The Alliance for Fort Eisenhower recently hosted the nation's largest Standard CyberPatriot summer camp from June 23–27 at the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center. The camp featured an introduction to Cybersecurity, an introduction to virtual machines, Windows 10, and Mint, offering a truly flexible curriculum designed to meet students' interests and needs. It concluded with a CyberPatriot competition on the final day. In addition, 102 campers are currently (July 14-18) attending CyberPatriot Advanced camp at the World-Class Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center. This means 1,118 youth have attended the Alliance's Free Cyber Summer Camps since 2019.

What is CyberPatriot?

CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association. Its mission is to inspire K-12 students to pursue careers in cybersecurity and other STEM disciplines critical to our nation’s future. At the core of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, the largest such competition in the country, which challenges high school and middle school students to secure virtual networks.

General Overview of AFA CyberCamps

Air Force Association's (AFA) CyberCamps are designed for high school and middle school students at various levels of cybersecurity knowledge. The camps provide an entry point for beginners and expand the knowledge of those with some experience.

Quote from Dr. Tom Clark

Dr. Tom Clark highlighted the continued growth and success of the Alliance for Gordon/Alliance for Cyber Education (ACE) CyberPatriot camps. He noted that last year, they hosted the nation’s largest standard camp, and due to rising demand, this year’s event has moved to an even larger venue (the auditorium of the World Class, Georgia Innovation and Training Center) with over 200 campers expected, breaking last year's record. Since 2019, ACE has provided free CyberPatriot camps to local youth, and by this summer, they have now provided free cybersecurity training to over 1,000 participants. Dr. Clark emphasized that this training is critically important for cyber education for both regional and national security. He also mentioned that Fort Gordon provides the instructors for their camps, telling campers that they are "the world's best," likening it to a 16-year-old being taught to drive by Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.

Additional Information

In 2018 the Alliance for Fort Gordon’s youth cyber-education program was designated a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence. The designation by the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot Program Office made the local program the 15th in the nation – and the only in Georgia and South Carolina – to receive the honor. In 2018 – 2019 and 2019 – 2020 the Alliances Cyber Education team was named the nation’s CyberPatriot Center of Excellence of the year for two consecutive years.