Cyber/17D Pipeline

[Guest Physicist]

Just got reclassified cyber (failed the new computer color test at my FC1).

Anyone have a current read on the cyber pipeline? The only info I've received from my AFROTC cadre is that it is at Keesler, and info I've scrounged via google is inconsistent.

How long is the training? Phases? Content?

Is there anything I should be preparing for in the meantime?

How long are LTs waiting between commissioning and EAD?

What PCS options are there at the end of the pipeline?

Any other SA is appreciated

[Guest one]

There is some good info here...

https://www.airforceo...=viewforum&f=46

Sorry to hear you failed your color vision test but I have heard really great things about the A shred for 17D. Seems like a pretty cool job.

Edited January 10, 2012 by one

[zach braff]

Hey dude, (self appointed) resident baseops 17D here. Sorry about your eyes, mine sucked too coming out of ROTC.

I was at Keesler for Advanced Cyber O training last August and got a nice tour of the UCT schoolhouse. There are some really good things about the program now, and some pretty stinky things too - kinks that still need to be worked out (IMHO).

The quick down and dirty is that it's a 6 month, PCS program at Keesler. And it's tough. You'll learn everything from phone and radio systems to some pretty nifty stuff I won't talk about here. At the end of the program, depending on how many slots are available, the top students (usually 1-2 out of a class of 20 or so) who want it will get the coveted "A-Shred" and possibly some follow on training at Hurlburt or Lackland depending on their assignment.

The A-Shreds are the dudes doing the geeked out stuff we don't talk about. Follow ons might include Hurlburt, Lackland, or Ft Meade to do secret cyber stuff. For those that enjoy the bits and bytes, this is the place to be. The drawback is the limited leadership, fewer assignment opportunities and the fact that we haven't done the best job (yet) of translating what these guys do to the rest of the AF.

The B-Shreds are everyone else (me included). You could go standard base-comm, combat-comm, specops support, space comm, etc. which opens up pretty much anywhere. The good news is the program is merit based, so your performance will increase your opportunites. If you're more into the Air & Space part of the AF mission this is the way to go. I've got a combat comm background and absolutely loved it. You'll have more leadership opportunities and will develop more breadth - you could handle anything from base networks to phones to ATCALS to radios to who knows what else... The drawback here is when you find something you really like you'll PCS right when you get good at.

PM me and I'm happy to give you any more info you'd like I've got some more details I won't more the baseops audience with. Congrats.

zb

[Guest bjcfsu]

I am a 17DXB, one of the first students to go through the UCT course, so it's probably changed quite a bit since then.

As stated, the course is six months long, broken in to two phases.

Phase 1 is four blocks:

1. Intro

2. Cisco switches and routers; network architecture

3. Security+

4. Deployed communications (Combat Comm, mostly, as well as deployment considerations)

Phase 2 is a lot more than four blocks. Maybe six?

I don't think the titles of the blocks themselves are classified, but them Chinese is always watching... You can just find out about those when you get there, but those blocks are mostly full of pretty cool stuff.

As stated, there are some pretty cool jobs for either shred.

Mostly for A shred, you can go to the I-NOSC (they control the whole AF-Net) or some other hacker ninja shit. Bear in mind though, that most of the hacker ninja shit will actually be done by 1B4 enlisted NCOs.

The previous post listed out most of the B shred jobs. I picked Combat Comm because I really don't like computers and I enjoy the dirt more than the office. There are great leadership opportunities in the B shred community (Combat Comm being one, base comm being bad for that). If you're in to high speed kind of stuff, there are also parachute billets for 1st Lts and Capts in JCSE (Joint Comm Support Element), JCU (Joint Comm Unit), and some AF Elements to Spec Ops.

[hermor]

Question here... is 17DX is for officers only or also for enlisted? 

Thank you!

[hermor]

2 hours ago, Ulysses said:

17DX denotes the officer side of cyber, 1B4XX is the enlisted code. Officers will naturally do a bit more on the leadership/administration side of things than the hands-on.

Thank you so much!

[17D_guy]

Also,

  Don't believe whatever they say about the shred outs (B vs S).  There's nothing that keeps one from doing the others jobs except training...once you get a job.

  You're just a meatbag, and can fill any hole...sts

  Welcome to the cyber force.