Thursday March 27, 2014
What is it?
The Cyber Electromagnetic Branch is an element of U.S. Army Human Resource Command (HRC) responsible for assigning and managing Cyber Soldiers’ careers. The CEM branch consolidates enlisted, warrant officer and officer management under one entity. Cyber Soldiers conduct full spectrum Army cyberspace operations, which ensure U.S. Allied freedom of action in cyberspace, yet denying the same to our adversaries.
What has the Army done?
Oct. 1, 2010, the U.S. Army redesignated the inactive Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Second U.S. Army, as U.S. Army Cyber Command headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va. The establishment of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) was the Army’s official entrance into cyberspace operations. Now in concert with HRC, the Army has set the conditions to actively manage unit assignments of incoming and outgoing Soldiers. Control mechanisms have been put in place for each personnel action in order to meet both the needs of the Soldier and the Army. This reinforces the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Priorities Way Point 2 by aligning Army requirements with the individual Soldiers’ professional development needs and desires.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
In accordance with CSA Way Point 2, a modern Army is a key priority. As the Army prepares for new, emerging, and evolving missions in areas such as space, cyberspace, missile defense, and countering weapons of mass destruction, it is essential that we effectively manage this force of a small, highly skilled, and high demand population in order to maintain personnel readiness. Personnel requirements are greater than the number of people available to fill them.
Developing a mature force able to meet all Army requirements takes time. Many assignments require additional technical training and a significant amount of lead time. It is an extensive process to train an individual. The entire process involves recruiting, accessing, entry level training and other professional military educational objectives to making the individual functional within the career field of operations.
The CEM branch ensures the sustainment of the Army’s cyber forces capabilities by performing critical functions associated with career management, development and readiness.
Why is this important to the Army?
To enhance overall cyber personnel management, HRC is supporting the ARCYBER development of the ASI/SI for those Soldiers who provide cyber support. The Army is also in the process of establishing the Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence, which will assume proponency responsibilities for Army Cyber.
Cyber is an evolving field of expertise. Factors such as population management, current and future requirements, training necessities, and growth and maturity within the field may influence cyber assignments. Nevertheless, it is essential the Army remains flexible and agile.
Resources:
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