U.S.A. Cyber Warrior Scholarship Program

COL Randall C. — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:45:31 -0400

For those not aware of it, Booz-Allen-Hamilton (BAH) has teamed up with ISC2 to offer scholarships to transitioning veterans for various IT certifications (SSCP, CISSP, CAP, CCFP, HCISPP, and CSSLP). The scholarship covers pretty much everything involved in getting the certification (training, study materials, testing, etc).

Basic requirements are to have worked at IAT I/II or IAM I levels while in the military, have been honorably discharged, and not currently hold an ISC2 certification.

The scholarships are limited, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

There will be three different application periods:
Discharge from 1 MAY 09 - 1 SEP 14: must apply by: 22 SEP 14
Discharge from 1 OCT 09 - 1 OCT 14: must apply by: 1 JAN 15*
Discharge from 1 MAY 10 - 1 AUG 15: must apply by: 1 AUG 15**

* Application period opens 1 OCT 14
** Application period opens 1 MAY 15 - end date says 1 AUG 14 on website, but believe this is a typo (have to wait and see).

Full details of the scholarships are available at https://www.isc2cares.org/usa-cyber-warrior-scholarship/default.aspx

U.S.A. Cyber Warrior Scholarship | (ISC) FoundationUntitled Page

The 2011 (ISC) Global Information Security Workforce Study indicated for the first time the enormity of the gap between demand for cyber security workers and supply. The 2013 study, conducted by Frost & Sullivan, in partnership between (ISC) Foundation and Booz Allen Hamilton, shows the top five skill sets lacking are security analyst, security engineer with skills in planning/design or application, security auditor, and security architect....

Response by Lt Col Timothy Chavez made Sep 3 at 2014 4:51 PM

Lt Col Timothy Chavez — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:51:20 -0400

Wonder if this applies to AF folks too? Looks like it you had to have been in some Computer security related position... not just a Comm/IT position. Does that sound right?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 2:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:10:07 -0400

Unfortunately i cannot participate as i already have my CISSP. I tell anyone interested to go for it. Information security is only going to get bigger as we become the "internet of things".

Response by SFC Tim Grounds made Sep 5 at 2014 1:11 PM

SFC Tim Grounds — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:11:34 -0400

Great to see this training available, although if you retired before 2009 not eligible.
Unfortunately leaves me out, retired 2002.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 9:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:18:51 -0400

LTC(P) Cudworth,

For starters, Sir, thanks for posting this information. Cyber is a rapidly developing field within the DoD, and it's fascinating to talk with folks within the field and learn how much 'we don't know what we don't know.' Certifications like these are important and only part of the education needed to function as a cyber warrior. Folks interested in growing in this field will also need to look at other certification such as SANS and CEH to develop technical proficiency in addition to procedural.

I'll definitely be looking into this.

Response by COL Randy Alicea made Sep 9 at 2014 9:59 PM

COL Randy Alicea — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 21:59:04 -0400

Thanks for the information. I'm about to finish a dual Master of Science degree in IT and IA. My intent is to be in the strategic and complex world of cyber security beyond the corporate network infrastructures and I’m interested in applying for the scholarship to finish my dual degrees and step up into a PH.D in Cyber Security. Is it necessary to have the experience and certificates as describe and why?