CyberPatriot
AFA CYBERCAMP PROGRAM
CyberPatriot is the Air and Space Forces Association National Youth Cyber Education Program, created to motivate students toward careers in cybersecurity and other STEM disciplines.
The program has a variety of offerings for K-12 students, as well as a cyber safety initiative for senior citizens and a community service opportunity for student and adult volunteers.
AFA CyberCamps
Held during the summer months, AFA CyberCamps emphasize fun, hands-on learning of cybersecurity principles that are relevant and applicable to everyday life.
Through camps, students learn the importance of cyber safety and how to protect their personal devices and information from outside threats.
Standard AFA CyberCamps teach beginner students the basics of cybersecurity, while Advanced AFA CyberCamps incorporate more complex concepts geared towards students who have previously participated in a camp or in the cyber defense competition.
Inspiring K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science
Learn & Grow
CyberPatriot is for Everyone, whether new or experienced. We offer training courses so you can hone and learn new cybersecurity skills.
Benefits
Joining CyberPatriot allows students to take step further into the cyber-world. You’ll gain more knowledge, and earn possible scholarship and internship oppurtunities.
Teamwork
CyberPatriot is not only a test of skill but a test of commucation and team work. CybePatriot is a national compeition to see which team can come out on top.
The CyberPatriot Programs
National Youth Cyber Defense Competition
At the center of CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, which puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company.
Through a series of online competition rounds, teams are given a set of virtual operating systems and are tasked with finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities while maintaining critical services.
The top teams in the nation earn all-expenses-paid trips to Maryland for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money.
Competition Overview
CyberPatriot’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition is the world’s largest cybersecurity and is open to all schools and approved youth organizations. Before getting started with the registration process, review this competition overview to get a better understanding of the competition!
Team Members & Roles
Coach
An adult (e.g. teacher, JROTC instructor, administrator, parent, etc.) approved by a participating organization to act as the administrative lead of a CyberPatriot team. The coach is the main point of contact for competition-related correspondence. A team can only have one coach.
Competitors
Each CyberPatriot team must consist of between two and six competitors enrolled in the participating school or organization. While up to six students are permitted on each team’s roster, a maximum of five students are permitted to compete at any one time during a competition round. A one-time substitution can be made each round.
Technical Mentor(s)
IT-experienced individuals who volunteer to assist in the cybersecurity training of CyberPatriot teams. Mentors must register on the CyberPatriot website and are required to successfully complete a background check before being eligible to officially join a team. (Minimum age: 18)
Team Assistant(s)
Adult volunteers who provide non-technical support and encouragement to the team (assisting with scheduling, set-up, snacks, etc.). Team assistants must register on the CyberPatriot website and pass a background check. (Minimum age: 18)
Divisions
Based on the competitor composition, a team is assigned to one of three divisions:
Open Division
High school students from schools, scouting units, Boys and Girls Clubs, home school programs, STEM programs, etc.
All Service Division
High school students in JROTC Programs / Civil Air Patrol units/Naval Sea Cadet Corps units.
Middle School Division
Middle school students from schools, scouting units, boys and girls clubs, STEM programs, etc.
Interested in CyberPatriot?
Need more information about the times and dates of CyberPatriot competitions, view the schedule below.