Army Guard's first cyber protection team activated, receives new insignia

By Mike MilordOctober 22, 2014

Army Guard's first cyber protection team activated, receives new insignia
Maj. Hung Diep (left), detachment commander, 1636th Cyber Protection Team, fixes an Army Cyber Command shoulder sleeve insignia on a Soldier's sleeve during a ceremony conducted Oct. 7 at Fort Meade. Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon (center), commanding gen... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (October 23, 1014) -- The Army National Guard's first cyber protection team received its new shoulder sleeve insignia during a ceremony Oct. 7 at Fort Meade conducted by members of the U.S. Army Cyber Command/Second Army.

Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon, commanding general, U.S. Army Cyber Command and Second Army, cited the ceremony as a major milestone for Army cyberspace operations, Guard and Reserve forces and for the Army.

"It is another indication of the tremendous momentum that the Army is building to organize, train and equip its cyberspace operations forces," Cardon said. "Army Cyber Command is taking a total force approach to building and employing the Army's cyber force."

Maj. Gen. Judd H. Lyons, acting director of the Army Guard, joined Cardon and Col. Jayson M. Spade, commander of the 1st Information Operations Command (Land), to present the patches.

For many, the ceremony represented something larger than the presentation of a uniform item.

"It's symbolic of the integration of the Reserve forces into the active forces in the common defense of our networks," said Maj. Hung Diep, team chief of the 1636th Cyber Protection Team and an Iraq war veteran. "The team represents one of the most diverse forces that we have in the [Army] National Guard. We represent 19 states and two territories."

The ceremony also represented a number of "firsts" for the Army.

"Today this cyber protection team represents another first -- the first Army National Guard active-duty cyber protection team," Cardon said. "The Army plans to build 10 additional Army National Guard cyber protection teams in the future."

Cardon cited the experience that Army Guard Soldiers bring with them from both the military and civilian sectors as being beneficial to the mission.

"They bring a wide range of experience, not only from serving in the Army National Guard, but also from working in industry, state government or other government agencies," he said. "They are experienced, educated and motivated."

The team will be an invaluable part of the cyber force, said Cardon, responsible for conducting defensive cyberspace operations, readiness inspections and vulnerability assessments as well as a variety of other cyber roles and missions.

For Lyons, cyber operations tie into the Guard's heritage and are the next step forward in Guard history.

"Since 1636, the Army National Guard has been called upon to respond to floods, wildfires, storms and threats far from our shores," he said. "The cyber threat is no less real, and it is absolutely in keeping with the finest traditions of the National Guard that Guard Soldiers will be fully integrated into the cyberspace force."