US Army Will Soon Send Teams Of Cyber Warriors To The Battlefield

"The right team members will not always come out of traditional recruiting and commission programs," Gen. Raymond Thomas said. (U.S. Army)

AFP: US military to send cyber soldiers to the battlefield

Washington (AFP) - The US Army will soon send teams of cyber warriors to the battlefield, officials said Wednesday, as the military increasingly looks to take the offensive against enemy computer networks.

While the Army's mission is generally to "attack and destroy," the cyber troops have a slightly different goal, said Colonel Robert Ryan, who commands a Hawaii-based combat team.

"Not everything is destroy. How can I influence by non-kinetic means? How can I reach up and create confusion and gain control?" he told reporters.

The cyber soldiers have been integrated for six months in infantry units, and will tailor operations according to commanders' needs, said Colonel William Hartman of the Army's Cyber Command.

The Army has for the past three years conducted training for such operations at a huge center in southern California.

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Update: U.S. Commanders Must Embrace Cyber, Special Ops Chief Says (US Department of Defense)

WNU Editor: I do not see these units being helpful in conflicts like what is happening in Afghanistan. But against more sophisticated adversaries (like Russia and China) .... in the event of a conflict there is probably some value.