AFA's CyberPatriot Middle School Cyber Program Prepares for Launch

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association's CyberPatriot program announced today the next stage of its Middle School Cyber Education Program. For the first time ever, the high school competition will be open to 100 middle school teams.

Beginning today, CyberPatriot Centers of Excellence will have the first opportunity to register middle school teams for the CyberPatriot VI season. On September 10, 2013, if the 100 middle school team slots have not been filled by teams from the Centers of Excellence, registration for the pilot season will be opened to schools nationwide.

Middle school teams will follow the same competition structure and rules as the high school teams, and will have access to the same training materials. These teams will compete in a separate middle school division throughout the qualifying rounds. The two top-scoring teams will then be invited to the National Finals Competition in Washington, D.C. for the first ever middle school exhibition round. Registration fees for middle school teams will be waived for the pilot season.

The CyberPatriot Middle School Program, developed in cooperation with the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will allow middle school students to benefit from cybersecurity training similar to that which high school students have experienced since 2009.

"We are excited to welcome these middle school students to be a part of a program that will teach them about new academic and professional opportunities," CyberPatriot Commissioner Bernie Skoch said. "The CyberPatriot curriculum is designed to inspire students to explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through an innovative, hands-on competition system. They will be exposed to an environment that relies on teamwork, critical thinking skills, and intellectual curiosity."

The CyberPatriot Middle School program began with a lead pilot program in the Los Angeles Unified School District in June 2013. For more information contact [email protected] or (877) 885-5716.

CyberPatriot is the premiere national high school cyber defense competition created by the Air Force Association to inspire high school students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. Its presenting sponsor is the Northrop Grumman Foundation. The program has grown from only eight teams of Florida high school students in 2009 to a national competition with over 1,200 registered teams in all 50 states and Canada in 2012. For more information please visit www.uscyberpatriot.org or contact [email protected].

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, we:

• EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
• ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education.
• SUPPORT the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

AFA has 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing more than 105,000 members. Visit AFA at www.afa.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association

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