The British Armed Forces is accelerating its cyber defense workforce recruitment in response to the increase in attacks over the past two years.
Announced by British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard, the project will reduce the basic training for specialist recruits from the standard 10 weeks to just one month.
In addition, the roles will offer an annual starting salary of 40,000 pounds ($49,747), making them some of the highest-paying jobs in the military.
Selected personnel will then undergo three months of advanced training at the Defence Cyber Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, before being placed in operational stations by the end of the year.
Specific tasks will include military network protection and cyber services across headquarters in Corsham, Wiltshire, or with the National Cyber Force.
The roles will initially be integrated with the Royal Navy and Air Force, while the Army will begin its recruitment campaigns starting in 2026.
The strategy will hire approximately 32 experts this year, with the class size expected to increase in the following years.
‘New Era of Threat’
“With more than 90,000 cyber-attacks on UK military networks over the last two years, it is essential that we step up our cyber defence, fast-tracking the brightest and the best cyber specialists to help protect the UK and our allies,” Pollard stated.
“We are in a new era of threat, with cyberspace as a new front line. Our government will deliver for defence by boosting recruitment efforts, cementing our national security as the foundation of our Plan for Change.”
UK Defence Secretary John Healey added that fast-tracking “cyber warriors” into the armed forces will ensure that warfighters are ”better equipped” to face 21st-century adversaries and other emerging threats.
“After years of hollowing out, our government is making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, delivering on our Plan for Change and the hardworking British people,” the secretary said.
