Transforming the US Coast Guard Academy Cyber Team’s Cyber Training with a Fundamental Hands-On Course from OffSec

Challenges:

• Tight training budgets and limited access to materials for certification
• Uncertainty and pressure surrounding practical, hands-on exams like the OSCC
• Difficulty in setting a standard for what constitutes a successful year of training for junior members

Solutions:

• OffSec’s CyberCore program provided access to high-quality certification training, especially for junior members
• Hands-on exams in the OSCC certification prepared cadets for real-world scenarios, focusing on practical problem-solving skills
• The hands-on training allowed the team to identify weaknesses in red team attacks and improve their defensive techniques, especially using tools like Splunk

Benefits:

• OffSec certifications provided professional validation for cadets, enhancing their credibility and future career prospects, especially within the Coast Guard Cyber
• The training helped cadets improve their performance in national competitions, achieving their best results ever in both individual and team categories
• The OSCC certification set a clear technical baseline for the cadets, ensuring that all team members had a strong foundation and were better prepared for advanced training like OSCP

When the team first started looking into cybersecurity training, it was driven by their desire to validate their skills and experience. As a military unit aiming for future roles in Coast Guard Cyber, they knew they needed more than just competition results: they needed certifications that would prove their technical aptitude and professionalism.

As the team grew and more junior members joined, they faced another challenge: how to set a clear standard for progress? They were figuring out what success looked like in training for each member. It wasn’t just about completing tasks; it was about ensuring that everyone, no matter their skill level, was moving forward in a way that made sense. That proved tough when they didn’t have a firm baseline against which to measure their progress, especially for the younger members.

They were also running into a couple of other roadblocks. Their training budget was tight. As much as they wanted to push for certifications, especially for the junior members, the resources just weren’t there to cover the costs. 

To support their professional development, the team decided to pursue OffSec’s SEC-100: CyberCore – Security Essentials course, which leads to the CyberCore Certified (OSCC SEC-100) certification. OffSec, known for its hands-on, industry-leading cybersecurity training, designed this fundamental course to equip students with essential cybersecurity skills, covering both basic offensive and defensive techniques. The course focuses on real-world security challenges, teaching students how to identify, exploit, and defend against common cyber threats. 

For the team, completing this course was a vital step in validating their technical expertise, particularly as they prepared for future roles in Coast Guard Cyber. The OSCC certification provided them with an industry-recognized credential that demonstrated their proficiency in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity practices.

On top of that, there was a lot of uncertainty around the hands-on exams. While the academic courses the cadets were taking were fairly predictable—read a textbook, memorize the content, and answer questions—the OSCC exam was different. It wasn’t about memorizing facts; it was about applying knowledge in real-world scenarios, often under pressure. No one really knew exactly what to expect, and that kind of pressure can be daunting. But the team knew this challenge would be worth it if they could push through.

Challenge 1: Meeting a tight budget

The team had their share of challenges, but they found some pretty solid solutions through their partnership with OffSec. One of the key benefits of the CyberCore program was that it allowed them to certify their team members, even when their budget was tight. The limited funding meant they had to be strategic about where to invest, and the CyberCore program gave them the opportunity to provide essential certifications like the OSCC, which was a significant milestone for the team because they provided a recognized, professional credential that validated their technical skills and set them apart as capable cybersecurity professionals, especially as they prepared for roles within Coast Guard Cyber.

As cybersecurity threats evolve, your team’s expertise must too. Give your personnel the training they need with OffSec’s proven, real-world approach to cybersecurity education. Learn more. 

Challenge 2: Hands-on training for real-world cybersecurity scenarios

“The hands-on nature of the training—particularly in the OSCC—forced us to really think on our feet and tackle problems we might never have encountered before. And honestly, that’s the kind of challenge that’s both nerve-wracking and exciting. It pushed us in ways we haven’t anticipated, especially when it came to things like problem-solving under time pressure,” Max Eisenweiser, Cadet.

The cadets were trained in hands-on scenarios where they had to work under pressure and figure out solutions on the fly. Thanks to OffSec’s unique training, it wasn’t about memorizing facts—it was about applying their skills in real-time, something they hadn’t experienced in the more textbook-driven academic courses. 

Challenge 3: Red vs. Blue team training

OffSec also gave them the tools to bridge the gap between the red and blue team experiences. The training allowed them to see how their offensive tactics would be caught by defenders. It wasn’t just about launching attacks anymore; they could also understand how defenders might catch their moves. Using tools like Splunk for defensive exercises really opened their eyes to a whole new side of cybersecurity. The training brought those practical skills to life, making them realize how essential it is to understand both sides of the equation if they wanted to succeed.

The combination of the opportunity to certify their team, hands-on training, and cross-disciplinary learning made all the difference. It was exactly what they needed to step up their game and level up their skills for both competitions and their future careers.

OffSec training directly contributed to the team’s improved skills, performance in competitions, and readiness for future cybersecurity roles.

 First, the certifications, like the OSCC, were a game-changer for the cadets. For them, it wasn’t just about the skills they learned—it was about the validation that came with earning a professional certification. That mattered, especially when they looked ahead to their futures in the Coast Guard Cyber or in other cybersecurity roles. It gave them a sense of legitimacy and a solid foundation that set them apart, not just as students but as real professionals.

Then, their performance in competitions was impacted. After completing the OffSec training, the team performed better than they ever had before. In the National Cyber League, they scored in the top ranks—several cadets made it into the top 20 out of 9,000 competitors. Their team placed eighth out of 5,000 teams, which was a huge improvement from the previous year. That jump in performance could be directly attributed to the practical skills they gained through the hands-on approach of OffSec’s training. It wasn’t just about learning theory; it was about building the endurance and problem-solving skills necessary to perform under pressure.

Finally, the team benefited from a clear and consistent technical baseline set by the OSCC certification. They knew exactly what level of competence was expected, which helped both new and experienced members. For the juniors, it was a strong starting point—a certification that showed they had a solid grasp of the basics and were ready for more advanced training. For the senior members, it provided a benchmark that helped them gauge their growth and made the transition to tougher certifications, like OSCP, much smoother.

In the end, the training didn’t just help them check boxes on a list—it helped them build a well-rounded, professional skillset that paid off both in competition results and in their careers ahead. The entire team walked away with something tangible to show for their efforts, and they knew they had the tools to keep growing.

Ready to enhance your agency’s cybersecurity capabilities just like the cadets of the US Coast Guard? OffSec’s hands-on courses and globally recognized certifications are designed to meet the needs of military and public sector teams. Click here to learn more.