Did you take the Security + exam in AIT?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:15:22 -0400

I went through the 25N course in Gordon, and we did not take any sort of test for a certification. Should this be mandatory to work on DoD networking equipment?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 23 at 2016 10:19 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:19:08 -0400

For networking AIT I think it would make sense for each soldier to pass a Security exam SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member
When I first saw you discussion I thought it was more general. I went through 12B AIT in January 1975 long before networks were available in anything but scientific research laboratory settings and select government agencies.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 10:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:20:58 -0400

No. I've been told 25B's do, though.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 10:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:25:50 -0400

Of course it should be. We barely meet industry standards and they teach next to nothing in AIT. Us green suiters need to be qualified on the equipment we work on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 10:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:28:23 -0400

I did not in AIT (08) . As far as being mandatory I don't think it should. NET+ I think should be mandatory for all 25 series. I can verify 25A do sec+ net+.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 10:33 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:33:46 -0400

Yea it is according to DoD 8570 IA workforce.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 10:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:48:02 -0400

As far the 25B course, we're taught the concepts of Security+, but the material was 301 based.

If you scored 80% or higher and the instructor/SGT recommends you, you get a voucher to take the exam. Sadly, the material that the class covers is not enough and you'll need to do a lot of self study to make up. We had a high fail rate, I had to read a few books on my own time to pass.

The same goes for CCENT, A+, and Net+.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 11:09 PM

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 23:09:14 -0400

DoD 8570 outlines IAT and IAM certification levels based on Career field. Most require IAT Level II which is Security+. Some may only require A+ or Network+.

Response by SGT Laura Delgadillo made Apr 23 at 2016 11:23 PM

SGT Laura Delgadillo — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 23:23:56 -0400

As a 25N you won't get to certify in AIT however your unit can choose to send you to the 2 week course with a voucher if you pass the course to take the exam.

Response by CPL John Tossona made Apr 23 at 2016 11:59 PM

CPL John Tossona — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 23:59:19 -0400

Never recall a test for security. Was always background and questionnaire.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2016 10:45 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 10:45:00 -0400

We had classes in ait for sec and net+, but never sat for the exams. When you get to the real army they might send you. I Just self studied for the sec+ (which revalidated my net+ from 05) by using Darrell Gibsons book and Professor Messer on youtube. Passed! Good luck!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2016 10:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 22:39:06 -0400

SPC Bernardy,

To answer your title question, I became SEC+ certified as a result of my training at the FA53 school. You will need NET+ or courses in CCNA to grasp fully the SEC+ exam. As to your other question, as you've seen from some of the comments, it would be a great idea for the school house to provide a basic cert as you get out of AIT. As it is, no certs are obtained while at the schoolhouse, unless you go out and get it yourself as a result of your work at AIT. Another SPC above states that your unit can and should provide you with the ability to complete a certification within 6 months of graduating AIT. For me, the natural progression would be A+/Net+ as a junior enlisted, Sec+ as a junior NCO and CCNA as a senior NCO (E6 and above). At that point, if you remain on the network side, you will begin to specialize and either become a staff NCO or move into the Warrant or Officer ranks (should you wish to) doing IA/CND/Networking. As was stated, if you look at DoD 8570.1 you will see the requirements for getting onto our networks and conducting business within your switches and routers as well as Microsoft exchange. Unfortunately, this will be limited to your tactical systems only and your skill set may deteriorate based on your command's reliance/training on their tactical gear.

Here's a link to 8570.1's key diagram for you https://www.isc2.org/dodmandate/default.aspx

Hope this helps and welcome to the Regiment! Good luck!

DoD Directive 8570.1 M - Department of Defense Information System Security Systems

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2016 10:00 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:00:37 -0400

Security+ is mandatory to be an administrator on any DoD network.

The problem is that in AIT numbers are all important. Soldiers will not be taught the security+ materials properly and testing practices will degrade for the instructors to 'make numbers'. Thus the certification, over time, will become useless. CompTIA has very strict testing practices specifically for this reason. In my experience (A+/Net+/Sec+/CCENT/CCNA) no private sector certification should be given during AIT. There are plenty of opportunities to pursue the certification after AIT in a better environment. Too many Soldiers are getting comfortable with knowing if they go to get a certification the instructor will walk them through the exam with a silver spoon in their mouths. This is partially the reason there are so many Soldiers with certifications which show they should be able to perform certain tasks yet they lack the skills and intelligence to do so.

Edit:
Also the Security+ certification should not be given in AIT more so because many Sodliers lack the experience in the computer networking/network security field.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2016 3:20 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:20:45 -0400

It is mandatory, in most positions as a 25N or 25B. You will be sent to the course by your unit. The 405 test is a beast, so start studying.