Wednesday, February 22, 2017
What is it?
The Army Reserve cyber integration team supports the Army by providing forces dedicated to cyberspace operations and is well positioned to provide additional capability in a surge capacity when needed.
Cyber is a domain and a contested maneuver space in which the Army Reserve is uniquely positioned to support a Total Army effort with relevant civilian acquired skill sets and a multifaceted talent pool. Each service is required to provide U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) a portion of the cyber mission force in defense of the nation.
What is the Army doing?
Senior leaders from the Army and USCYBERCOM have endorsed the Army Reserve’s request to enter its cyber protection teams into the cyber mission force.
In support of the USCYBERCOM cyber mission force, the Army has created both offensive and defensive cyber teams. To augment the Army’s defensive cyber forces, the Army Reserve stood up the Army Reserve Cyber Operations Group to provide the Army with additional cyber protection team capabilities.
The Army Reserve supports current operations by providing part-time and full-time support to Defense Intelligence Agency, Army Cyber Operations Integration Center, Defense Innovation Unit (Experimental), Army Research Laboratory and other organizations. Army Reserve cyber Soldiers, working with the Defense Intelligence Agency, provide intelligence analysis related to various nation state and non-nation state cyber actors.
What continued efforts are planned for the future?
To meet emerging requirements, the Army Reserve is coordinating with the Army Cyber Center of Excellence to accelerate training, which will enhance the readiness of Army Reserve cyber Soldiers. The Army Reserve is also working with the Army in developing strategy, policy and doctrine for cyberspace and information operations, electronic warfare, and other information-related capabilities.
The Army Reserve is pursuing a talent management program that would encourage individuals to join and stay in the Army Reserve. If implemented, incentives such as higher education, skill-based or transfer bonuses, special pay, etc. could inspire Soldiers to stay in uniform.
Why is this important to the Army?
This integration effort provides the Department of Defense with additional cyber warriors to meet new and emerging threats within the cyberspace domain. This also allows the Army Reserve to be fully integrated into the overall cyberspace mission to meet the intent of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014.
The integration of the Army Reserve into the cyber mission force helps the Army to develop a sustainable, agile and diverse force that expands the operational force to mitigate the stress on the active force and alleviate emerging force requirements in the future.
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