The British Army say that 100 soldiers from across the Royal Signals took part in the inaugural cyber warfare competition at the Joint Force Command Battle Labs, Shrivenham.
Named Exercise Mercury Cypher, the competition set mixed teams of novice and cyber experts difficult cyber warfare challenges to complete under time pressure in a gaming environment.
According to a release:
“Between 20-24 January, the inaugural Ex Mecury Cypher was completed at the Joint Force Command Battle Labs, part of the Defence College at Shrivenham, Wiltshire. Established and run as part of the Royal Signals 100 centenary celebrations, the exercise was intended to challenge teams from across the Corps in cyber warfare.
The exercise used a computer programme called Project ARES, a gaming system that uses AI to create different cyber challenges. The first few days were spent learning the system, then the teams were set different tasks such a defending an imaginary corporation from cyber attack.
Players were scored on speed, accuracy, and efficiency, and marked down if they needed hints from the programme to complete their mission.”
Organiser and planner Maj Fielding was quoted as saying:
“We have been constantly learning during the build and execution of this exercise and I know that everyone taking part will leave with more cyber knowledge than when they started – I know I certainly have.”
Over 100 soldiers took part, but it was a team from 216 (Para) Signal Squadron that emerged victorious as Best Team, and Cyber ISOC won Best Unit.
A good way of doing training and promoting creativity. Nowt wrong with pushing the nerd in people… so long as they get out and about and do some bayonet-1 every now and again ?
Scalies with bayonets?
They would hurt themselves.
“A good way of doing training and promoting creativity. Nowt wrong with pushing the nerd in people… so long as they get out and about and do some bayonet-1 every now and again”
I’ve always been impressed by how the IDF use people to their best abilities in which to better the armed forces. For example I read a story a while back about how the IDF employ certain people with downs in which to find things on satellite photos which the average person would miss.
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