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Operationalizing Cyberspace

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Provided by U.S. Army Cyber Command

What is it?

The Army is in the process of operationalizing cyberspace to enable maneuver commanders to fight and win in the information environment in the same manner as in the ground, air, sea and space domains.

This effort supports the recognition of cyberspace as a critical warfighting domain and the need to conduct operations to safeguard key cyber terrain, including the Army’s portion of the Department of Defense Information Network.

What has the Army done?

Launched in 2015, the Army’s “Cyber Support to Corps and Below (CSCB)” (CSCB) pilot is a cornerstone in Army development of operational cyberspace capabilities. Led by Army Cyber Command in partnership with Forces Command and Training and Doctrine Command, CSCB is informing the Army on how best to take cyber operations to the tactical level.

Under CSCB, cyber experts partner with maneuver units to develop, test and make recommendations to Army leadership about everything from how units will be manned, trained and equipped for cyber, to perfecting tactics and techniques, to developing plans, policies and doctrine. CSCB improves readiness through training at home station and Army Combat Training Centers and in real-world missions.

These cyber professionals are helping to answer:

  • What cyber effects can be leveraged at the tactical level?
  • How should expeditionary cyber capabilities be structured to deploy with tactical units?
  • How can cyber capabilities synchronize and converge with existing disciplines such as intelligence, information operations, electronic warfare, and network operations?
  • How can cyber capabilities best integrate into staff planning processes?

What continued efforts are planned for the future?

Since CSCB’s inception, five brigades have completed major training events enabled by cyberspace assets, including three rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) and one at the Joint Readiness Training Center.

The next major event, culminating in an NTC rotation planned for spring 2017, will build on lessons learned to further integrate offensive and defensive cyberspace assets with existing warfighting disciplines and staff processes.

The progress made during these events will increasingly enable Mission Command, further tactical commanders’ situational understanding of the cyber domain, and support expeditionary joint combined arms operations.

CSCB will inform and advance Army doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policies.

Why is this important to the Army?

The momentum created by CSCB is operationalizing cyberspace, delivering full-spectrum, fully integrated cyber electromagnetic activities capabilities at the tactical edge and enabling Army and joint commanders to prevent, shape and win across all domains.

Integration and development of cyberspace effects are essential to Army readiness and the Army’s ability to conduct successful unified land operations.

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