The 127th Cyber Protection Battalion will be the fifth segment of the 91st Cyber Brigade, whose other battalions are located in South Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts, said Gov. Eric Holcomb in a statement Tuesday.
“With our National Guard’s current cyber resources and Indiana’s top notch academic institutions, our state is a natural fit for one of the country’s first cyber battalions,” said Holcomb. “Warfare is becoming increasingly digital and it’s an honor for Indiana to be home to those who protect our country from computer-generated threats.”
Indiana, which houses a number of large military facilities, is home to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, where the new cyberteam will have the opportunity to use the Department of Defense's full-scale cyber-range — a training tool that uses "realistic simulations with live environments" to simulate computer warfare, accordfng to the governor's office.
“I am excited about the opportunity of stationing a cyber battalion in the Indiana National Guard. Indiana is well suited to build and generate mission readiness with this critical force structure,” said Indiana’s adjutant general, Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles.
The state also noted that the training and education provided to soldiers by the National Guard helps to create "a stronger civilian workforce as cyber security jobs are in high demand."
