Cyber Reserves, Force Multipliers

Santiago, Chile: April 17-18th 2023) Cyber Reservist Lt Col Chris Histed represented MOD cyber, supporting UK Ambassador Louise de Sousa and Defence Attaché Gp Capt Liz Hutchison in ministerial level discussions relating to cyber defence with Chile’s Minister of Defence Maya Fernandez Allende, Undersecretary of Defence Victor Barrueto, plus discussions with starred leaders of Chilean Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Against an ever expanding threat surface, the need for specialist cyber expertise to meet the challenges of the cyber (and electromagnetic) operational domain increases. Closing the gap between Demand and Supply has been the main effort of the Cyber Reserves over the past decade. For potential service Joiners and Leavers, the Cyber Reserves offer stimulating and operationally focused employment.

Funding for the Cyber Reserve was provided by the Future Reserve 2020 programme and workforce posts provided by all three services to support the creation of four new units alongside the existing Army Reserve unit, the Land Information Assurance Group (LIAG).

The programme focuses on accessing high grade cyber skills which meant that traditional reserve service entry Terms and Conditions needed challenging, and single Service (sS) chiefs agreed for waivers for medical, fitness testing and in some cases presentation standards. The motivation of new joiners could not be clearer with many working in the cyber industry, they know all too well the daily cyber issues facing the UK. The introduction of waivers averted an unnecessary wastage of highly skilled cyber operatives for roles in Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations, or Information Assurance.

In 2013 the priority was to recruit Other Ranks with high-end cyber expertise. Entry – an abbreviated and bespoke pathway – commences with single Service recruitment, the National Recruiting Centre for the Royal Signals.Since 2017, an online learning package – now the Cyber-Virtual Learning Environment, supplemented by webinars to develop cohesion – prepares new entrants prior to the residential Cyber Reserve Induction Programme.

Link to full article.