smaller and tangled with NSA. Defense is larger and the hub is located at FT Gordon. You need super strong academics in STEM. The cyber team has no real connection, nor will help you win a slot. All hacking is done by enlisted. It’s important in all branching especially Cyber to be linked to a connected mentor.

Cyber defense is considered a “Line 19” in other words combat arms. Cyber is the the new wide open career. You’ll be well sought after in the private sector. You can look at bar graphs from previous classes to see the class ranking you need.


Push Hard, Press Forward
 
For most branches, class rank is the only relevant factor in determining branch selection. Not so for CY, MS, and Aviation.

Class of 2018 (25% BRADSO)

Class rank of 1st to choose: 12
Class rank of last to choose w/o BRADSO: approx. 300
Class rank of last to choose w/BRADSO: 402

Class of 2017 (27% BRADSO)
Class rank of 1st to choose: 21
Class rank of last to choose w/o BRADSO: 638
Class rank of last to choose w/BRADSO: 702
 
Good news: Cyber Corps allocations for Class of 2019 increased to 25

Bad news: Cyber will now incur an additional 1 year active duty service obligation
 
Today, our son sent us a screenshot of a confirmation e-mail following his Cyber interview a few weeks ago:

Congratulations to your DS! That is awesome. To have been chosen rather than allocated is a great way to start.

Tell him to go easy on the free Cheetos and Red Bull. Instead partake of the Yoga classes, kale and kombucha. Sorry. My DIL works at a tech company where these would be run of the mill admonitions.
 
Bad news: Cyber will now incur an additional 1 year active duty service obligation

Not bad news for those who signed up to serve.
Bad news for those expecting their sixth year of service to be voluntary. Inconsequential to those, prior to graduation, envisioning a 20 - 30 year military career.

Not an unexpected move. The length of CY training is similar to other fields that require additional service. The only surprise is that it was not done when the branch was initially established.

Much bigger surprises in AR (+15 slots), MS (-13 slots), and mandatory branch detail for several combat service support branches.
 
About half of the USMA Cyber selectees go on to get a masters degree straight outta' USMA. Army ROTC cadets have the same grad school opportunities. Also, the additional year of commitment makes sense--in BOLC the new officers receive commercial training and certifications that cost a lot on the outside and are worth a lot on the outside.
Navy Cyber...you do not have grad school opportunities until you are an O-3.
 
Class of 2017 had two out of 15 cadets win scholarships to attend grad school. They had the highest class ranking to branch Cyber that year. (Top 100s). And 3 bradso

Class of 2018 had 5 cadets win scholarships to attend grad school. (If I remember 1 or 2 are attending Purdue).

The extra year as mentioned above. The cadets attending grad school (with the exception of class ‘17) their active duty obligation doesn’t start until after graduating. Class ‘17 was the cut off, their obligations started after graduating WP. Luckyyyyy

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Go Navy Cyber
Beat Army Cyber
 
Ahem......do I need to remind you where the CIC Trophy is displayed?

Push Hard, Press Forwad
 
I read your typo above like someone from Baastan.
Push Haaad, Press Fahwaad. :)
 
@tug_boat they get a bonus? I don’t think so. They can earn proficiency certificates that bring in a little extra per month but not a bonus for joining the branch.
 
In response to Tug Boats earlier post.

Army cyber offensive operations are separated from the. NSA by legal authorities and means

I work with senior leadership in the cyber field and they are not maneuver or fires rather they fall in the information dominance field. There are initiatives for cyber to support tactical units but they are not combat arms.

Finally, in most branches execution is done at theenlisted level. However, incyber officers are coding, developing and executingoperations.
 
@tug_boat they get a bonus? I don’t think so. They can earn proficiency certificates that bring in a little extra per month but not a bonus for joining the branch.

Let me clarify, when a WP cadet branches into cyber they are eligible for a bonus once they become "branch qualified". They become qualified when they complete BOLC. Those in Cyber are prone to be eligible for retention bonuses.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
In response to Tug Boats earlier post.

Army cyber offensive operations are separated from the. NSA by legal authorities and means

I work with senior leadership in the cyber field and they are not maneuver or fires rather they fall in the information dominance field. There are initiatives for cyber to support tactical units but they are not combat arms.

Finally, in most branches execution is done at theenlisted level. However, incyber officers are coding, developing and executingoperations.

For our readers. MOS that are in the teens as example are "combat arms" Field Artillery Officer is "13A". Cyber is "17". An officer is, "17A", Warrant is "170A" and Enlisted is "17 C. Yes, Cyber officers are combat arms.

Cyber Offense is a poor term, I agree. And its a very elite group and small. They are intertwined with NSA, CIA and such.

An interesting concept being organized in the Army for those interested in Cyber. The Army is developing a fifth ranger regiment. The two half will be Cyber and Intelligence. They will be deployed, much shorter time but more frequent rotation.

Cyber branch is very new in the Army and can be confusing with many changes as it develops. I apologize for a typo in my previous post "line 19" when it should have stated "line 17". In November will be exciting for Cadets as they find out their branch selection.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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Of course, all of us are waiting to see as the first batch of 'born Cyber' officers get to their first decision point at 4 and 5 years of service.
There is also still room for officers who do not branch Cyber out of the Academy or ROTC to transfer in after BOLC and service in a different branch.
I find it daunting that the leaders thank the junior officers of the financial sacrifice of service--you don't hear that in Infantry speeches to junior officers; further, I think we need to see if there is the development of a real retention bonuses for Cyber officers--like for aviators and physicians. We will see.
 
In response to Tug Boats earlier post.

Army cyber offensive operations are separated from the. NSA by legal authorities and means

I work with senior leadership in the cyber field and they are not maneuver or fires rather they fall in the information dominance field. There are initiatives for cyber to support tactical units but they are not combat arms.

Finally, in most branches execution is done at theenlisted level. However, incyber officers are coding, developing and executingoperations.

For our readers. MOS that are in the teens as example are "combat arms" Field Artillery Officer is "13A". Cyber is "17". An officer is, "17A", Warrant is "170A" and Enlisted is "17 C. Yes, Cyber officers are combat arms.

Cyber Offense is a poor term, I agree. And its a very elite group and small. They are intertwined with NSA, CIA and such.

An interesting concept being organized in the Army for those interested in Cyber. The Army is developing a fifth ranger regiment. The two half will be Cyber and Intelligence. They will be deployed, much shorter time but more frequent rotation.

Cyber branch is very new in the Army and can be confusing with many changes as it develops. I apologize for a typo in my previous post "line 19" when it should have stated "line 17". In November will be exciting for Cadets as they find out their branch selection.

Push Hard, Press Forward
Very good post.
Thanks!
 
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Of course, all of us are waiting to see as the first batch of 'born Cyber' officers get to their first decision point at 4 and 5 years of service.
There is also still room for officers who do not branch Cyber out of the Academy or ROTC to transfer in after BOLC and service in a different branch.
I find it daunting that the leaders thank the junior officers of the financial sacrifice of service--you don't hear that in Infantry speeches to junior officers; further, I think we need to see if there is the development of a real retention bonuses for Cyber officers--like for aviators and physicians. We will see.
As Cyber is in its infancy, I would venture that the field will expand in influence and benefit. A sixth year, and an increasing number of slots seems to be a good indicator. DD is sure hoping so...

Does anyone know how many major new facilities dedicated to Cyber are being built? I've read as many as four.

Thanks!
 
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