The Ministry of Defence has launched a new cyber recruitment scheme intended to speed up entry into specialist armed forces roles, in order to strengthen the UK’s digital defences and address increasing cyber threats.
The scheme, which aims to have new recruits fully operational by the end of 2025, reduces basic training from ten weeks to around one month, followed by three months of cyber-specific training at the Defence Cyber Academy in Shrivenham.
Described in the press release as a “new front line” of modern warfare, cyberspace is an arena in which the UK must protect its networks and services from “more than 90,000 cyber-attacks… over the last two years.”
Recruits who complete the intensive programme will begin working at the digital headquarters in Corsham or as part of the National Cyber Force, helping to defend against adversaries who exploit emerging digital vulnerabilities.
The Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey MP, said:
“Fast tracking cyber warriors into our military will help ensure our Armed Forces are better equipped to face our adversaries in the 21st century and defend the country from the changing threats we face.”
Meanwhile, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP stated:
“With more than 90,000 cyber-attacks on UK military networks over the last two years, it is essential that we step up our cyber defence, fast-tracking the brightest and the best cyber specialists to help protect the UK and our allies.”
Successful candidates will start on a salary of over £40,000, with additional skills-based pay as they develop more expertise. According to the announcement, cyber recruits will join the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force initially, with the British Army participating in the new programme from early 2026.
The press release also highlights broader government measures to improve armed forces recruitment and retention, including “the largest pay rise for service personnel in over 20 years,” reforms to speed up the application process, and proposed legislation to create an Armed Forces Commissioner.
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“Fast tracking cyber warriors into our military will help ensure our Armed Forces are better equipped to face our adversaries in the 21st century and defend the country from the changing threats we face.”
Cyber Warriors ???!!! Jesus Christ LMFAO…With the identified and seemingly acceptable lack of fitness I’d prefer to call them Armchair Warriors.
The reality is china employs around 3 million political warfare operatives in its government agencies to attack the west, political and cyber warfare are just as likely to win or loss you a war as the more kinetic domains and the west needs to be more active in fighting in these Domains. In the end you need different people for different things and your marine commando will have an entirely different level of fitness to your 40 year old Navy nurse… and quite frankly both of them would have been left for dust by some cultures in which absolutely peak fitness was a constant requirement to survive.
This is total BS. Remember “you are an infantryman first, your trade second”? Oh look at me, four weeks mincing round wearing trainers cos boots hurt my feet, then back indoors in front of a screen wear I feel safe and included. I really do give up.
Is the 40 year old navy or RAF nurse and infantryman first ?