Daniel Van Wagenen and Kim Irving
The idea of an independent U.S. Cyber Force has been in the news of late due to the National Defense Authorization Act amendment calling for a feasibility study of such a service. In the last few weeks, there have been several articles urging caution, or coming straight out against, creating a Cyber Force, without any one of the author’s ever having sat on mission behind a keyboard. We’re here to tell you that they’re wrong. Dead wrong. These are individuals who, had they been in a command position a century ago, would have dispatched horse cavalry forces against tanks and machine gun emplacements, demonstrating their inability to adapt to evolving natures of warfare. And their folly will lead to considerable American casualties in the next war should the country not have an independent cyber warfighting capability.
The rapid evolution of technology and the digital landscape has fundamentally altered the nature of warfare. Cyber has become the fifth domain along with land, sea, air and space. As cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, the United States must adapt its defense posture to meet these challenges head-on. Our current distributed approach leaves gaps in capabilities, training, recruiting and innovation, leaving us vulnerable to digital attack. An independent U.S. Cyber Force is not just a strategic necessity but an inevitable progression in the evolution of military operations.
Cyber warfare has become a critical component of modern conflicts. Adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have developed formidable cyber capabilities, launching attacks that target both governmental and civilian infrastructure. The 2020 SolarWinds cyberattack, which compromised multiple U.S. federal agencies, and the persistent ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure underscore the urgent need for a dedicated and specialized cyber force. According to a 2021 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the frequency and severity of cyberattacks have increased exponentially, with nation-states being the primary actors. The report highlights that traditional military structures are ill-equipped to deal with the unique challenges posed by cyber threats, necessitating a distinct and independent cyber force.
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