Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard Cyber Branch host 13 students aged...... read more read more
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard Cyber Branch hosted 13 students aged 11-18 from the Pequea Valley School District Apple Core Team Aug.1 here for a day of learning and competition.
The Apple Core learners from the Lancaster County district experienced a day in the life of a Pennsylvania National Guard cyber team member and competed in a cyber Wi-Fighter challenge to test their hacking skills in a hands-on realistic scenario.
“These kids are obviously motivated to learn technology and cybersecurity, and this is the first year they did a field trip to reward the kids for all the work they do during the summer and throughout the school year,” said Maj. Sean Smith, Pennsylvania National Guard deputy cyber team chief.
Apple Core is PVSD’s learner-led technology support program. Students on the Apple Core team support the district by assisting with the maintenance, support and repair of district computers, hand-held devices and peripherals. All club members are trained in basic troubleshooting for issues that might arise in the learning environment.
“The kids we brought today primarily work in the summer, they receive an hourly wage, they work Monday through Thursday, and they set up all the technology for the district,” said Ashley Bottiglieri, PVSD director of technology.
The program began as the district adopted more technology but did not have the budget to hire more tech staff. The solution that emerged is a win-win, as the school district can maintain its technology affordably, while students with an interest in learning about tech gain valuable skills and experience in a supportive environment.
“Without Apple Core, there is no way we would be as successful as we are, they really allow us to get stuff done,” said Bottiglieri, one of four PVSD technology department employees accompanying the learners.
This event came about when the Pennsylvania Cyber Team did a vulnerability assessment at PVSD in April as part of its routine work with state, local, non-profit and private sector partners.
“Everybody on the team here has been very knowledgeable and practical about telling us what their role is and how we can use the knowledge they have to be proactive in the district and also to teach our learner-led team how to be safe,” said Bottiglieri.
She explained that exposing learners to an opportunity like this advances her team’s mission of getting each student to their first post-secondary choice.
“I would like to be an Imagineer, they work for Disney, and they make the rides, so this could help me,” said Vivian Hober, an Apple Core member who is 12 and going into 7th grade this year.
Hober said she joined Apple Core because she wanted to understand how her school-issued devices worked and thought it would help with her future career plans.
“I always wanted to learn about tech because I’m always wondering how, when I’m playing video games, did they make it,” she said.
Hober said she really enjoyed her day here, that the cyber team was very helpful, and that she thought the helicopters and military equipment she saw here were cool.
“I promise you now, if we gave you the same challenge tomorrow, you would get through these challenges in the first 30 seconds,” said Smith to the group at the end of the day.
He explained that their knowledge will keep expanding and warned them that hacking a system without permission is illegal and comes with severe penalties.
“I’m super impressed and proud all you did here and at Apple Core,” he said.
The Wi-Fighter exercise teaches the basics of digital forensics in a gamified exercise. Because this group was younger than the usual Wi-Fighter event audience, the Cyber Team members had to be more hands on, but they were very fast learners.
Pennsylvania Cyber Team Wi-Fighter events have reached more than 500 unique students in approximately 15 events over five years.
“This does have an impact and does leave a lasting positive impression of the National Guard,” said Smith.
He explained that the team now gets messages from students who have graduated college, who work in the field, thanking them for the impact they’ve had.
The cyber operations element developed the Wi-Fighter cyber challenge, which can be taken anywhere in the state, to get high school and college students interested in cyber security and the role the Pennsylvania National Guard plays in securing our elections and infrastructure.
Since 2016, the Pennsylvania National Guard Cyber Branch has partnered with the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security and expanded to working with the private sector, colleges and universities, and a range of agencies at the local, state and federal levels.
The Cyber Branch is steadily working to increase its capacity to secure vital networks through frequent operations like elections, training, and ensuring the next generations of leaders has the skills to face the increasing risks to our commonwealth and nation in the cyber realm.
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2024 18:28 |
| Story ID: | 477657 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: | KINZERS, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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