ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS CYBER GAMES FOR THE FALL  SERVICE-WIDE CAPTURE THE FLAG COMPETITION
Date Signed: 7/10/2024 | MARADMINS Number: 318/24
MARADMINS : 318/24

R 101712Z JUL 24
MARADMIN 318/24 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS CYBER GAMES FOR THE FALL 
SERVICE-WIDE CAPTURE THE FLAG COMPETITION //
POC-DC I/ERIK SALZMAN/MAJ/PROGRAM OFFICER, DC I/703-695-9551/
ERIK.B.SALZMAN.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC-DC I/JEFFEREY JAMROK/CWO2/OCO PLANS AND POLICY OFFICER, DC I/
443-654-2160/JEFFEREY.JAMROK@USMC.MIL//
POC-DC I/ARTURO NAGY/CTR/DC I/703-784-5985/
ARTURO.NAGY.CTR@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS /1.  Purpose. This message announces the Fall 
Service-wide Cyber Capture the Flag (CTF) competition taking place
from 30 September – 14 November 2024.  The Fall event will be a 
Cyber Red Zone CTF, focused specifically on Offensive Cyberspace
Operations (OCO).  The Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), in 
partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems 
Division (NAWCTSD), the National Cyber Range Complex under the DOD
Test Resource Management Center, will organize a remote CTF event 
with SECRET access provided through the Joint Information Operations
Range (JIOR). The CTF competition provides a venue where Marine 
cyberspace operators can compete in a tailored scenario to complete
cyber challenges of varying difficulty, referred to as cyber flags.
2. Background. On 1 March 2018, the Marine Corps established an 
occupational field dedicated to the professionalization of 
cyberspace operators.  In January 2020, discussions began for 
developing a setting in which Marine cyberspace operators could 
compete, share expertise, and hone tactics, techniques, and 
procedures to increase cyberspace effectiveness and readiness across
the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) and Cyberspace Mission Force (CMF) on a
secure network.  To address this challenge, DC I began hosting the 
Marine Corps Cyber Games and participating in CTF competitions.  
These events have provided a venue to foster camaraderie among the
community and opportunities for Marines to display their skills in a
competitive environment. Additionally, as has been the case in past 
CTFs, highly qualified cyber volunteers from the Marine Corps Cyber 
Auxiliary will be on standby to train, educate, assist, and mentor 
Marines as they compete.  The intent of the Marine Corps Cyber Games
is ultimately to accelerate excellence through competition.
3. Action Items. The intended participants for this event are 
cyberspace operators from the DCO-IDM Companies and the Cyber 
Mission Force.  To find an open session, please go to the event
registration site located at:  https:(slash)(slash)intelshare.intel
ink.gov/sites/te/CyberRedZone/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/
Home.aspx and register your team for this event. If you are unable 
to access the link, please email the following information to:
Maj Erik Salzman at erik.salzman@usmc.mil, Dr. Wells at 
fuzzywells@mitre.org, and Mr. Art Nagy at arturo.nagy.ctr@usmc.mil:
Session: _________
Team name:  ______ 
Service/Agency: ______
Command/Organization: ________
Participation Location: _____
JIOR/JMN Designator: _____
Site POCs:
Primary POC: _______
Email: _________
Phone: _________
Team POC: _________
Email: _________
Phone: ________
3.a. The Event Owner will permit up to five teams to participate in 
each session of this event.  Due to range constraints, the 
competition will split into 10 two-day sessions, for a total of 50 
teams.  Finalized team participant rosters are due prior to the 
associated session communications check.  Recommended team size is
between 5-10 members (limit of 10 per team) with defensive/offensive
cyberspace skillsets.
3.b.  Command Representation.  This CTF is open to all services to 
enhance competition.  DC I will sponsor the winning Marine Corps 
teams (one Active, one Reserve) to represent the Marine Corps at the
System Administrator, Audit, Network and Security (SANS) Service 
Cup. If funding is available, only the winning Marine Corps team 
will receive funding to the SANS Service Cup. Teams at SANS Service
Cup are limited to five members.
3.c. Timeline.  The timeline for the CTF competition is in paragraph
3.C.1 through 3.C.5.  Dates are subject to change and will be posted
on the registration portal.
3.c.1. Information Maneuver Division (IMD) will submit the initial 
Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) by 01 August.  Any new or 
unidentified range sites must be submitted NLT 08 August so that an
addendum to the ISA can be submitted.  (*Participation in CTF is 
subject to ISA approval.)
3.c.2. 08 August: CTF registration deadline.
3.c.3. During Comms Check, a CTF Intelligence drop and virtual 
fly-away kit will be provided to participants.
3.c.4. Session Dates:
Session # 1          Dates: 30 Sep - 1 Oct    Comms Check: 27 Sep
Session # 2          Dates: 3 Oct - 4 Oct    Comms Check: 2 Oct
Session # 3          Dates: 8 Oct - 9 Oct    Comms Check: 7 Oct
Session # 4          Dates: 15 Oct - 16 Oct    Comms Check: 10 Oct
Session # 5          Dates: 21 Oct - 22 Oct    Comms Check: 17 Oct
Session # 6          Dates: 24 Oct - 25 Oct    Comms Check: 23 Oct
Session # 7          Dates: 29 Oct - 30 Oct    Comms Check: 28 Oct
Session # 8          Dates: 4 Nov - 5 Nov    Comms Check: 31 Oct
Session # 9          Dates: 7 Nov - 8 Nov    Comms Check: 6 Nov
Session # 10        Dates: 13 Nov - 14 Nov    Comms Check: 12 Nov
3.c.5. All participating teams are required to provide an 
After-Action Report NLT two weeks after session completion.
4.  Administration and logistics.  Units are responsible for the 
travel costs of their representatives if required.
4.a. Teams are responsible for arranging access to a JIOR node on 
Secret Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) network to participate in the
event.
4.b.  Participants who complete the event will be eligible for a 
participation certificate from the Test Resource Management Center
for 16 hours of continuous learning credit.
4.c. Awards will be mailed to the winning team.
5.  Direct all questions to MARADMIN points of contacts.
6.  Release authorized by LtGen M. G. Glavy, Headquarters Marine 
Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//