ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS CYBER GAMES WINNERS FOR THE FALL SERVICE-WIDE CAPTURE THE FLAG COMPETITION

MARADMINS : 658/23

R 291340Z DEC 23
MARADMIN 658/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS CYBER GAMES WINNERS FOR THE FALL SERVICE-WIDE CAPTURE THE FLAG COMPETITION//
POC-DC I/V. M. CROWDER/MAJ/STRATEGIC POLICY & INITIATIVES, DC I/703-695-9551/[email protected]//
POC-DC I/S. M. YOUNG/CWO5/DEFENSIVE CYBER WEAPONS OFFICER, DCI/703-692-9315/[email protected]//
GENTEXT/RMKS/1. Purpose. The Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I) takes pleasure in announcing the winners of the Fall 2023 Cyber Capture the Flag (CTF) competition. DC I, in partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), DOD Test Management Resource Center, and the National Cyber Range, conducted a remote CTF event with secure access provided through the Joint Information Operations Range (JIOR).
2. Background. From 2 October 2023 to 17 November 2023, DC I hosted a remote, Service-wide CTF competition. Participation in this event was open to Servicemembers and DoD Civilians from across the Cyber Mission Force including Reserve components. The CTF competition provided a venue where Marine cyberspace operators could compete in a tailored scenario to complete cyber challenges of varying difficulty, referred to as cyber flags. Teams in a simulated contested environment were given 24 hours over a two-day period to obtain cyber flags of varying levels of difficulty ranging from Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. This event provided the opportunity for the top Marine Corps teams to compete in the System Administrator, Audit, Network and Security (SANS) Service Cup in December 2023.
2.a. Command Representation. 12 Marine teams participated in the CTF from the following units: 6TH Communications Battalion (6TH COMM) A Company and B Company teams, Marine Cyber Assessment Branch (MCAB) of the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (two teams), 8TH Communications Battalion, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Defensive Cyberspace Operations-Internal Defensive Measures (DCO-IDM) (two teams), II MEF DCO-IDM (two teams), 3D Radio Battalion, Marine Corps Red Team of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group (MCCOG), and 701 Cyber Protection Team from Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Battalion.
2.b. Winning Team. The top Marine Corps team was "Semper Sometimes" representing A Company, 6TH COMM BN. The MCAB and I MEF DCO-IDM Company were the runners up. The following Marines competed on team Semper Sometimes: Maj Ben Opel, CWO2 Travis Nichols, GySgt Andres Torres, GySgt Adam Radloff, SSgt Michael Torres, SSgt David Osborne, Sgt James Johnson, Sgt Thane Murphy, Sgt Oscar Hernandez Davilla, and Cpl David Sousley.
3. Action Items. Event winners along with additional information can be located at: https:(slash)(slash)intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/te/CyberRedZone/_laouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Home.aspx.
3.a. Future Events. The winners of the Fall CTF will be awarded the opportunity to represent the Marine Corps in the System Administrator, Audit, Network and Security (SANS) Service Cup. Teams are limited to five members. Sponsorship is dependent on funding availability and approval. The 2024 Spring Marine Corps Cyber Games announcement will be released in the upcoming months via MARADMIN. The intended participants for this event are cyberspace operators from the DCO-IDM Companies and the Cyber Mission Force.
3.b. Timeline. This MARADMIN is cancelled 1 September 2024.
4. Direct all questions to MARADMIN POCs.
5. Release authorized by LtGen Matthew G. Glavy, Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//