Student Trainee (Cyber Apprentice)

The Defense Manpower Data Center is excited to launch the inaugural pilot of the Department of War's (DoW) Cyber Apprenticeship Program! The program, administered by the DoW Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoW CIO), is designed to address the growing demand for skilled cyber professionals within the Department. This 12-month program provides a paid, structured, progressive pathway for individuals seeking to launch or advance their careers in cyber. Learn more about the program here.

As a Student Trainee (Cyber Apprentice) at the GS-2299-7 some of your typical work assignments may include: Training & Development: Participates in formal and on-the-job training (OJT) programs to learn organizational cyber defense operations, policies, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Shadows senior specialists to develop practical skills in threat analysis and incident response. The trainee assists in monitoring cyber defense systems (e.g., intrusion detection, firewalls). Learns to identify potential security events and conduct initial triage to differentiate between benign and potentially anomalous activity. Incident Response & Analysis: The position involves analyzing routine security alert for more complex incidents, the trainee is responsible for gathering data and compiling event timelines. The trainee executes mandated vulnerability scans on production systems. Categorizes scan results (e.g., missing patches) and performs basic maintenance, patching, and configuration checks on cyber defense tools.