What would be the best path to start my career in cyber security?

To embark on a career in cybersecurity, it is advisable to pursue a path that combines education, practical experience, and industry certifications. Starting with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, information technology, or cybersecurity can provide a solid foundation. Additionally, gaining hands-on experience through internships, volunteering, or entry-level positions in cybersecurity can be beneficial. Acquiring industry-recognized certifications like CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) can further enhance your credentials. Networking with professionals in the field, participating in cybersecurity competitions, and staying updated on the latest trends and technologies are also key steps towards a successful career in cybersecurity.

Looking too far into the future can get a little blurry so my advice to you is to look at the next few years as you move forward. If you are considering the military, know that all branches have cyber forces, so those bases will be covered by going to your local recruiting center and having some conversations to see what each branch may offer you that may be the best fit for you. The military will have tuition assistance as well as items such as the GI Bill that will help you towards your educational goals. A job/career in development in itself will keep you out of debt. Those are thoughts in the short term.

As a cyber trainer, I will always describe cyber as an inch deep and a mile wide on topics. The things you'll do best in is those things you have a passion for. Scripting, coding, penetration testing, are all just the tip of the ice berg. You can receive training in so many different areas. Just know the training pipeline will be long before getting some real experience that will be beneficial. I'll be glad to answer any other questions and provide guidance as I can. It helps if you ask some more targetted questions towards what your passions and what you envision yourself doing and enjoying.

In other words I’m trying to show you a larger world than the one you’ve envisioned thus far, honest....

I just thought to add...what you listed was impressive for your age, I only thought to guide you as to things you might not have encountered before...have you done any switching theory? Digital gates level design? Karnaugh maps? Quine McCluskey reduction? Automata theory? Mealy Moore machines? Error correcting coding theory? Compiler design? Interpreters? Data structures,incl linked lists and object oriented programming? Linux exposure? Android app design? If you want serious Comp s I those are the serious topics along with microprocessor design, assembly language programming, and all the quantum computing theory you can absorb...comp sci is inextricably interwoven with elec Engel you cant evade that I assure you, you’ll also need to think about masters and PhD ultimately as well as professional engineering (PE) licensure, not just IT certifications, promise...have you done any IT certifications yet? Physics? Chem? Calculus? Differential equations? Linear algebra? Complex variables? Modern algebra including group theory? Point set topology? I told you I’ve done this long before you were born, that’s the serious science,look up everything I just listed here and elaborate so far as your parents would want and I’ll try to suggest more if you and they want, OZk? And take the time to research all services all options as I told you it’ll save you a good deal of potential headaches later plus you’ll be infinitely better prepared honest ok?

http://www.mors.org

And you might find ops research of interest, it's little known of at your age, a very good STEM field, look also at !materials science as an undergrad major, as well, OK?

Digest all that, ten try to elaborate, so far as your parents would want, so I and others can suggest more, if you'd want, OK? I hope you found all that of at least some use and/or interest, I'd be most interested to hear !ore, no rush, whenever you'd want, OK?

http://www.seaperch.org

This is the Navy Sea Cadet program for high school in underwater robotics, look at it as well, OK?

https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/

You'll find this of interest it's run by AFA and Navy Sea Cadets for high school students and younger....

OK, now that I've got all that out of the way, as I'd told you, I was doing all that for uyars, way before you were born, I've been over it, through it, around it, under it, lived it, breathed it, know essentially everything there is to know about it...knowing programming languages, while desirable, is not the focal point of the topic...comp sci (CS) and electrical engineering (EE) is...further, you can't focus on one service, you need to look at all of them, USCG as well, also, USCGA in New London, CT, the academy for them, and also USMMA Kings Point where my next younger brother went, I commissioned him when he went USMpNR-MMR, which is ISNR for !merchant marine...I fathom you don't want to owe a lot, I get that, however, to help you further, I need you to explain a good deal more, so far as you or your parents would want you to, a good many on here can offer you thoughts, however, your parents are your guides, anything you do in the services always involves ten, always, trust me, been there, done that (BTDT)...I'm not saying to not do it, I'm saying to take your time and research all services adequately, not just cyber, also flight programs, Navy electronic and nuclear power six year enlistment programs,, possibly trying for an academy as enlisted, or an ROTC or USMC PLC, I've known of instances while I'd been in, one airman in particular, who got into USAFA directly where I'd been assigned, so it can be done...I was At!y ROTC first, then went USAF OTS, however, I didn't tale adequate time to look or plan properly, so I wound up with a group I hadn't planned on, in an aspect of EE I hadn't wanted, I'd wanted bioengineering on the clinical side, and to go for !ed and be a flight surgeon, none of that happened because I was impulsive and rushed, which is why I'm saying t take your time, and not rush it, be sure, as sure as you can, OK? There are certain life camgng things in life, going into a service is top of that food chain in terms of impact, hat's why you need to take your time, and do it right, you're young, entyhusiastc, I get that, however, you haven't said if you've looked at other services, the various schools involved, other options, other possible ambitions and/or objectives...for example, do you want a couple of tours and to go civilian? Would you want senior enlisted? Warrant officer? Commissioned? Would you want a full 20-30 yr career? You also need to understand that, from your first day on active, you'd need to be in school, even after your technical training, you need to know about DANTES for military transcripts and its relation to the college level exam program (CLEP), also, how much advanced placement (AP) stuff he you done in high school? How much STEM coursework? Boy Scouts? Civil Air Patrol (CAP)? naval Sea Cadets? JROTC of any kind? Young Marines? How much have you been exposed thus far? How much have you actually read about the services, the cultural aspects, the day to day work environment? Hobbies? Reading interests? Sports? Martial arts of any kind? All of that is germane to understanding what to suggest to you, it isn't solely aboit learning programming languages...have you actually built computers? Have you had much hardware exposure? Have you done any vocational high school programs in electronics at all? Let !e send this then I'll suggest some more, OK?

http://www.tesu.edu

This one is state in New Jersey....

http://www.charteroak.edu

This one is state in Connecticut....

http://www.excelsior.edu

His was part of NU State gvt, then privatized, their electronic technology (ET), mechanical technology (MT) and computer software, not comp sci (CS), programs are very well tyouht of by the services, heyre also regionally accredited as well....

http://www.uopeople.edu

This is tuition free, for assocs and Bach in comp sci (CS), only admin and exam costs, however, while I've read and seem good things, including Vatican endorsement, and they pro rate admin and exam fees by per capita income in a given country, they're not regionally accredited yet, they are accredited by DEAC, which is a Federally recognized body, I just don't know if industry accepts ten, let alone the services or the VA, I !erepy thought you'd find knowing about them useful....

http://www.afa.org

This too....

http://www.ausa.org

And this....

http://www.usni.org

Look at this....

http://www.crows.org

This one also, it:s less well known then AFCEA, it:s got a weird name, Assoc of Old Crows (AOC), trust me, highly worthwhile....

http://www.afcea.org

This group as well is one of the major ones in the field, trust me, I was doing that stuff before you were born....

http://www.ieee.org

Same here esp for their computer society, they have numerous other relevant societies, as well....

http://www.acm.org

Look at this try to join as a student....