Navy Cyber Mission Force Teams Achieve Full Operational Capability

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Souvannason | Official U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet logo graphic.  

FORT MEADE, MD, UNITED STATES

11.02.2017

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Souvannason 

U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (NNS) -- U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet announced today that all of the Navy’s Cyber Mission Force teams achieved full operational capability (FOC) in early Oct., almost a full year ahead of schedule.

All 40 of the Navy’s Cyber Mission Force teams were validated FOC by U.S. Cyber Command Oct. 6.

FOC is an assessment that a unit has achieved all manning, capability and training requirements necessary, as part of the Cyber Mission Force (CMF), to fully perform its assigned missions as validated by U.S. Cyber Command. FOC is not a measurement of overall combat readiness, rather it is an externally validated evaluation that the unit has met all its capability requirements and that it performs its mission as designed.

"Reaching FOC at this point in the development of the Navy's CMF teams is a testament to the extraordinary hard work invested in manning our teams and training our personnel," said Vice Adm. Mike Gilday, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet.

The focus of U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber Mission Force teams aligns with the DoD Cyber Strategy’s three primary missions: defend DoD networks and ensure their data is held secure; support joint military commander objectives; and, when directed, defend U.S. critical infrastructure.

Reaching the FOC milestone represents a training throughput of over 18,000 course completions, 1,800 personnel, and 2,000 hours, executing full-spectrum operations during certification and training events. However, achieving FOC is only a waypoint as the Navy’s operational need for a well-trained and motivated cyber workforce (active, reserve and civilian) will continue to grow in the coming years.

"Although reaching this milestone is a great accomplishment, the true challenge will be sustaining readiness and the prompt ability to 'answer all bells' when directed by U.S. Cyber Command," said Gilday.

U.S. Fleet Cyber Command serves as the Navy component command to U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, and the Navy’s Service Cryptologic Component commander under the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. Fleet Cyber Command also reports directly to the Chief of Naval Operations as an Echelon II command.

U.S. 10th Fleet is the operational arm of Fleet Cyber Command and executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders. In this role, C10F provides operational direction through its Maritime Operations Center located at Fort George Meade Md., executing command and control over assigned forces in support of Navy or joint missions in cyber/networks, information operations, electronic warfare, cryptologic/signals intelligence and space.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/FCCC10F/.

• Date Taken: 11.02.2017
• Date Posted: 11.02.2017 07:36
• Story ID: 253818
• Location: FORT MEADE, MD, US