The National Guard is uniquely positioned to provide for the cyber defense of the nation and can share in a critical roles in meeting the DoD’s 5 strategic initiatives for operating in cyberspace
Strategic Initiative 1: Treat cyberspace as an operational domain to organize, train, and equip so that DoD can take full advantage of cyberspace’s potential.
Strategic Initiative 2: Employ new defense operating concepts to protect DoD networks and systems.
Strategic Initiative 3: Partner with other U.S. government departments and agencies and the private sector to enable a whole-of-government cybersecurity strategy.
Strategic Initiative 4: Build robust relationships with U.S. allies and international partners to strengthen collective cybersecurity. Strategic Initiative 5: Leverage the nation’s ingenuity through an exceptional cyber workforce and rapid technological innovation.

In particular, the National Guard is uniquely positioned and qualified in supporting this strategy by using Guardsmen who are immersed in private, public, and educational cyber enterprises and can be readily assimilated into supporting Federal and State cyber security requirements (Initiatives 3 & 5). Similarly, the Guard can take a leading role to strengthen collective cyber security relationships with US allies and international partners via the State Partnership Program through leveraging programs, exercises, exchanges and the mature relationships inherent in all state SPP programs (Initiative 4)

TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION: CONCUR

NGB RECOMMENDATION: Valid Requirement already filled. ARNG G39, ARNG, AND and NGB are actively involved in the development and implementation of DoD cyber force, operations and mission sets as part of NDAA FY14 Section 933 review.