US Space and Cyber Command looks to improve retention

Land December 16, 2019

The US Cyber Command and Space Command are improving efforts to encourage retention and strengthening their workforce.

Representatives from the US Space Command and Cyber Command have spoken about the difficulties of staff retention and keeping the workforce on the mission. The DoD is offering incentives including bonuses to encourage the workforce to stay on.

Leaders at Spacecom say there has never been a better time to be involved in the space industry. Interest in space is high, with the main challenge coming in the form of recognising talent and releasing people’s capability.

Senior enlisted leader for Spacecom Sergeant Roger A. Towberman said: “Getting people excited about space isn’t one of our current challenges. People are really excited. They are asking all the time.”

“What’s really interesting is [that] the raw material we’re getting from America has never been more incredible. The digital natives that are coming into the military today are exactly the warfighters we need for the future.”

Cybercom representatives have said retaining talent remains their biggest challenge. One way Cybercom retains talent is that the military services offer certain bonuses, up to $90,000 in some cases, to those qualified.

One challenge is retaining the top end of talent rather than gaining enough manpower to keep operations running. Some offer special duty assignment pay as well, up to $1,500 a month in some cases and leaders have spoken about the need to improve job stability and explore other methods of retaining staff, as well as the hard work that still needs to be done with Cybercom at the National Security Agency in Maryland.

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digital military skills Training United States Army Cyber Command United States Space Command US DoD