Page 25 - Cybersecurity Career Guide, 4th Edition

CyberPatriot Competition
Created by the Air Force Association and sponsored by major cybersecurity companies and government agencies, CyberPatriot challenges teams of students to keep a virtual IT system functioning while finding operating flaws and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
As Tamara Shoemaker, founder of the Michigan Cyber- Patriot program, says, “The CyberPatriot program reaches students where they are with competition and games! It facilitates creative thinking, teamwork, and hands-on project-based learning while instilling sound judgment and ethics. Best of all, the CyberPa- triot program is inclusive, with three levels of play, and is not expensive to run.”
With thousands of teams in all 50 states, you should be able to find a team nearby. There are three divisions: Middle School, Open High School, and All Service. While the All Service Division is limited to JROTC and other ca- det corps teams, the Middle and High school divisions are open—teams may include home-schooled stu- dents, Girl or Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, or other youth groups. Teams are limited to six but can be as small as two! A coach is required, but a technical men- tor is optional. Many teams and coaches come in with- out experience. The local and state rounds of timed events are held online, over several months, on week- ends, with the national round taking place in person in Baltimore, MD. If there isn’t one in your area, ask your school counselor about putting together a team. For more info, see https://www.uscyberpatriot.org.
US Cyber Games
The US Cyber Games are cybersecurity-meets-esport, with a goal to inspire the next generation of cyber pro- fessionals and recruit a killer team to represent the US at the International Cybersecurity Championship. Each year, the season starts with the US Cyber Open Capture the Flag Challenge (CTF), where individuals of all skill levels can play. In 2022, over 1,200 partici- pants, ages 16-24, from 50 states and Washington, DC, competed in this free, 10-day virtual event. The contest consists of online cybersecurity challenges in cryptography, cyber forensics, reverse engineering, web, and more. Prizes are awarded in each CTF cate- gory and to the overall champion.
From there, a diverse group of high-potential cyber “athletes” is invited to participate in the US Cyber Combine Invitational. It’s an 8-week period of evalua- tion and assessment where they engage with other athletes and the coaching staff, demonstrate their technical and interpersonal skills via assignments and challenges, and network with industry professionals. A select group is then invited to the US Cyber Team to compete in a variety of global virtual and in-person scrimmages.
Participating in cybersecurity competitions offers tremendous benefits to students. Head Coach Ken Jenkins says, “We aim to develop the future cyberse- curity leaders by immersing our athletes in an environ- ment that emphasizes diversity, collaboration, and career-focused approach.” Find out more at https:// www.playcyber.com/.
PHOTOS COURTESY THE ORGANIZATIONS CYBERSECURITY CAREER GUIDE 25