Cyberspace aggressors train Kadena Airmen

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  • By 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AB, Japan --  A total force team trained Airmen Tuesday on mitigating cyberspace and information operations threats and also provided feedback on Pacific Command's exercise Terminal Fury. 

A combined team from the 57th Information Aggressor Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and the 177th IAS, Kansas Air National Guard, used enemy-type systems and tactics to assess the security of Kadena Air Base's computer networks during the exercise, March 25 through April 6. 

"The information aggressor visit to Kadena fits well with our ongoing programs designed to maximize our resources' resistance to exploitation," said Col. Manson Morris, 18th Wing vice commander. "Every individual with access to the Air Force network has a critical role in maintaining its security. The training provided during the team's time on Okinawa will enhance Kadena's ability to effectively train users and repel attacks against our information systems." 

As "threats central" for the Air Force, the information aggressor's mission is to replicate the full spectrum of adversary air, surface-to-air, space and cyberspace threats and train U.S., allied and partner nation air forces to defeat them. They executed some of these roles during Terminal Fury. 

"Simply put, we play the role of the bad guys during major exercises such as Red Flag, Blue Flag and Virtual Flag, as well as aggressor road shows," said Lt. Col. Reb Butler, 57th IAS commander. 

In addition to identifying and helping to mitigate vulnerabilities, the team presented specialized training on potential threats and countermeasures. Also, they exchanged ideas with Kadena's Blue Team to improve the team's training here, so that there is a long-term impact on network security. 

"The course helped us refine our attack methods to provide better training to the base through realistic training scenarios," said 1st Lt. Jonathan Williams, 18th Communications Squadron information systems flight commander and Blue Team member. "This is key to being effective and ensuring users are well prepared." 

The Air Force faces many challenges as it seeks to gain and maintain dominance in the air, space and cyberspace arenas. 

"Department of Defense networks are under continual attack by hackers, foreign governments, terrorist groups, and transnational organizations determined to disable or disrupt command and control systems or extract information from them," said Colonel Butler. 

In an era of shrinking budgets and fewer new acquisition programs, the training provided by the Information Aggressor team will remain key to preparing Airmen to defeat these threats--now and in the future, said Colonel Butler. 

"It's important to realize that we can't rely on technology alone to protect us from the enemy," said Lieutenant Williams. "Every Airman must be aware and alert to ensure our network is secure."