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Australia will establish a cyber reserve workforce for the Australian Defence Force by early 2026, under a Cyber Reserve Concept recommended by the recent Defence Strategic Review.
A cyber reserves outfit will be developed to support the Defence Strategic Review’s call for enhanced resilience, workforce agility and sovereign capability in the cyber domain. The overall concept incorporates organisational design, policy frameworks and pathways for on-boarding mid-career specialists, including reservist personnel.
Cyber reserves personnel would be expected to contribute specialised skills to safeguarding Australia’s critical networks, as part of a pioneering force that strengthens national resilience and makes an operational impact on Defence cyber missions. Although the cyber reserve workforce is understood to feature a ‘flexible service model’.
Director Cyber Reserve Concept Support Colonel John Molnar said expressions of interest and a refinement of entry processes would be issued in the coming months to support activation of the cyber reserve capability by early 2026.
“The Cyber Reserve Concept is developing a powerful new way for Australians to serve by bringing their skills to the frontline of national cyber defence,” Colonel Molnar said.
More than 17 recommendations were identified in the DSR to modernise the ADF Reserve, to assist in supporting an integrated, focused force prepared to meet evolving strategic challenges.
The review recommendations aim to strengthen reserve contributions across the workforce, build capability and boost the specialist domains, including space and cyber.
Many of the recommendations will be implemented over the next 12 months.
The Australian announcement following a recent change in US policy this month with the Trump administration announcing US$1 billion in funding over four years for offensive cyber operations, through the US Department of Defense.
This article was originally published on Defence Connect.
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