2012 National CyberSpace Competition Ends

When Springville, Alabama CAP squadron returned from the National CyberPatriot competition, they were among the top four finalist. But to get where they did is huge. 

CyberPatriot IV began Oct. 28 with more than 600 teams registered in the All Service Division, which pitted teams from CAP and from junior ROTCs from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps against each other. A second division, the Open Division, was made up of teams from public and private high schools and home schools.

In all, more than 1,000 teams signed up to participate, representing all 50 states, U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific, and Canada.

A record 218 teams from CAP competed in at least one of the first three virtual rounds of competition before the four finalists made it to the fourth and final round.

Each team received an all-expenses-paid trip to National Harbor, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Cadets from the winning teams also receive academic scholarships from Northrop Grumman, one of CyberPatriot's presenting sponsors, and get a tour of the nation's capital.

Cadets from the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron, known as the "Wolf Pack," bested 11 other All Service Division finalists - including the Alabama Wing's Springville Composite Squadron, Ohio Wing's Youngstown ARS Composite Squadron and South Dakota Wing's Big Sioux Composite Squadron - to lay claim to the national title.

Created by the AFA in 2008, CyberPatriot is a unique competition geared toward teenagers that replicates real-life cyber security situations faced by computer administrators. It provides students hands-on learning about cyber security while exciting, educating and motivating them to be America's next cyber defenders.   A full day of competition was held during the Air Force Association's CyberFutures Conference and Technology Exposition at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center.  -Staff Report, FMI: CAP