Careers & Training

In recent years, increased cyberthreats against the United States have resulted in the need for more cyberspecialists to defend it. Are you interested in joining the thousands of service members who answer this call on a daily basis? Learn about the high-tech opportunities available in this career field and discover the training it takes to defend this domain.

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Career Opportunities

Explore enlisted and officer paths, full- and part-time service options, and various critical cyber roles found throughout the Military’s six service branches to see how you can be part of a mission that matters.

From Curiosity to Career

Mission-Critical Skills

Specialists with cyber-related positions are tasked with crucial information technology, electronic warfare, information warfare, cryptology and intelligence responsibilities. Valuable qualities to have in these fields include:

An eye for detail
The ability to think conceptually
Strong communication skills
Problem-solving expertise
Adaptability
A thirst for knowledge

Enlisted Roles

These roles provide hands-on training and skills that transfer well to the civilian world.

Learn More About Enlisted Roles

Enlisted

Cyber Operations Specialists

Officer Roles

These are leadership and management roles that require a four-year degree or equivalent education.

Learn More About Officer Roles

Officer

Cyber Operations Officers

Full and Part-time Options

Full-time Service (Active Duty)

For active-duty service members, the Military is equivalent to a full-time job. Those who serve in this capacity are typically stationed at domestic or overseas bases for terms that typically last two to six years. They can also be deployed around the world to accomplish various missions.

Part-time Service (Reserve and National Guard)

Reserve and Guard service members have the flexibility to pursue a civilian career or college education while simultaneously serving their country. Though they may be “activated” and deployed in times of war or national emergency, part-time members are typically required to participate in training drills one weekend a month and during a two-week program each year.

Learn More About Full and Part-time Options

Want to speak to a recruiter to learn more about these opportunities?

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Training & Education

Depending on the specific cyber-related role, service members will receive 10 weeks to over 10 months of advanced technical training in disciplines like cyberspace operations, information services, electronic warfare and signal/communication networks.

For service members who are driven to push their academic pursuits even further, military cyber schools, DoD cyber scholarships and other higher-education institutions provide cutting-edge educational opportunities to attain a wide range of degrees, including two-year associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and even doctorate degrees.

How Military Cyber Students Become Cyberwarriors

Cyber Schools and Training Centers

In the Military, there are countless courses, programs and curriculums to expand your cyberdefense knowledge — and an abundance of places to do it.

U.S. Army’s Cyber Center Of Excellence (CCoE)

Fort Eisenhower, GA

This cyber center is responsible for the “training, education, and development of world-class, highly skilled signal, cyber and electronic warfare professionals.” Offerings include courses in information technology, security, networking, satellite communications and much more. The CCoE also has an outreach program that aims to:

Partner with colleges for continuing education degrees and professional credentialing.
Grow local STEM/STEAM talent with K-12 schools.
Support cyber programs and conferences.
Improve employment pathways in support of STEM professionals.
Increase STEM internship and work-study opportunities.

Learn More About This Training Center

U.S. Navy’s Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT)

19 locations

Every year, these tech-focused learning centers train over 26,000 service members from all military branches in cryptology, information technology, electronic warfare, cyber and intelligence fields. With over 200 courses offered across the spectrum of information warfare, this training command embraces innovation to respond to rapid changes within the maritime and cyber domains.

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Center for Cybersecurity and Cyber Operations (C30)

Monterey, California

As part of the Naval Postgraduate School, C3O is “America's foremost center for defense-related research and education in software security, inherently trustworthy systems, cybersecurity defense and the use of computational systems in both defensive and adversarial cyber operations.”

This school provides senior military officers, government employees and civilians with advanced curriculums that support multiple master’s degree tracks in computer science.

Learn More About This Cyber Center

Air Force’s Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence (CyTCoE)

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

This Air Force Institute of Technology training center focuses on educating students about offensive and defensive cyber operations, cybersecurity and resiliency of weapon systems. To accomplish this, CyTCoE provides service members with various programs, like:

Advanced degrees in computer engineering and computer science with cybersecurity specializations through its graduate school
Senior and Master Professional Rating Courses through the School of Strategic Force Studies
Short courses on analyzing and handling cyberthreats to Air and Space Force weapon systems through the School of Systems and Logistics
A monthlong, immersive cyberwarfare summer course for Air Force Academy and ROTC cadets

Learn More About This Training Center

Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Cyber Training Academy

Virtual and in Hanover, Maryland

Offering both online and in-person instruction, this cyber institution provides investigative training to DoD personnel who protect defense networks from “unauthorized use, counterintelligence, criminal and fraudulent activities.” To accomplish this, DC3 has 22 courses in technology, forensics and intelligence, which cover topics like:

Digital media examination
Network intrusion basics and log analysis
The collection and analyzation of digital evidence
Cyber investigative practices, tools and management

Learn More About This Training Academy

National Defense University’s College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC)

Washington, D.C.

This Department of Defense college educates military officers, national security leaders and other members of the federal cyber workforce about the cyber domain and information environment so they can better lead, advise and advance national/global security.

CIC programs include multiple graduate certificate courses for professional development and a Master of Science (M.S.) with concentrations in:

Cyber Studies
Data and Disruptive Technologies
Financial Management
Influence Warfare

Learn More About This Training Center

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Cyber Scholarship Program

To elevate the best minds in cybersecurity and help deal with future threats against defense information systems and networks, the DoD provides a scholarship program to upcoming tech talent—the DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA). The DoD CSA is both a scholarship program and a capacity building tool. It offers eligible, full-time students at over 400 colleges and universities recognized as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) with a full tuition and stipends for room and board. In exchange for this financial support, recipients are required to apply their newfound cyber skills at the DoD for a certain duration of time upon graduation — this includes a payback option to serve in the Military as an active-duty member for a minimum of four years.

Learn More About This Scholarship

Professional Credentialing Opportunities

For cyberspecialists, the drive to never stop learning is critical to mission success because there are always new developments in the world of cybersecurity — and if you’re not ahead, you’re already behind.

To ensure the military cyber force remains at the forefront of technologies and techniques, each Service branch offers a Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) program. COOL helps service members both find and fund certifications and licenses that are related to their military occupation and highly valued across private industries.

Army COOL

Marine Corps COOL

Navy COOL

Air Force COOL

(supports Space Force)

Coast Guard COOL

Want to speak to a recruiter to learn more about these opportunities?

Contact the Services