MMA Cyber 1 Cadets Triumph in AJROTC Cybersecurity Capture the Flag Competition

On November 15, 2023, Missouri Military Academy Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AJROTC) Cyber 1 Cadets participated in a capture the flag competition against five other AJROTC cyber programs across the United States. The timed competition required cadets to use deductive reasoning and research skills while working in a high-stress environment. It covered wireless technology, web browsing, data storage, risk assessment, peripherals, mobile devices, malware, hardware/hardware security, cyber warfare/defense, CIA triad and cyber history. 

MMA's cyber program provides cadets with challenging, relevant experiences. It prepares them to enter the cyber workforce, pursue postsecondary studies and/or enter military service. MMA is one of roughly 10 schools teaching the Army JROTC Cybersecurity Pilot program. The innovative, four-year cyber program is part of the Army's effort to infuse STEM curriculum in high schools nationwide. Read more about MMA’s cybersecurity program here. 

Though MMA's Cyber 1 Cadets have only been in the cyber program for one semester, they successfully competed against schools that had students with one or two years of cybersecurity experience. MMA cadets finished the competition ranked first, fifth, eighth and 10th against fellow CY1 students, and they ranked second, sixth, ninth and 15th against the mixed CY1/CY2 teams. 

The following cadets competed in the competition: 

• Cadet Sean Mumm ’27 from Mexico, Missouri 
• Cadet Eric Shellabarger ’27 from Mexico, Missouri 
• Cadet Khoa Duong ’26 from Vietnam 
• Cadet Tiago Ruas Deluca ’25 from Brazil
• Cadet Hayden James ’27 from Mexico, Missouri 
• Cadet Brody Ruckman ’27 from Willard, Missouri 
• Cadet Triet Bui ’25 from Vietnam
• Cadet Aidan Maristany-Diaz ’25 from Jupiter, Florida 
• Cadet Mbaye Diagne ’25 from Bronx, New York 
• Cadet Jose Gabriel Elizondo Villarreal ’26 from Mexico
• Cadet Dominick Brognano ’25 from Vero Beach, Florida
• Cadet Charles McWilliams ’25 from Omaha, Nebraska

Chief Jason Landrum, MMA’s JROTC cybersecurity instructor, says the competition's challenge was finding the most accurate answer — not just the correct one. "For example, if there are four answers to a question, one would be 100% while others would be partially correct,” he says. “Another challenge of this competition was attention to detail and formulating answers in the right syntax for the competition using the clues from the questions.” 

The success of the JROTC Cyber 1 Cadets in this competition showcases the effectiveness of MMA’s cybersecurity program in providing practical cybersecurity training. Their victories underscore MMA’s dedication to equipping cadets for their future careers, and the program's ongoing success is a testament to the effectiveness of training a new generation proficient in cybersecurity's intricacies.