The Defence Cyber Academy in Shrivenham has celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of fast-tracked cyber specialists, which marks an important step in delivering the objectives of the Strategic Defence Review.
Around 30 new graduates have passed through the fast-track scheme that condenses basic training from 10 weeks to around a month and then adds on three months of specialist cyber training. Those specialists will now go into operational roles with one of the highest Armed Forces starting salaries of more than 52,940 USD. Their mission will be to protect defense networks and undertake cyber operations against the growing tide of online threats.
This tide of talent is a direct response to the scale of the challenge that faces the UK; over 90,000 cyberattacks hit our defense systems each year. There has been an alarming escalation in 2025, with the UK facing 18 highly significant cyber incidents so far, a near 50% increase on the previous year.
Graduating students would be assigned to the newly established DCEMF with Air Vice Marshal Tom Ashbridge as its head. The new unit is expected to protect military activities in cyberspace by bringing together military personnel, defense firms, and specialist cyber teams.
Alongside the graduation, Minister Sandher Jones also announced that recruitment for the 2026 Cyber Direct Entry scheme is now open. It provides over 30 new training spots and is open to expressions of interest for those aged between 18 and 39 years old across all three services. The fast-track approach is vital in attracting talented individuals from diverse communities. This will help alleviate long-running recruitment and retention problems in Defense’s highly technical cyber domain. It is part of a broader initiative to protect national security from emerging and enduring digital threats.
