FORT CUSTER, Mich. – Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers in the 172nd Cyber Protection Team have completed a specialized cyber certification test as part of the Job Qualification Readiness (JQR) training.
The certification, completed on March 11, is a critical step in ensuring the Soldiers’ readiness to defend against evolving cyber threats. This first-time certification training ensures Soldiers are prepared to support missions at state and federal levels. It is part of the National Guard’s effort to standardize and certify cyber operations.
The JQR serves as a comprehensive evaluation to ensure cyber operators are mission-ready. This training process builds on the skills taught during Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and validates a Soldier’s technical abilities through hands-on assessments. Overseen by Guard test facilitators, the training standardizes cyber operations across the 11 National Guard Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs) nationwide.
“We’re here just to facilitate the JQR,” said Terance McQuade, a Guard facilitator for the JQR. “We’re overseers to make sure they have access to the platform, access to the content, and to ensure they go through it. At the end, we’ll sign off on it saying they’ve completed the training.”
McQuade also noted the logistical challenges of supporting Cyber Protection Teams nationwide.
“Not every state has a CPT,” he said. “There are 11 CPTs, and we try to get them in one location to make our jobs easier.”
He praised the Michigan cyber team’s performance during the training.
“Super great job—they’ve been plugging along and have been patient with the system,” McQuade said.
McQuade emphasized the importance of adaptability in the cyber domain.
“Like everything else in the military, you have to keep up with the threats to be able to modify and change,” he said. “JQR gives the training proficiency to be ready for our missions.”
A trained and certified cyber team is critical in today’s interconnected world, where nearly every aspect of life depends on digital infrastructure. Cyber technology drives modern society, from communication systems and power grids to financial networks and public services. Cyber teams such as the 172nd CPT ensure these systems remain secure and operational, defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.
“This training ensures that Soldiers not only learn how to do their job, but also qualify to do it,” said Lt. Col. Kathleen Prince-Sayward, the program’s commander. “Specifically, some roles require certifications that validate a Soldier’s ability to perform critical tasks.”
Having these certifications has a direct impact on Soldiers.
“It’s for the Soldiers because they’ll know more, which is good,” Prince-Sayward said. “They’ll make a little bit more money, and the Army knows that this person is qualified to be on this network doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Prince-Sayward also highlighted the importance of cyber defense in the Guard’s mission.
“We’re defensive cyber,” she said. “We defend all the time, but we can also be called in for intimate matters. We got called in for the Flint water crisis a few years back—there was a cyber component. Anything that the Guard could be called for to defend the state, well, this is another part of the state that isn’t visible.”
Prince-Sayward emphasized the critical role cyber operations play in supporting physical response capabilities.
“If they [outside threats] kill our ability to communicate, our water sources, or electrical sources, it impairs our ability to respond physically,” she said.
Defensive cyber protects networks, systems, and data from external threats, while offensive cyber involves proactive measures to disrupt or disable adversaries’ systems. Offensive operations might include gathering intelligence, disrupting communication channels, or neutralizing threats before they can act. The Michigan National Guard’s defensive cyber focus ensures critical infrastructure is safeguarded, while offensive cyber teams at the federal level often work with them to address emerging threats on a larger scale. Together, these elements form a comprehensive strategy to defend and secure the nation in an increasingly digital battlefield.
The process serves as a challenge and an opportunity to refine the skills of the Soldiers participating in the JQR. Warrant Officer Anthony Compton shared his insights on the experience.
“Most of us here have done the MOSQ [Military Occupational Specialty Qualification] school, so you understand you’re about to do seven to eight months of training to get a baseline understanding of your job,” Compton said. “This is a refresher and validation test to make sure you know your skills. As any unit would do a validation exercise—this is our version of that.”
Compton, who has worked in the cyber field for two years, described his decision to pursue this career path.
“I wanted something challenging,” he said. “Cyber is a whole realm of things—it’s different avenues you can take.”
“The best part is refreshing all your skills and sharpening up on the things you don’t know so well. The worst part is updating documentation, but it’s still something beneficial to a unit,” Compton said when asked about the training’s most rewarding and challenging aspects.
As the Michigan National Guard’s 172nd CPT completes this vital qualification, the certification’s impact on future operations cannot be overstated.
“Cyber is a part of the invisible fight, but it’s one of the most impactful,” Prince-Sayward said. “This training ensures we’re ready to defend against threats we may not always see, but always need to prepare for.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Michigan National Guard’s participation in JQR training emphasizes its commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and supporting the state in times of need. The Guard sets the foundation for future exercises and mission success by certifying their Soldiers through this process.
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