CAP Cyber Programs and Cyber Patriot
Opportunities for Cyber Defense Training for Cadets.
Developing the next generation of cyberspace defense operators is an urgent national need. CAP cadets are rising to the challenge through self-study, classroom lessons and activities, competitions, and week-long career exploration academies.
Cisco Networking Academy Partnership
Check out the announcement (PPTX) of the partnership between Cisco Networking Academy and CAP!
Civil Air Patrol has partnered with Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad) to make cybersecurity support, training and curriculum resources available for free to all 55,000 CAP members. The first cohort of classes opened 17 January 2021; visit the NetAcad page for more information.
The partnership with Cisco was announced at CAP’s recent 2020 National Conference to benefit CAP cadets, many of whom are already involved in cyber defense education and competition, and also generate excitement among senior members interested in cybersecurity. The concluded Learn-a-Thon was the first NetAcad activity in which over 1600 CAP members participated.
“I am excited to bring NetAcad to CAP members, as it will give them an opportunity to learn cybersecurity, networking and other skills that can be tied with their work in CAP and in industry,” said Sara Shreve, Cisco corporate social responsibility manager. “NetAcad provides foundational knowledge that accelerates one’s ability to find a career or upgrade their current skillset. I have personally seen this become a reality for many students.”
Read the full story on this exciting partnership!
Air & Space Forces Association CyberPatriot and CyberCamps
The Air & Space Forces Association CyberPatriot program puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services in a six hour period. The top teams in the nation earn all-expenses paid trips to Baltimore, MD for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money.
Teams consist of between 2 and 6 cadets competing in either the Middle School or All Service Division.
For Details: See CAP CyberPatriot homepage
The Air & Space Forces Association has CyberCamps through the summer for groups to introduce students to cyber security concepts and prepare them for their first CyberPatriot competition. They have a standard camp as well as an advanced camp. The standard camp is for students and cadets who have no previous cyber security or CyberPatriot experience while the advanced camp is for students who have some experience and want to learn additional concepts.
The camp is designed around a four hour day with lecture material and hands on lab learning Monday through Thursday. Friday is a mini CyberPatriot competition designed to reinforce the material that was learned during the week. The camps can be held in-person or virtually.
Cadet Cyber
CAP offers numerous cyber activities for cadets including a Cadet Cyber Badge program, module for Encampment, the CAP National Cyber Academy, Introduction to Cyber Security - Activity Guide, and others.
Cyber Badge Program
To encourage cadet participation in CAP’s cyber education programs, cadets may earn the Cadet Cyber Badge which recognizes a cadet's dedication to cyber education. To learn more, download the pamphlet (PDF) and use the tracking log (XLSX) to keep track of the cadet's progress in the program.
Encampment Module: Introduction to the Cyber Domain
The encampment program's aerospace education block has five main components which includes the Introduction to Cyber Domain (PDF) 60-minute instructional block.
Aerospace Dimensions Cyber Lesson
In development currently, the new Aerospace Dimensions cyber module will be added the requirements for all cadet airmen and cadet non-commissioned officers to complete before they may earn the Billy Mitchell Award. The Cyber Lesson (a.k.a Module 7) will be added to the existing Aerospace Dimension modules, thus removing the "no requirement" for Aerospace as noted currently for Achievement 8.
The CAP National Cyber Academy
The CAP National Cyber Academy (CNCA), the summer cyber NCSA, integrates cyber security certification standards into career exploration courses and dovetails with the Cadet Program Cyber Module.
The CNCA hosts three courses, Cyber Operations Fundamentals, Cyberspace Networking, and Cyberspace Advanced Administration Course, at three locations - Hampton Roads, Virginia, Colorado Springs, CO, and San Antonio, Texas.
Please visit the NCSAs page for this year's offerings.
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