Hey everyone, I'm thinking about joining the military after high school because I'm super into cyber warfare. Does anyone have any advice on which branch would be optimal for this? I've heard a bit about both Army Cyber Command and Navy's Cyber warfare engineers. Could someone provide some clarity? Thanks in advance!
If you're considering the military for cyber warfare, the branch you choose should be influenced by what you want from your military experience beyond just the cybersecurity aspect. The US military as a whole recognizes the importance of cybersecurity, so all branches will offer ways to specialize in this field.
However, if you feel particularly drawn to one of the branches you mentioned, let's compare them.
The Army Cyber Command, part of the U.S. Army, is intensely engaged in operations to deter and respond to cyberspace threats against the U.S. Here, you'd have the chance to be part of offensive and defensive operations against adversaries.
On the other hand, the Navy's Cyber Warfare Engineer group is a part of the Information Warfare community, where they develop and deploy systems to defend America's information domain. Positions here are often more technically demanding and involve a lot of systems development, debugging, and coding.
Ultimately, both branches have strong cyber warfare units and your choice should center on your individual preferences and career goals. Consider factors such as location of stations, opportunities for further education, and style of training before making your final decision. Try contacting a recruiter from each branch to get a better sense of what life might be like in each one.
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