Looking to bolster STEM education? Join CyberPatriot V, the Nation's Largest High School Cyber Defense Competition

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Registration for the nation's largest cyber defense competition for high school students, CyberPatriot, closes in less than a week. More than 1,000 teams from all 50 states and Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific have already been fielded, so don't forget to sign up your team for the ultimate cyber game of the year!

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Established by the Air Force Association, CyberPatriot was created to excite, educate and motivate the talent that will become our country's next generation of cyber leaders. It aims to inspire high school students to consider careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. CyberPatriot is also working toward preparing college- and/or career-ready students with technical skills, equipping them from the workforce.

Throughout the competition, students learn to defend and protect computer networks from real-life computer threat scenarios. Participants compete online as their assignment is to seek out flaws in simulated computer systems while keeping specified computer functions working. CyberPatriot's unique structure provides students hands-on learning about technology, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising critical-thinking skills.

But most importantly, it's fun!

How the Competition Works

A CyberPatriot team consists of two to five students and a coach, but neither coaches nor students need any special technical background. CyberPatriot provides the training materials needed to prepare a team for a successful competition. The only cost to teams is a $375 entry fee, which includes access to the software and participant materials.

Preliminary rounds are conducted online from the teams' home locations. The competition has a tournament-style tiered structure, so teams advance based on scores each round until the top 26 teams are identified. Those top qualifying teams then receive all-expenses-paid trips to the CyberPatriot National Championship Competition held in the Washington, DC area, in March 2013.

Teams also benefit from the expertise of the competition's sponsors, including the Northrop Grumman Foundation, CyberPatriot's presenting sponsor, which has contributed mentors, internships and scholarship money to the competition. The CyberPatriot competition is powered by SAIC's CyberNEXS. SAIC is also a founding partner of CyberPatriot, along with CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

ALL U.S. high schools or approved home school programs are invited to participate. Public, private, charter, parochial and home schools register in the Open Division, while Junior ROTC units of all Services, Naval Sea Cadets and Civil Air Patrol squadrons register in the All Service Division.

Registration closes October 6, 2012. Check out more information at www.usCyberPatriot.org!

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 108,000 members.  Visit AFA at www.afa.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association

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