The UK's military will fast-track raw recruits into cyber roles in a “matter of weeks” under a scheme launched this week.
The “cyber pipeline’ will see recruits “complete bespoke training within a matter of weeks” getting them into “operational roles by the end of 2025, strengthening UK response to emerging cyber threats and national security.”
That rush to the digital frontline means basic training for recruits will be reduced from 10 weeks to “around one month”, followed by three months specialist training at the Defence Cyber Academy in Shrivenham.
It's understood the initial intake will be 52 candidates, but this will scale up in future recruitment drives, and that National Cyber Force will maintain its own recruitment pipeline.
Recruits are also promised “one of the highest armed forces starting salaries of over £40,000, with opportunities for additional skills-based pay as they gain expertise and experience.” Top whack appears to be £65,000.
In a statement, UK defence secretary John Healey said, “Fast tracking cyber warriors into our military will help ensure our Armed Forces are better equipped to face our adversaries in the 21st century and defend the country from the changing threats we face.” UK Military networks were hit by over 90,000 attacks last year, the MoD added.
The £40,000 salary is certainly a boost in military terms. Newly minted Army privates start at £25,200 a year. They don’t breach the £40,000 mark till they hit sergeant.
However, £40,000 is the baseline for cybersec jobs in general, with the median salary coming in at £54,829 according to UK Talent, and experienced workers earning around £77500.
The National Audit Office flagged a serious cyber skills pinch at the MoD last year, putting it alongside other key workforce challenges, such as nuclear, digital, and STEM skills.
More recently, the House of Commons Defence Committee warned that the MoD was not AI ready, with plenty of policy announced but little in the way of production technology.
