Digital frontlines

US Marines Test Digital Fighting Skills in Cyber Flag 23-2

Members of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group and Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Battalion tested their digital defense skills at the Cyber Flag 23-2 exercise. The event, held in early August at an undisclosed location, was designed to enhance the U.S. Marines’ cyber warfare capabilities and follows the Cyber Flag 23-1 CF23-1 multinational tactical exercise staged in October 2022 at Suffolk, Virginia.

The Cyber Flag 23-2 participants were assigned to teams – called red and blue cells – positioned in either offensive or defensive roles in a diverse range of cyberattack situations, the USMC said.

Michael Fanning, a network analyst who participated in the event, said the new mindset now is not when an attack happens but in the realization of a compromised situation and the value of team collaboration.

Fanning cited the importance of joint cybersecurity operations with other military branches and international allies, highlighting his cyber training exercise with the U.S. Army as well as counterparts in South Korea and Albania.