The Air Force’s new family of career specialty codes for cyberspace support (3DXXX) that took effect Nov. 1 supplants the three former career fields of communications-electronics (2EXXX), knowledge operations management (3AXXX), and communications-computer systems (3CXXX). About 43,000 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve personnel from former communications career fields now fall under the 11 new cyberspace support specialty codes as do more than 8.800 civilian-equivalent positions. This conversion process had been underway for more than a year and a half as part of USAF’s drive to bolster its cyberforce. Airmen in this field will receive a new occupational badge that will become mandatory wear by next June. (SAF/PA report, including full list of cyber support specialty codes)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.