New Army MOS: 25D, Cyber Network Defender

By Debbie Gregory.

The first group of soldiers to complete their training for the Army’s new Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) were awarded MOS 25D, cyber network defender. The 15 Fort Gordon, GA. soldiers graduated on November 27, following a 14 week military training course.

Soldiers designated with the new occupational specialty will perform duties that include protecting, monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to unauthorized cyberspace domain actions. They will also be responsible for the deployment and administration of computer network defense infrastructures, to include firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Designated 25D Soldiers are also tasked with modifying information systems and computer network configurations in response to or in the prevention of computer network threats. They also collect cyber data used to analyze events in an attempt to pre-warn the system about attacks. Cyber network defenders are also trained to perform assessments of threats and vulnerabilities within the network, as well as conduct network damage assessments, and develop optimum actions in response of threats and attacks.

By establishing the 25D occupational specialty, the Army needed to adjust the entire 25 career management field that includes changes to 25B- information technology specialist, 25C- radio operator-maintainer, and 25W- telecommunications operator chief. The implementation of MOS 25D will redistribute certain cyber network defense duties from other MOS’s to fall under the responsibility of 25D soldiers.

The addition of the new occupational specialty is just one of many steps that the Army is taking to increase its operations in the realm of cyberspace. The Army contends that a safe and protected cyberspace is crucial to the country’s economy and national security.

Requirements for 25D eligibility include: possessing the military rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) and having a minimum of four years of experience in information technology. Cyber Network Defenders must also have scored a 105 in both the General Technical (GT) and Skilled Technical (ST) portions of their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. Eligibility also requires U.S. citizenship, and an in-service screening which identifies soldiers who possess strong ethical standards and intellectual abilities. Applicants are also required to have a recommendation from their battalion.