Security Strategy, Plan, Budget

U.S. Cyber Command readies for first troop deployment

The demand for a cybersecurity component that can be deployed to protect U.S. military infrastructure and combat forces is so strong that Cyber Command will begin deploying its cyber troops even before the complete force is trained and staffed.

Admiral Michael Rogers, director of the NSA and Cyber Command, said that even though the full complement of 6,200 troops broken in 133 teams has not yet been met, the need for these forces in the field requires that he send in what cyber soldiers he has that are fully trained to meet the threat, according to an NPR report.

The first soldiers deploy this fall with the complete Cyber Mission Force staffed and trained by Sept. 30, 2018, NPR said. At that time about half of the group's members will be employed to defend military networks, 20 percent will work with combat troops, 10 percent will protect the nation's infrastructure and the remainder will be in support roles.

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