\u201cWhat we are is a new organization that\u2019s helping define what it means to do multidomain operations from an information advantage standpoint and then through our innovation and experimentation, that\u2019s what\u2019s ultimately going to get recorded in doctrine,\u201d Lt. Col. Benjamin Klimkowski, commander of the 915th, said. \u201cThe doctrine writers have never done this before. They need our input to help shape that. It\u2019s our experimentation and our operations that pushes that piece.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vision is by 2026 the 915th will consist of 12 expeditionary cyber and electromagnetic activities teams (ECTs), each capable of providing cyber, electronic-warfare and information operations. Currently, there are three companies within the battalion with two ECTs under a separate company, consisting of a total of over 200 personnel. The third ECT is slated to be created at the end of fiscal year 2022.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the goal is that each ECT will be aligned to specific geographic theaters.<\/p>\n However, much is still uncertain between then and now as the force is being built. For example, initial and full operating capability criteria for teams are still in the works, officials explained.<\/p>\n The information space changes so rapidly that tactics, techniques, procedures and capabilities will likely need to evolve on a constant basis. The unit is\u00a0concurrently trying to validate its teams<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 for which training goals are still being developed on the fly \u2013 as well as working on concepts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe challenge and growing the cyber force is that it takes time,\u201d Klimkowski, said.<\/p>\n Innovation shaping the future of tactical cyber<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite nearly ten years of cyber operations within the military, there was little to go on for tactical, on-the-ground cyber operations for conventional forces outside the special operations community.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the doctrine side, it hasn\u2019t been a struggle, it\u2019s been an evolution. From the strategic operations to the tactical level, the requirements and the threats that are out there constantly make it evolve,\u201d battalion Sgt. Maj. Marlene Harshman said. \u201cDoctrine, if you will, is, \u2018This is how you can do it.\u2019 Well, but what happens if this is how you can do it today but not how you do it tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n From the beginning, the battalion and its higher headquarters were given a lot of latitude to innovate and develop the concepts it would need to shape what tactical cyber means.<\/p>\n \u201cExperimentation<\/a>\u00a0was key and it was something that 780th [Military Intelligence Brigade] and [Army Cyber Command] said, \u2018Hey, you\u2019re a new unit. Take these soldiers and allow them to innovate, allow them to experiment, you got a lot of talent and utilize that these first couple of years.\u2019 We\u2019re not done with that phase. We always want our soldiers to innovate. That will continue through the life of our unit,\u201d Maj. Richard Byrne, the battalion\u2019s operations and training officer, said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty impressive to take a unit that was largely ideas, concepts, a lot of guidance from higher and take it to where we are now where we\u2019re starting to create a unit that\u2019s steady-state, a little bit more defined and preparing for support to our theaters.\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, they are continuing to evolve training objectives and concepts.\u00a0During an experiment last year<\/a>, the unit worked to define key mission essential tasks and objectives needed to validate itself as a ready unit.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the big changes between this year and last year, \u2026 the [qualification requirements] that we\u2019ve created weren\u2019t around last year and a lot of experience from the [combat training center] rotations and the experienced soldiers that we\u2019ve got on this unit, a lot of experience went into those and what our training objectives should be, are and will be,\u201d Capt. Gabriel Akonom, an officer with the battalion, said.<\/p>\n What will they do?<\/strong><\/p>\n As the Army moves to become what it calls multidomain-capable by 2028, the 915th will play a key role in the increasingly important competition \u2014 or gray zone \u2014 sphere below the threshold of armed conflict.<\/p>\n The battalion is currently aligned with Army-owned component commands at the theater level and will support lower-echelon units as needed. It\u2019s not organic to these units \u2014 like military intelligence or military police units \u2014 meaning a unit must request assistance from the 915th in a certain scenario based on the mission.<\/p>\n Specifically, its soldiers assist in targeting and providing non-lethal effects while also helping to characterize enemy networks through intelligence and reconnaissance.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/LPHQLDCSEBEKJEXQXNYXTBLX4E.jpg\")
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