As the United States Air Force reopens its Warrant Officer ranks for the first time since the late 1950s, it sets a new course in its strategic manpower structure, aimed squarely at maintaining dominance in the realms of cyber and information technology. A significant pivot from historical precedent, the service invites applications for two highly specialized Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs), with the ultimate goal of fortifying its operational units against great power adversaries.
The reinstatement of the Warrant Officer role in the Air Force heralds a critical shift in the service’s tactical and technical framework, with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall asserting the necessity for “operational units with all the capabilities they need to deter and compete with our pacing challenges and ready to enter a conflict on short or no notice.” Kendall’s insistence on “the right mix of skills necessary for high-end combat and to ensure technological superiority, particularly in information technology and cyber,” underpins the strategic impetus for this pivotal move.
In this new iteration, the Air Force seeks to induct up to 60 candidates into two pivotal cyber-centric AFSCs: 17W – Warfighter Communications & IT Systems Operations, and 17Y – Cyber Effects & Warfare Operations. The first focuses on the planning, deployment, employment, and security of communication systems, while the latter revolves around offensive and defensive cyber operations, enhancing combat effectiveness and strategic maneuvering in the cyber domain.
Applicants, drawn from the active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve ranks, must embody technical excellence, holding at least the rank of staff sergeant with a minimum of one year of active federal service. The prospective Warrant Officers are expected to possess operational experience and industry-recognized certifications reflecting their expertise. Specifically, the 17W candidates require “a minimum of 24 months of documented operational experience with enterprise IT or warfighter communications systems,” and a Department of Defense-approved certification for Information Assurance Technical Level II or higher. For 17Y applicants, senior-level proficiency in U.S. Cyber Command work roles or National Security Agency equivalents is mandatory, with additional qualifications for those vying for Cyber Capability Developer roles.
Applications for the first information technology and cyber-focused warrant officers were set to begin Thursday and be accepted until May 31, the service said. The inaugural training class will consist of up to 60 candidates. Once selected, the candidates will undergo an eight-week preparatory curriculum at the Warrant Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, with the first classes scheduled for the fall of 2024 or early 2025.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi emphasized the urgency of these roles, noting “these are highly in-demand, and also extremely perishable, skills in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. ” Flosi acknowledged the pivotal role Airmen will play as the Air Force navigates the complexities of great power competition.
It is evident that the Air Force is not contemplating a broader expansion of the rank to other career fields at present, but the possibility remains open contingent on the success of this inaugural cyber-focused cadre. “The question isn’t whether or not we want another class of cyber warrant officers,” an Air Force official said Thursday. “We definitely are going to stand one up, but we don’t have the when and we don’t have the target of numbers at this point.”
Relevant articles:
– Air Force Starts Taking Applications for Newly Reintroduced Warrant Officer Jobs, Military, 04/27/2024
– Air Force to begin accepting warrant officer applications, Air Force Link, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:03:45 GMT
– Air Force opens applications for warrant officer jobs in cyber, IT, AirForceTimes.com, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:41:10 GMT
– Air Force Opens Warrant Officer Applications Until May 31, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:36:12 GMT
– Air Force relaunches warrant officer corps to beef up cyber, IT capabilities, Stars and Stripes, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:42:06 GMT