[August 26, 2011] LandWarNet conference keys on cyberwarriors Tweet Aug 26, 2011 (Tampa Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- In an age where government and business computer systems are under continual attack from nations, jihadists and rogue hackers, the concept of an army fighting battles in cyberspace no longer is the realm of science fiction writers. There are about 21,000 Army cyberwarriors around the globe assigned to U.S. Army Cyber Command/2nd Army, providing "geek fire support" for U.S. military operations, Lt. Gen. Rhett Hernandez said Thursday in a speech at the LandWarNet cyberwarfare conference at the Tampa Convention Center. The goal of the command, which was created in October, is the same as that of any other Army unit, Hernandez said. "Seize, attain and exploit the initiative," he said, "and seek the same level of freedom to operate that the Army seeks in the land domain." Only instead of trading gunfire with the enemy in places such as Wardak province in Afghanistan, the cyberwarriors, Hernandez said, mainly are tasked with doing battle electronically. In addition to conducting operations to ensure full freedom for the United States and its allies in cyberspace and denying the enemy the same, the command is responsible for defending all Army networks, Hernandez said. "Twenty-first century battles will be defined by cyberspace," he said. As part of owning the digital battlefield, the Army is developing Army Cyber 2020, a plan to vastly improve the service's electronic war-fighting capabilities. Taking a page from President John F. Kennedy's call to build up the space program in the 1960s, one of the plan's main missions is to find, develop and maintain military and civilian personnel with the necessary scientific, engineering, math and computer skills. Old-fashioned Army bureaucracy is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome right now, Hernandez said. During a question-and-answer session, one query -- about how computer geeks will fit into the highly regimented Army life -- garnered hearty laughs. Hernandez said that won't be as big a problem as it might seem. The Army needs young men and women with the right skills, and those with the right skills are looking for focus and purpose. "We will work hand in hand to outthink and outmaneuver potential adversaries," he said. ___ (c)2011 the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.) Visit the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.) at www.tampatrib.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]