The National Guard has hosted the Cyber Shield 2018 exercise as part of an effort to establish itself as a versatile service supporting the cyber defense of 54 states and territories.
The reserve force component is working with partners from other agencies and industry with the aim of bolstering cybersecurity and technological capacities for national defense, the U.S. Army said Monday.
The two-week exercise is divided into two phases. Participants are given the chance to acquire and bolster cybersecurity skills through learning sessions with military, government and industry leaders during the first week.
The second week tasks participating National Guard members to defend networks against trained opponents through the use of skills developed in the first week.
A volunteer staff consisting of National Guard and reserve soldiers and airmen planned and administered the seventh Cyber Shield over an 11-month period.