An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photo Information

America’s daily life, economy, and national security depend on a secure cyberspace. Malicious cyber activity has increased over the last decade and can interrupt anything from communication and powering homes to running the economy and obtaining government services. No country, industry, or individual is immune to cyber attacks.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Roethel

DHS wants you to fight against cyber threats

12 Sep 2013 | Lance Cpl. Brendan Roethel Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

America’s daily life, economy, and national security depend on a secure cyberspace.  

Malicious cyber activity has increased over the last decade and can interrupt anything from communication and powering homes to running the economy and obtaining government services. No country, industry, or individual is immune to cyber attacks. 

The Department of Homeland Security is hiring veterans into the cybersecurity field to join in their fight against cyber threats. This builds the nation’s cyber workforce and provides veterans with the opportunity to work in one of the nation’s fastest growing career fields. The DHS has a strong commitment to hiring veterans and has exceeded the goals set forth by the President’s Council on Veterans Employment. As of fiscal year 2012, the DHS has employed nearly 55,000 veterans.

The DHS will provide veterans with the advanced training and resources needed to be effective in the high tech career field, while providing them with the direction needed to navigate themselves through the rigorous education program. 

For veterans looking to apply, the process begins by deciding exactly what jobs they qualify for and are interested in. From there, separate applications are available for each job on the National Incentive for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website. After applying a DHS agent will contact the applicant and guide them through the selection process, eventually helping them enroll into the classes and programs needed to continue working toward their future career. 

For Marines that are interested in staying in the Corps for another enlistment, but want to learn more and work in the cybersecurity field, lateral moving into the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command is another option.

“[The cybersecurity field] is an emerging, man-made environment that we learn more about every day,” said Lt. Gen. George Flynn, former head of the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command. “It is something that is evolving over time, which is why you are seeing this evolution toward cybersecurity in both civilian and military establishments. Marines in this field will be highly competitive in the civilian side of cybersecurity, most with six-figure careers awaiting them when they leave the Corps.”

For more information visit www.niccs.us-cert.gov/home/veterans.