Registration for CyberPatriot V Now Open!

ARLINGTON, Va., April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Registration for the nation's largest high school cyber defense challenge, CyberPatriot, is now open for its next season!

CyberPatriot V is inviting students from ALL U.S. high schools, accredited home school programs and Civil Air Patrol squadrons to participate in this exciting competition while space is still available. Registration ends September 30, 2012.

CyberPatriot is an exciting and educating competition that motivates the talent who will become the next generation of cyber leaders. Established by the Air Force Association, CyberPatriot was created to inspire high school students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

CyberPatriot offers valuable skills for students, providing hands-on learning about technology and cyber defense, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. But most importantly, it's fun!

CyberPatriot IV had more than 1,000 teams registered in its two divisions, representing all 50 states, and U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific. Public, private, parochial and home schools registered in the Open Division, while Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons filled the All Service Division. The top three teams of each division were awarded during a banquet and collectively received more than $50,000 in college scholarships from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, CyberPatriot's presenting sponsor.

How the competition works:

In the preliminary rounds, students learn to defend 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 has a tournament-style tiered structure with three preliminary rounds, culminating in an all-expenses-paid trip to the national championship in March 2013. During the national championship round, CyberPatriot finalists will undergo an in-person challenge, competing face to face and defending virtual networks from a professional aggressor team.

In addition, the DoD Cyber Crime Center will conduct a forensics portion of the competition, teaching and testing high school competitors on the field of cyber forensics through the application of crime scene analysis, evidence gathering and critical thinking.

The only cost to teams is a $375 entry fee which provides access to the software and participant materials and defrays travel expenses for teams qualifying for the finals.

CyberPatriot also benefits from the expertise of its industry sponsors, with the Northrop Grumman Foundation not only serving as presenting sponsor, but providing internships and scholarship money to the winning teams to help groom tomorrow's workforce. In addition, founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio continue to be great contributors to the competition.

More information can be found 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 on the internet at www.afa.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association