{"id":9814,"date":"2018-09-18T19:10:41","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T19:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/18\/why-a-long-military-career-in-cyber-feels-like-a-rarity\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:32:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:32:40","slug":"why-a-long-military-career-in-cyber-feels-like-a-rarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/cyber\/2018\/09\/18\/why-a-long-military-career-in-cyber-feels-like-a-rarity\/","title":{"rendered":"Why a long military career in cyber feels like a rarity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Cyber Command\u2019s top enlisted leaders said the military\u2019s current career offerings hinders long term growth in building a potent cyber workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Defense has long been public about the challenge of retaining its cyber workforce. MGySgt Scott Stalker, command senior enlisted leader of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, articulated those concerns in real terms Sept. 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRetaining the talent, it is a challenge. In some ways, I get upset because I think we outcompete ourselves,\u201d he said at the annual Air, Space, Cyber conference at National Harbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe manpower, the mathematics – as I\u2019ve done it – do not support long term growth in the cyber domain,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you look at the day an individual leaves to the day someone reports in, cleared, fully trained and able to replicate the skillset that person has, it\u2019s usually at the detriment of about 18 months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stalker said the current model appears to invest more in contractors and corporations rather than the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe say we can\u2019t hire civilians or enlisted members, we can\u2019t bring enough talent in so we create contractor spots that outbid us and then we bring in Joe, who a minute ago was a tech sergeant, and now he\u2019s a contractor,\u201d he said. \u201cThink of it from a business perspective, hundreds of thousand of dollars, years you put into these individuals and what happens? They go on to be members of corporate America. In many ways we\u2019re investing in corporations instead of our own people. We\u2019ve got to look at how we can do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said both he and Gen. Paul Nakasone, the head of the NSA and Cyber Command, are studying the issue. Nakasone is expected to discuss the issue with other four star generals and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Stalker said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, the services have taken personnel from the intelligence world and assigned them to cyber billets, only to see them cycle out after their initial tour. Some of the services are now taking a new approach to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army was the first service to stand up a cyber branch, designing a military career where soldiers can reside for much of their career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marine Corps has taken note and is establishing a new career field for cyber, 17XX. It has been equated to the special operations world in which once in personnel don\u2019t leave unless they actively seek a transfer or retire.<\/p>\n\n\n\t