The Army is a year ahead of schedule in attaining full operational capability for its Regular Army cyber mission teams and is quickly moving to build a combined 21 teams in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

The 41 Regular Army teams will be ready in September, Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, the Army Cyber Command commanding general, told Congress. Additionally, the Army is preparing 10 teams in the Army Reserve and 11 in the Army National Guard.

Nakasone’s update came as the Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, Ga., is turning out cyber experts. The first class of Cyber Branch lieutenants graduated last year and the first class of cyber warrant officers and enlisted recruits graduated in March.

The Army cyber force is up to about 2,300 soldiers and continues to expand, Nakasone said. “To ensure we continue to maintain high levels of end strength in the cyberspace force, the Army is now implementing several key talent management initiatives to improve recruitment, training and retention across all components and all soldier and employee cohorts,” he said.

This includes developing a direct commissioning program for lateral entry into the Army for people with industry experience, creation of a cyber career program for civilians, opportunities for soldiers to receive training with industry, and opportunities to receive an advanced academic degree.