Muscatatuck to be home for a cyber battalion

Jennings County will be home to the nation’s fifth National Guard cyber battalion. Gov. Eric Holcomb made the announcement Tuesday.

“With our National Guard’s current cyber resources and Indiana’s top notch academic institutions, our state is a natural fit for one of the country’s first cyber battalions,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Warfare is becoming increasingly digital and it’s an honor for Indiana to be home to those who protect our country from computer-generated threats.”

Holcomb says the 127th Cyber Protection Battalion will be made up of nearly 100 soldiers focused on cyber security and cyber warfare.

The soldiers will have access to the U.S. Department of Defense’s only live, full-scale cyber range at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Jennings County. The center is unique with its realistic simulations with live environments for cyber and electronic warfare testing and training.

“I am excited about the opportunity of stationing a cyber battalion in the Indiana National Guard. Indiana is well suited to build and generate mission readiness with this critical force structure,” said Indiana’s Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles.

The initial four battalions are located on the east coast. Two are in Virginia, one is in South Carolina and another is in Massachusetts.