Report Outlines $11 Billion Plan for Standalone Cyber Force Without Enlisted Troops

The Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation, a collaboration between the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, released a new report this week that outlines a blueprint for an independent military cyber organization. The proposed Cyber Force would initially cost over $11 billion through reallocation of existing funds and would focus on both offensive and defensive operations in cyberspace. Crucially, the model excludes enlisted troops, employing only commissioned officers, warrant officers, civilians, and contractors.

The report assumes that a directive to establish such an organization has already been issued and explores how it could be structured and operationalized within 18 months for initial capacity and three to four years for full scale-up. According to Joshua Stiefel, who co-chaired the study, the rationale behind excluding enlisted troops is rooted in compensation issues, lengthy training pipelines, and the need for specialized managerial and technical tracks that officers and warrant officers are better suited to handle.

Stiefel also noted that while the report does not devalue the contributions of enlisted personnel, it proposes a path for those who complete rigorous cyber training to earn warrant officer status. However, this proposal has been met with skepticism from former military cyber officials, some of whom have prior-enlisted backgrounds. They argue that an all-officer and civilian Cyber Force would overlook the critical value provided by enlisted troops in terms of internal talent development and organizational culture.

The commission's model envisions a staff of 20,000 active-duty officers and warrant officers, emphasizing technical capability as a foundational element for the proposed organization. It suggests establishing distinct managerial and technical expertise tracks to ensure stable career progression within the specialized cyber domain. While recognizing the current roles of enlisted personnel in hands-on work, the report argues that these tasks are better suited to higher ranks due to their complexity and strategic importance.