Recently the UK Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond announced plans to recruit Cyber Specialists into the military reserve. At his speech last Sunday he was heckled by retired veterans of the Royal Fusiliers, who were protesting the cut back of their own Regiment under planned budget cuts.
As a veteran of the 7Th Marine Regiment, I can appreciate how these proud veterans must feel to see their unit reduced. Unfortunately, the face of warfare has changed. Now the armed warrior, charging into harm’s way with guns blazing and bombs exploding, may no longer be enough. Now it may require a hacker, sitting in his pajamas in the basement, tapping away at his computer.
Warfare has taken on a new dimension. While there is still a need for boots on the ground, we must also make way for the new warriors that will carry the battle to Cyber space.