Air Force

Cyberspace Operations Officer: Pay, Training, And More

Posted on October 7, 2019 Author Rob V.

Overview

There are many different career fields one can enter when deciding to join the Air Force. When an individual has completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher, they are able to join the ranks as an officer.

As a result, this gives them more pay, more responsibility, and allow them to apply the things they have learned in school to something bigger than themselves.

One such assignment is Cyberspace Operations Officer, which is the foremost expert at protecting the United States from cyber attacks.

In an increasingly technology-driven world, these cyber warriors are tasked with leading, planning, and directing both defensive and offensive cyberspace maneuvers.

They neutralize threats like Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks, protect data and networks against viruses and attacks, and overall protect and reinforce critical infrastructure.

Let’s learn a little more about what it takes to be a Cyberspace Operations officer, including their salary, training, what a typical day is like, and civilian career opportunities after service.

Requirements and Qualifications For Cyberspace Operations

If an individual completes a Bachelor’s degree with a focus in computer and information sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, management of information systems or any other STEM (science, technology, mathematics, and engineering) discipline they may be able to take their talents into the ranks of the United States Air Force.

 

In order to enter the Air Force and become a Cyberspace Operations officer one must meet the following basic requirements:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 39
• Possess a completed bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and have some background knowledge of electronics theory, information technology, telecommunications, supervisory and management skills, vulnerability assessments and techniques used to exploit vulnerabilities.

If you qualify, you must then move on to become an officer.
There are currently three ways to enter the United States Air Force as an officer of any discipline.
They include:

• Officer Training School
• The US Air Force Academy
• Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps

All 3 of these are very different routes to becoming an officer, and have their own requirements that need to be met.
After officially becoming an Air Force officer, a prospective Cyberspace Operations Officer will go onto their technical training courses.

Advanced Qualifications And Schooling

The completion of a single scoped background investigation and a top secret security clearance are required before one can work in a capacity in which they will handle classified information.
The technical training course to be a Cyberspace Operations officer is held at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama.

https://www.operationmilitarykids.org/cyberspace-operations-officer/