Cybersecurity Internship
Internship Introduction
I first decided to join the US Army in the Summer of 2020. I had previously worked at Newport News Shipbuilding for 8 years; however, I had recently begun taking online classes at ODU to work towards completion of my Bachelor in Cybersecurity. I realized that in addition to a degree from ODU, it would be beneficial to take advantage of the experience and training that the Army would also provide. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, and then Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, I was subsequently assigned to the Washington Field Office (CID) in Arlington, VA. While being a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, I fulfill an IT Support role for the staff and Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Special Agents that are assigned to the Washington Field Office.
The history of US Army CID dates to World War I, when it was created to help detect and prevent crime. In March of 1971, CID went through a major overhaul where CID received its own command structure. Recently, in September 2021, CID went through another major change as its leadership began to shift from military to civilian, with the hiring of Special Agent Gregory D. Ford as the Director. Similar changes have happened at every level, with the changing of leadership at my organization from a Lieutenant Colonel to a GS-15 Special Agent-in-Charge. ( 1 )
A major catalyst for the shift from military to civilian leadership was the murder of Vanessa Guillen at Fort Cavazos (previously Fort Hood). There are multiple aspects related to this, as it revealed serious issues within the Army as a whole, regarding sexual assault and harassment. In addition, CID’s handling of this showed that agents assigned cases were often overworked and undertrained at all levels. CID agents will also serve on the Protective Service Battalion (PSB), where CID agents will perform protection details for high-level officials. This leaves them severely lacking in investigative experience. ( 2 ) For this very reason CID has begun to restructure into a civilian organization that can fully focus on and support investigative duties.
CID will still serve the US Army by reporting to the undersecretary and providing services for Army servicemembers. The mission of CID is to investigate felony-level crimes, perform investigations, analyze criminal intelligence, perform forensics support, and maintain records/cooperation with other federal agencies (ie. FBI).
Upon arrival at the Washington Field Office, I met various Special Agents, staff, and leadership within the organization. What was most surprising is how kind every treated me, which I was not used to coming from BCT and AIT. My direct supervisor went over my expectations of me as a soldier and as IT Support. He outlined the necessity for me to study and earn the CompTIA Security+ certificate, which would be needed to perform system administration duties within our Organizational unit in Active Directory.
Applying Course Knowledge
- What have you learned in coursework which relates to the world of work?
- There are several key points to remain mindful of from my time as an IT Specialist for CID. Proper documentation is extremely important to providing tracking of IT equipment, and to show that something was done to standard. Creating and maintaining a complete standard operating procedure (SOP) is paramount, as it allows new IT personnel to be brought up to speed very quickly. An SOP also allows for a refresher on certain aspects that have not been taken in a while. While working with other IT professionals, it can be taken for granted the type of language that is usable on a day-to-day basis. However, working with general users will be challenging to explain IT terminology in “layman” terms.
- How are the concepts you have read about in course texts applied in practice?
- My interest in a more cyber-related job role within the army also caused me to take the Cyber War class this summer. That class has brought about remarkably interesting, thought-provoking points that have prompted me to create a packet so that I can apply to become a Cyber Operations Specialist instead of an IT Specialist. With 8 remaining classes, I am on track to complete my bachelor’s by the end of Summer 2024. This would also allow me to apply to become a Cyber Officer, which would open more doors and opportunities.
- What theories, ideas, or concepts might be applied in your career area?
- Working as an IT Specialist within the Army has taught me to be flexible and to adapt. Policies and procedures will constantly evolve over time, as IT personnel it is imperative to facilitate the changes needed within the information systems and the userbase’s culture. It is a never-ending learning process, as new threats and vulnerabilities will emerge every single day. Those in the IT and cyber fields must remain vigilant to combat these threats and protect the information systems that are being utilized.
Skill Development
- What new skills did you learn during the internship?
- A project that I have been working on for the SAC & ASAC is creating an app that can be used by SAs to record pertinent information relating to reports of crime from civilians and service members. The app allows SAs to submit this information in a user-friendly GUI from their phone with information about the location, the complainant, time, and individuals involved in the complaint. The SAC & ASAC are then able to view the information in a list format to quickly gather information about calls coming into the various offices. Working on this has increased my coding skill and I find the Visual C++ course I took at ODU helped form the basis for my understanding of how code works and should look.
Personal Development
- How did you benefit personally from the internship experience?
- I would highly recommend the military to get started with a career in cyber. The training opportunities and education will be beneficial to anyone who wants to work for a government agency or as a DoD contractor.