Team AFJROTC –

Headquarters is excited to announce the addition of CyberPatriot to the list of activities in which your unit and cadets can participate. What is CyberPatriot you may ask? CyberPatriot is an on-line interactive (very similar to the Academic Bowl) cyber defense competition that tests the ability of your cadets to defend a simulated corporate network from external hostile attacks. But it is far more than just a competition. It is a program designed to help educate about cyber security and motivate your cadets to become the cyber defenders the nation needs. So what's your role? As the JROTC instructor all you really need to do is facilitate your cadets participation. You don’t need to be a computer or cyber defense expert. Since all of the training and education will be provided on line, all you need to do is make your cadets aware of competition the and give them a chance to prove how much they know about computers, viruses, worms, and spam and such. I challenge you to share the concept with your cadets and find those willing to jump at the opportunity to form a team and compete. Your team can then vie for a chance to be one of the 8 teams who get to go to Orlando, Florida (Headquarters funded) to compete in the head-to-head finals hosted at the Air Force Association’s (AFA) Air Warfare Symposium 18 -19 Feb 2010. The trip will include an extra day in Orlando to take advantage of what the location has to offer.

Here is a little background on CyberPatriot I. CyberPatriot I was an AFA hosted (with commercial sponsors) proof-of-concept competition where 7 AFJROTC and 1 Civil Air Patrol (CAP) teams competed in earlier this year. The results were impressive and gained attention from top AF leadership to include the CSAF. The level of the competition in terms of our cadets knowledge and ability to react to the threats was inspiring. The cadets who participated said it was one of the most fun and challenging activities they have “played” on-line. From the AFA’s and our perspective, the concept demonstration was a huge success.

While headquarters would like to see max participation from the units, we fully appreciate participation is entirely up to the instructors and the cadets. However, we do ask all instructors to at least become familiar with the information on Cyber Campus and to share this opportunity with the cadets. I need to stress, you don’t have to be an computer or in cyber defense expert in any way, shape, or form. You just need to make cadets aware of the opportunity and support their interest in computers and competitive spirit.

For those instructors who are willing to be prospective on-line coaches, Online registration is now open! Prospective Coaches only (JROTC SASI/ASI or CAP COs) should sign up now, but no later than 29 May 2009. Please provide your contact information, including an e-mail and phone number for contact throughout the summer.

There is no obligation in registering. You will be asked to make a firm commitment only after you have reviewed additional informational materials and a more detailed description of participant expectations.

After registering at: https://registration.afa.org/reg/reg1.aspx?event=cyber2010&regtype=RequestInfo

you may expect additional information later.

Check out the additional information on CyberPatriot II in Cyber Campus. The competition is open to all AFJROTC units and Civil Air Patrol Squadrons.

Again, I encourage all units to consider fielding a team.

Respectfully,

Col Ragaller

Director