It's not a large increase, but it shows the Air Force's interest in enhancing cyberwarfare capabilities.
The US is responding to the recent increase in cyber-espionage and state-sponsored threats by ensuring that critical infrastructure is not left unprotected.
After reaching an out-of-court settlement with two companies that provided critical defense software to Russian developers, the US government has now decided to increase the pay of US Air Force personnel employed in cyber-defense jobs.
According to Air ForceTimes, US Air Force officials announced this change at the end of October, but only recently were the actual numbers released.
US Air Force cyber defense agencies will get a small raise
Starting October 1st for the first time, U.S. Air Force personnel working in cyber operations , in the 1B4X1 career field, will receive additional pay
Airmen will receive an additional $150 if they have worked for more than six months, and an additional pay of $225 if they have worked for more than 12 months.
This extra pay is added to their regular pay list, which every American military employee receives. The US is beefing up its cyber defenses, despite the anti-hacking pact with China.
“We use this program to ensure that the Air Force attracts the right people for these high-demand specialties and compensates them appropriately based on the complexity, difficulty and degree of responsibility required in their duties,” said Brigadier General Brian Kelly, director of military force management policy
Despite the US-China hacking agreement, attacks originating from Chinese threats have not stopped. Considering that China recently decided to unify its cyber units under a single command, the anti-hacking pact seems like just a piece of paper at the moment, with neither country acting as if there is a real truce between them. In late September, the US Air Force also revealed its plans to create a special plane for hacking into remote, inaccessible areas, via the Internet.
