Difference between Maritime Cyber and Cyber Warfare Engineering?

[VP.28]

Hello,

I’ve been wondering about the difference between the new Maritime Cyber Warfare community and the Cyber Warfare Engineering community. Can anyone really flesh out the differences between the two? What would stations look like (shore duty or boat duty? both?)? What is their primary focus and who do they work with?

Furthermore, how would these compare to the intelligence and information communities?

So sorry for the expanded question. Thank you!

 

[cb7893]

Nice try Xi.

 

[Usnavy2019]

Hello,

I’ve been wondering about the difference between the new Maritime Cyber Warfare community and the Cyber Warfare Engineering community. Can anyone really flesh out the differences between the two? What would stations look like (shore duty or boat duty? both?)? What is their primary focus and who do they work with?

Furthermore, how would these compare to the intelligence and information communities?

So sorry for the expanded question. Thank you!

Maritime Cyber Warfare Officers (MCWO) are specialists in the conduct of offensive and defensive cyber operations. Cyber Warning Engineers (CWE) do the research, development, test, and evaluation necessary to facilitate the Navy's cyber mission. Think of it like being an aerospace engineer/test pilot.

Information Professionals are mainly network focused and ensure the safety/security and operations of the multitude of networks the Navy uses to accomplish its missions. Intelligence is what you probably think of: providing information on the adversary to aid command and control and warfighting efforts.

All the above communities have jobs of all flavors all around the map. MCWO and CWE might have a little less job diversity since they are relatively new communities, but I am sure jobs will increase as the Navy gains more experience with managing those warfare specialties.

That said, getting directly into the Information side of the Navy, and Restricted Line/Staff Corps in general, can be difficult to do coming out of USNA. People definitely do it every year, but there is a very small amount of billets. Most people who come into those communities are from OCS, direct commission (i.e. a cyber practitioner in the civilian sector), and lateral transfers (doing another job in the Navy beforehand). This is not to discourage at all, but just to manage expectations. That said, the way to set yourself up for the best chance is to do well in all facets of MIDN life and to consistently engage with officers in the Cyber Warfare Community at USNA. Networking carries weight in the military just like it does in the private sector. Having some positive face time with the Information Warfare "powers that be" will help you out come Service Assignment.

 

[Kierkegaard]

As far as duty stations, CWEs work on shore installations. Mostly at Fort Meade, which is where Fleet Cyber Command is based. Other IW communities tend to alternate between sea and shore assignments.

 

[Kierkegaard]

That said, getting directly into the Information side of the Navy, and Restricted Line/Staff Corps in general, can be difficult to do coming out of USNA. People definitely do it every year, but there is a very small amount of billets. Most people who come into those communities are from OCS, direct commission (i.e. a cyber practitioner in the civilian sector), and lateral transfers (doing another job in the Navy beforehand). This is not to discourage at all, but just to manage expectations. That said, the way to set yourself up for the best chance is to do well in all facets of MIDN life and to consistently engage with officers in the Cyber Warfare Community at USNA. Networking carries weight in the military just like it does in the private sector. Having some positive face time with the Information Warfare "powers that be" will help you out come Service Assignment.

This is definitely true. Ever since my plebe year there have been rumors that the Navy would start opening up the IW communities to more people from the Academy. I’m guessing you heard the same back in the day @Usnavy2019 ?

I want to say this was half-true, because yes they have gradually added more billets for physically qualified Academy grads—But it is still very much the exception to the rule. I think about 50 1/C total got IW service assignments this past year, which is a new record. But that’s both mids who were PQ and NPQ for URL communities. It’s doable but if it’s what you want then prepare to hustle.

 

[nuensis]

Both options will remain on shore duty for the foreseeable future.

There are some aspects that will not be discussed on an internet forum (i.e. the stations and billeting part of your question).

The best information can be found on the MyNavyHR website: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Caree...e-OCM/Restricted-Line/Maritime-Cyber-Warfare/

If you end up at USNA, find an officer of those communities. I can't remember if there's still a CWE at USNA, but if not I would start with a CW or IP that can connect you with someone from Ft. Meade.

 

[VP.28]

Thank you all for your responses! This helped me a lot. Needed someone to spell it out clearly

 

[Usnavy2019]

This is definitely true. Ever since my plebe year there have been rumors that the Navy would start opening up the IW communities to more people from the Academy. I’m guessing you heard the same back in the day @Usnavy2019 ?

I want to say this was half-true, because yes they have gradually added more billets for physically qualified Academy grads—But it is still very much the exception to the rule. I think about 50 1/C total got IW service assignments this past year, which is a new record. But that’s both mids who were PQ and NPQ for URL communities. It’s doable but if it’s what you want then prepare to hustle.

I heard the same thing you did. Cyber was very much the new hotness and they were really trying to push the Cyber Operations major on us. They had a first semester LREC that you could only go on if you were cyber ops commit and stuff like that.

@VP.28 I'd also look into SWO options during your time at school. Those are a bit easier to get. You do the SWO thing for a tour (~2 years) and then you automatically lat transfer to whatever your option is. So, if I was SWO-Intel, I'd be a SWO and once my tour was done, I'd go to intel school and spend the rest of my career doing Intel things. @Kierkegaard Back in the day (way before both of us), there apparently was a SWO option for aviation!

 

[OldRetSWO]

Back in the day (way before both of us), there apparently was a SWO option for aviation!

[Raises Hand and waves proudly]
I chose this, I had 20/15 vision and near perfect scores on the test which at the time was called the AQT/FAR but I just didn't really have the flying bug and really wanted to be a SWO. Thus, when my option came up, I chose to stay where I was. One of my roommates and another teammate/classmate both earned their SWO pins, exercised their option and then went pilot. my roomie stayed for 20 in VP and then went to the airlines. The teammate finished in the Reserves and we actually met up on several exercises LCDRs and CDRs. He did not go to the airlines but instead became a civil servant supporting a major joint command.

 

[VP.28]

I heard the same thing you did. Cyber was very much the new hotness and they were really trying to push the Cyber Operations major on us. They had a first semester LREC that you could only go on if you were cyber ops commit and stuff like that.

@VP.28 I'd also look into SWO options during your time at school. Those are a bit easier to get. You do the SWO thing for a tour (~2 years) and then you automatically lat transfer to whatever your option is. So, if I was SWO-Intel, I'd be a SWO and once my tour was done, I'd go to intel school and spend the rest of my career doing Intel things. @Kierkegaard Back in the day (way before both of us), there apparently was a SWO option for aviation!

Thank you for letting me know! I'll keep this in mind (re: SWO)