Page 13 - The Dispatch September 2018

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

interfering with U.S. defense systems. The National Guard emerging cyber threats. Participants also learned about
is in a distinctive position because it is able to respond to different threats and new actions to counter adversaries.
threats, where federal authorities may not be appropriate,
with great speed and expertise. The exercise is designed to “With regards to planning, I participated in three confer-
train Guardsmen to use the tools needed in case of attacks ences over a nine-month period,” Harbert said. “It was
on local civilian entities. great to see the result of our planning. I think everyone
from our unit improved and added to their skill-sets.”
Cyber Shield 2018 included a simulated attack on the
transportation industry. The governor called upon the The combination of experience and outside education also
National Guard to stop the threat, minimize the damage gives the Citizen-Soldier a unique skill-set to help over-
and preserve the efficiency of the computer network. The come adversaries. Harbert said quality events like Cyber
TIOG acted as the opposition force in the mock attacks. Shield help the Texas National Guard maintain their domi-
nance in the cyber realm.
“The second week could be compared to range time,” Har-
bert said. “Exercises were set up like lanes that you may “Bringing Soldiers (together) with backgrounds in infor-
see at annual training." mation technology and other fields gives our organization
the advantage of having unique perspectives and problem
The event included a discussion between senior military solving. Everyone was energized by the experience. All of
leaders and policymakers to discuss the importance of my Soldiers showed huge growth during Cyber Shield,”
consistent network security. The panel discussed how to Harbert said. -D
cultivate growth in the Guard’s capabilities of defending

A National Guard intelligence analyst works three laptop computers on May 16 as part of Cyber Shield 2018 at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
Cyber Shield provides a collective training event that, in part, prepares Soldiers to actively monitor for internal network threats.
(Photo By: Staff Sgt. Chad Menegay, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

www.tmd.texas.gov 13