The Air Force on Monday launched its new undergraduate cyber training course for officers at Keesler AFB, Miss. The six-month course provides initial training for 17DX cyber operations officers, a career field that replaces 33SX communications officers. Lt. Col. Scott Solomon, commander of Keesler’s 333rd Training Squadron, said graduates will have the fundamentals to establish, secure, operate, assess, and actively defend seven types of networks, including command and control systems, Internet protocol sites, telephony, satellite, and mobile telecommunications. The first class is expected to have 16 students. Up to 400 students are expected to complete the course annually. Graduates will either proceed to intermediate network warfare training, or move on to more mainstream communication officer duties, said Solomon. (Keesler report by Susan Griggs)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.