Comms to Cyber In 2 Weeks Flat

The U.S. Air Force is shifting 3,000 communications officers to become cybersecurity specialists with a series of new training and simulation courses, following the transition of 27,000 enlisted airman late last year.

According to Air Force Times, the newly-formed group of cyberspace officers will be experts on how communication technologies can boost war-fighting capabilities. The Air Force has developed a series of courses to train both current and new officers based on total years of service. For example, newly commissioned officers must complete a 115-day course, up from just 26 days for communications, while majors with 12 to 15 years of experience will be required to take a two-week graduate "300 course."

And there may be more training in the future, according to the article. Officers will go through additional courses as they advance in the service, and the Air Force may develop a weapons school course at some point.

One trick will be to ensure that new officers and long-time servicemembers alike receive the same (and most up-to-date) training as new technologies become available and more sophisticated threats emerge. And will more departments follow suit, creating and training a cyber workforce directed towards a particular mission?