Have you ever heard of the term "cyber soldier"? If yes, Uncle Sam wants you. There are military hackers who do fascinating work. From defending the nation's critical infrastructure to launching attacks on enemy targets, cyber soldiers get advanced training to conduct cyber warfare, even during peacetime. A cyber soldier's job is to conduct defensive and offensive operations within the military. Defensive operations refer to protecting their network from enemy cyber soldiers conducting offensive operations. These include trying to access data to gather intelligence, conduct computer network attacks, disrupt communications, or shut down critical infrastructure for the military. To accomplish their missions, cyber soldiers are trained in all aspects of the electromagnetic battlefields and thus have to work very closely with signal soldiers, electronic warfare specialists, and intelligence personnel. They also use very secretive military networks and cyber weapon systems. They usually work at the top-secret level, and yes, usually from an office building, although they could also be deployed to work from the field, a ship, or an airplane.
Most cyber soldiers start their careers in very general areas. Still, as they gain experience, they specialize in different things like in-network vulnerability analysis, digital forensics, or cyber threat intelligence.[1]
Examples of Cyber Warfare Operations - One of the best things about cyber warfare (for nations) is that it is very deniable. A perfect example is the Colonial Pipeline attack. Another example from June 2010 was when Iran suffered a cyberattack on its Natanz nuclear facility, which erased over 1,000 nuclear centrifuges. The attack was so devastating that it sent Iran's atomic program back by two years. It's mostly accepted that the US was responsible, but government officials have never confirmed this.
One favorite target of cyber soldiers is critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure is vital to a nation for it not to descend into chaos. A great example is the power grid of a town or city. Russia is infamous for attacking these, as it did in 2015 when it launched a cyberattack and hacked Ukraine's power grid, leaving 230,000 Ukrainians without electricity. Another example of critical infrastructure is banks, which Russia also attacked during its invasion of Ukraine this year.
What Are Cyber Soldiers Called by Recruiters? The United States has the most impressive cyber force in NATO, which is increasing cyber capabilities. If you are in the US, you are lucky, as you can potentially join the US Army Cyber Command in several capacities, like as a:
- Cyber Operations Specialist
- Cyber Network Defender
- Cyber Operations Officer
- Cyber And Electronic Warfare Officer
- Cyber Operations Technician
If you are looking to join the US Air Force or the Space Force, you could join as a:
- Cyber Systems Operator
- Cyber Warfare Operator
- Cyber Surety Specialist
- Cyber Operations Officer
- Cyber Warfare Operations Officer
- Cyber Transport Systems Specialist
And finally, you could also join the US Navy and US Marine Corps as a cyber sailor/marine in the following specializations:
- Navy Cyber Warfare Engineer
- Navy Cryptologic Warfare Officer
- USMC Cyberspace Operations Officers
- USMC Cyberspace Warfare Operator
- USMC Cybersecurity Technicians
- Cyber Soldiers in Canada and the UK
If you are a friendly neighbor to our north and live in Canada, you could join the Canadian Forces as a Cyber Operator. However, you have more options if you live in the UK as you could investigate joining as a Cyber Unit Reserve (Royal Navy), Cyber Engineer (UK Army), or Cyberspace Communication Specialist (Royal Air Force).
So How Do You Become a Cyber Soldier? If you want to be a cyber soldier, or cyber warrior, as sometimes referred to, you must still be a soldier first. This means that you must complete boot camp, regardless of what branch you join (army, navy, air force, space force, marine corps, national guard, etc.). In boot camp, you will likely get yelled at, drill (march around), clean and fold, do push-ups and pull-ups, run an obstacle course, and learn how to shoot and handle a firearm.
Even if you were to work in a building or an HQ away from the front line and all the action, there is no guarantee that your base does not come under attack or experience a raid by enemy infiltrators while hacking into an enemy's military network. Believe it or not, this has happened in the past, which is why it does not matter if you are a cook, a clerk, a driver, or a cyber soldier; everyone must know how to defend their positing if under attack.
Once you complete your boot camp, you will be trained in the art of cyber warfare. Depending on your specialization, training could include cyber intelligence collection skills, computer programming languages, IT security fundamentals, electronic warfare, computer forensics, malware creation and detection, and all aspects of hacking.
What Your Career Progression Could Look Like as a Cyber Soldier - Once you become a cyber soldier, you will be assigned to a unit where you will specialize in several tasks and work with top-secret systems. Your day could look anything from protecting a network from cyber-attacks to creating a virus to infiltrate the power grid of an enemy. Over the years, you will then be taught leadership skills and lead other cyber soldiers in operations and training.
The further you advance in your career; the more responsibility will be given to you. You could work for the FBI, NSA, or DIA or provide expert advice to commanders worldwide. And if you are looking for more adventure, you could end up in a specialized unit, providing cyber support to special forces, fighter jet pilots, or spy agencies. You could also end up in an aircraft carrier providing intelligence to the commander and intelligence staff or in an air force base abroad, doing anything from taking down terrorist propaganda online or keeping the critical infrastructure safe from North Korean hackers looking to conduct cyber extortion for money.
In the end, wherever you end up as a cyber soldier, you will have plenty of opportunities within the government or the civilian sector. Cyber soldier's skills are highly sought after in every sector of the private industry, from education and healthcare to personal security and banking. Everyone is looking to hire ethical hackers, especially with military experience. Some jobs you could look after are internet security analyst, network support analyst, IT specialist, programmer, cyber reporter, and systems auditor.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Cyber Soldier? If you are looking for adventure, be part of a team, get free specialized training, and are not afraid of challenges and discipline, you should investigate becoming a cyber soldier. Another reason you may want to consider becoming a cyber soldier is that you will be guaranteed a high-paying job after leaving the military. Cyber soldiers are considered superstars in the civilian sector due to their real-life experience, advanced training, and working standards.
Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization. For questions, comments or assistance, please contact the office directly at 1-844-492-7225, or feedback@wapacklabs. com
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