Announcement of the Marine Corps Cyber Games for the Spring Service-Wide Capture the Flag Competition

1. Purpose.  This message announces the Spring 
Service-wide Cyber Capture the Flag (CTF) competition taking place
on 8 May 2026.  The Spring event will be a Cyber Blue Zone 
CTF, focused specifically on Defensive Cyberspace Operations (DCO).
The Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), in partnership with
the National Cyber Range Complex (NCRC) under the DOD Test Resource
Management Center (TRMC), will organize a remote CTF event with
SECRET access provided through the Joint Information Operations
Range (JIOR) and the Joint Mission Environment Test Capability
(JMETC) Multiple Levels of Security (MILS) Network (JMN). 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://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/te/CyberBlueZone/ and
register your team for this event. 
If you are unable to access the link, please email the following
information to: GySgt Weston Warren at weston.warren@usmc.mil, CWO3
David Hunsaker at david.hunsaker@usmc.mil, and Dr. David 'Fuzzy'
Wells at wwells@ida.org. 
Session: _________ 
Team Name:  ______  
Service/Agency: ______ 
Command/Organization: ________ 
Participation Location:_____ 
JIOR/JMN Designator: _____ 
Site POCs: _______ 
Email: _________ 
Phone: _________ 
Team POCs: _________ 
Email: _________ 
Phone: ________ 
3.A. The Event Owner will permit up to eight teams to participate 
in each session of this event (six JIOR, two JMN).  Due to range
constraints, the competition will split into four two-day sessions 
for a total of 32 teams.  Finalized team participant rosters are due
prior to the associated session communications check.  Recommended
team size is between 6-10 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.   
3.C. Timeline.  The timeline for the CTF competition is in paragraph
3.C.1 through 3.C.6.  Dates are subject to change and will be posted
on the registration portal. 
3.C.2. Information Maneuver Division (IMD) will submit the initial
Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) with registered
participating remote locations.  Late registrations for sites/teams
must be submitted NLT 21 March 2026 so that an addendum to the ISA
can be submitted.  (*Participation in CTF is subject to ISA approval)
3.C.3. CTF registration deadline for ISA: 13 March 2026.   Late
registration deadline for ISA addendum: 20 March 2026. 
3.C.4. During Comms Check there will be a Rules of Engagement, Range
Operations Guide, and CTF Intelligence drop for participants. 
3.C.5. Session Dates: 
Session # 1        ​Dates: ​11-12 May     (Comms check 8 May) 

Session # 2        Dates:​ 14-15 May     (Comms check 13 May) 

Session # 3        ​Dates:​ 19-20 May     (Comms check 18 May) 

Session # 4        Dates: 27-28 May     (Comms check 26 May) 
3.C.6. All participating teams are required to provide an
After-Action Report NLT two weeks after session completion. 
3.C.7. Awards will be mailed to the winning team. 
4. Administration and logistics.  Units are responsible for the
travel costs of their representatives if required.  
5. Direct all questions to MARADMIN POCs. 
6. Release authorized by Lieutenant General J. A. Matos III, 
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.