HANSCOM AIR FROCE BASE, Mass. –
During this drill weekend, the Connecticut and Massachusetts 146th Cyber Warfare Companies conducted a joint training exercise at Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) in Massachusetts.
The training focused on developing and enhancing cyber awareness, with an emphasis on Operational Technology (OT) and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).
Training sessions covered the fundamentals of OT, including how critical infrastructure and industrial systems are targeted and defended in cyber operations. Soldiers worked in teams to locate hidden flags of varying difficulty in a capture-the-flag (CTF) exercise. This hands-on activity allowed soldiers to analyze and respond to simulated cyber incidents in mock OT environments.
The OSINT portion of the training centered on passive reconnaissance—leveraging publicly available information for intelligence gathering. Soldiers learned how to assess social media, public records, and open databases to identify patterns, trace digital footprints, and extract actionable intelligence. The instruction emphasized legal and ethical considerations, critical thinking, and effective information collection.
Both exercises challenged soldiers to build technical proficiency and operational confidence. This joint training served as another valuable opportunity for collaboration in a multi-state cyber operations environment, helping to prepare participants for larger-scale events such as Cyber Shield and Cyber Yankee later this year.