Page 11 - Bugle Spring 2025

1 RIFLES
Firmly plugged in
1 RIFLES CYBER SUCCESS:
SMALL STARTS LEADING TO BIG IMPACT
A quick chat before plugging back in
The Army Cyber Centurion Winners
What started as a “small idea” from the CO,
a few bright sparks have exploded into a
RIFLES-wide cyber juggernaut. Just one
year in, the 1 RIFLES Cyber Team has gone
from fiddling with code in dark corners
to smashing keyboards at international
competitions and winning.
The training objectives were simple;
Offensive and defensive cyber? Check. Build
tools to increase lethality? Check. Making
cyber sound sexy? TBC.
The team, while predominantly 1 RIFLES
Riflemen and all self-taught using Immersive
Labs, has had vital reinforcements from our
sister Battalions. Standout operators like Rfn
Lewis Mutton (6 RIFLES), LCpl Damien Armour
(8 RIFLES) and Lt Scott Freemantle (8 RIFLES)
have been instrumental in its success. Together
as a RIFLES team, the first target was Army
Cyber Centurion 2024, in which they obliterated
the competition with a score 22% higher than
the closest unit. Take that, Royal Signals!
Continuing the push, the team went on to
achieve 7th place in Army Cyber Spartan24,
an international Army run cyber competition,
rubbing digital shoulders with powerhouses
like Ukraine, Poland, and Police Cyber units.
For a team with no formal qualifications,
from
fiddling
with code
in dark
corners to
smashing
keyboards
competing against such heavyweights was
like taking a sword to a drone fight.
Looking ahead the cyber team raise their
sights to The Republic of Korea for Exercise
Defence Cyber Marvel 4. WO2 Jay Noonan, Cpl
Chris Williams, LCpl Ryan James and a motley
crew of cyber enthusiasts, aim to put The
Rifles on the map even if it means rewriting it
in ones and zeroes.
The future is cyber, and The Rifles are
leading the charge.
(Immersive Labs is free and can be found in
DLE, please try it)
WO2 Jay Noonan, RSWO
RIFLES The Bugle 11