Transforming the US Coast Guard Academy cyber team’s training with a fundamental hands-on course from OffSec

When the team began exploring cybersecurity training, they aimed to validate their skills and experience. As a military unit preparing for roles in Coast Guard Cyber, they needed more than competition results. They needed certifications that proved technical ability and professionalism.

As the team grew and junior members joined, they faced a new challenge: defining a clear standard for progress. They needed a consistent way to measure success across skill levels. Without a strong baseline, it was difficult to track development, especially for newer members.

Budget constraints added pressure. The team wanted to pursue certifications, particularly for junior staff, but limited funding made that difficult.

To address these gaps, the team selected OffSec’s SEC-100: CyberCore – Security Essentials course, which leads to the CyberCore Certified (OSCC SEC-100) credential. The course provides hands-on training in core cybersecurity skills, including both offensive and defensive techniques. It emphasizes real-world scenarios, teaching participants to identify, exploit, and defend against common threats.

For the team, completing the course was a key step in validating their technical capability as they prepared for Coast Guard Cyber roles. The OSCC certification gave them a recognized credential to demonstrate proficiency across core security domains.

The hands-on exam introduced a new level of uncertainty. Unlike traditional academic tests, it required applied problem-solving under pressure. The format was unfamiliar, and expectations were not always clear. Despite this, the team recognized that this challenge would strengthen their readiness for real-world operations.

OffSec training improved the team’s skills, competition performance, and readiness for future roles.

Hands-on training for real-world cybersecurity scenarios

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.

Red vs. Blue team training

OffSec helped the team bridge the gap between red and blue team skills. Training showed them how offensive tactics are detected by defenders. It wasn’t just about launching attacks—they learned to anticipate and understand defensive responses. Using tools like Splunk for defensive exercises gave them practical insight into the full cybersecurity picture and the importance of mastering both sides.

The combination of certification, hands-on training, and cross-disciplinary learning gave the team exactly what they needed to improve performance in competitions and build skills for future careers.

OffSec training improved the team’s skills, competition performance, and readiness for future roles. The OSCC-SEC certification provided formal validation of technical skills and gave cadets a recognized credential as they prepared for roles in Coast Guard Cyber and beyond. This helped position them as professionals with proven capability.

Big gains in competition performance

In the National Cyber League, several cadets ranked in the top 20 out of 9,000 competitors. The team placed eighth out of 5,000 teams, a major improvement from the previous year. These outcomes reflected the practical, hands-on nature of the training, which strengthened problem solving and performance under pressure.

A clear and consistent technical baseline

For junior members, it confirmed foundational skills and readiness for more advanced training. For senior members, it provided a benchmark to measure progress and supported a smoother transition to advanced certifications such as OSCP.

OffSec’s training delivered more than knowledge. It built validated, job-ready skills that translated into measurable results and long-term professional growth.