{"id":415480,"date":"2025-04-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=415480"},"modified":"2025-04-16T22:59:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T22:59:49","slug":"michigan-guard-cyber-protection-team-completes-first-cyber-certification-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=415480","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Guard Cyber Protection Team Completes First Cyber Certification Test"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n U.S. Army Soldiers from Detachment 1, 172nd Cyber Protection Team, completed a first-ever specialized cyber certification test as part of Job Qualification Requirement (JQR) training. The Soldiers earned certifications in Army Basic Host Analysis and Army Basic Network Analyst, key qualifications for their roles in cyber defense at Fort Custer Training Center, Mich., on March 18, 2025.
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\n U.S. Army Soldiers from Detachment 1, 172nd Cyber Protection Team, completed a first-ever specialized cyber certification test as part of Job Qualification Requirement (JQR) training. The Soldiers earned certifications in Army Basic Host Analysis and Army Basic Network Analyst, key qualifications for their roles in cyber defense at Fort Custer Training Center, Mich., on March 18, 2025.
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FORT CUSTER, Mich. \u2013 Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers in the 172nd Cyber Protection Team have completed a specialized cyber certification test as part of the Job Qualification Readiness (JQR) training.<\/p>\n

The certification, completed on March 11, is a critical step in ensuring the Soldiers\u2019 readiness to defend against evolving cyber threats. This first-time certification training ensures Soldiers are prepared to support missions at state and federal levels. It is part of the National Guard\u2019s effort to standardize and certify cyber operations.<\/p>\n

The JQR serves as a comprehensive evaluation to ensure cyber operators are mission-ready. This training process builds on the skills taught during Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and validates a Soldier\u2019s technical abilities through hands-on assessments. Overseen by Guard test facilitators, the training standardizes cyber operations across the 11 National Guard Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs) nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here just to facilitate the JQR,\u201d said Terance McQuade, a Guard facilitator for the JQR. \u201cWe\u2019re overseers to make sure they have access to the platform, access to the content, and to ensure they go through it. At the end, we\u2019ll sign off on it saying they\u2019ve completed the training.\u201d<\/p>\n

McQuade also noted the logistical challenges of supporting Cyber Protection Teams nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot every state has a CPT,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are 11 CPTs, and we try to get them in one location to make our jobs easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

He praised the Michigan cyber team\u2019s performance during the training.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuper great job\u2014they\u2019ve been plugging along and have been patient with the system,\u201d McQuade said.<\/p>\n

McQuade emphasized the importance of adaptability in the cyber domain.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike everything else in the military, you have to keep up with the threats to be able to modify and change,\u201d he said. \u201cJQR gives the training proficiency to be ready for our missions.\u201d<\/p>\n

A trained and certified cyber team is critical in today\u2019s interconnected world, where nearly every aspect of life depends on digital infrastructure. Cyber technology drives modern society, from communication systems and power grids to financial networks and public services. Cyber teams such as the 172nd CPT ensure these systems remain secure and operational, defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis training ensures that Soldiers not only learn how to do their job, but also qualify to do it,\u201d said Lt. Col. Kathleen Prince-Sayward, the program\u2019s commander. \u201cSpecifically, some roles require certifications that validate a Soldier\u2019s ability to perform critical tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having these certifications has a direct impact on Soldiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for the Soldiers because they\u2019ll know more, which is good,\u201d Prince-Sayward said. \u201cThey\u2019ll make a little bit more money, and the Army knows that this person is qualified to be on this network doing what they\u2019re supposed to be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prince-Sayward also highlighted the importance of cyber defense in the Guard\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re defensive cyber,\u201d she said. \u201cWe defend all the time, but we can also be called in for intimate matters. We got called in for the Flint water crisis a few years back\u2014there was a cyber component. Anything that the Guard could be called for to defend the state, well, this is another part of the state that isn\u2019t visible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prince-Sayward emphasized the critical role cyber operations play in supporting physical response capabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they [outside threats] kill our ability to communicate, our water sources, or electrical sources, it impairs our ability to respond physically,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Defensive cyber protects networks, systems, and data from external threats, while offensive cyber involves proactive measures to disrupt or disable adversaries\u2019 systems. Offensive operations might include gathering intelligence, disrupting communication channels, or neutralizing threats before they can act. The Michigan National Guard\u2019s defensive cyber focus ensures critical infrastructure is safeguarded, while offensive cyber teams at the federal level often work with them to address emerging threats on a larger scale. Together, these elements form a comprehensive strategy to defend and secure the nation in an increasingly digital battlefield.<\/p>\n

The process serves as a challenge and an opportunity to refine the skills of the Soldiers participating in the JQR. Warrant Officer Anthony Compton shared his insights on the experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of us here have done the MOSQ [Military Occupational Specialty Qualification] school, so you understand you\u2019re about to do seven to eight months of training to get a baseline understanding of your job,\u201d Compton said. \u201cThis is a refresher and validation test to make sure you know your skills. As any unit would do a validation exercise\u2014this is our version of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Compton, who has worked in the cyber field for two years, described his decision to pursue this career path.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted something challenging,\u201d he said. \u201cCyber is a whole realm of things\u2014it\u2019s different avenues you can take.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best part is refreshing all your skills and sharpening up on the things you don\u2019t know so well. The worst part is updating documentation, but it\u2019s still something beneficial to a unit,\u201d Compton said when asked about the training\u2019s most rewarding and challenging aspects.<\/p>\n

As the Michigan National Guard\u2019s 172nd CPT completes this vital qualification, the certification\u2019s impact on future operations cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n

\u201cCyber is a part of the invisible fight, but it\u2019s one of the most impactful,\u201d Prince-Sayward said. \u201cThis training ensures we\u2019re ready to defend against threats we may not always see, but always need to prepare for.\u201d<\/p>\n

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Michigan National Guard\u2019s participation in JQR training emphasizes its commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and supporting the state in times of need. The Guard sets the foundation for future exercises and mission success by certifying their Soldiers through this process.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.nationalguard.mil<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/x.com\/USNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 U.S. Army Soldiers from Detachment 1, 172nd Cyber Protection Team, completed a first-ever specialized cyber certification test as part of Job Qualification Requirement (JQR) training. The Soldiers earned certifications in Army Basic Host Analysis and Army Basic Network Analyst, key qualifications for their roles in cyber […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415482,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-415480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=415480"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":415485,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415480\/revisions\/415485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/415482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=415480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=415480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=415480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}