Long hair given the okay for military cyber staff

In a bid to secure soldiers of cyber warfare to help with high-tech security issues, recruits are allowed to deviate from typical military rules and have been given permission to wear their hair long, said the Ministry of Defence.

Highly skilled specialists are exempt from the military’s appearance rules in a move designed to appeal to cyber experts who may be put off from otherwise joining. The military is taking the measure due to difficulties in attracting the right “geeks” to a new cyber reserve, considered to be a vital part of the military’s digital warfare strategy.

Commanders looking to recruit cyber specialists to help them in the digital age are looking to make possible exceptions for criminal investigators, intelligence analysts, linguists and reservist cultural advisers.

A source from the military said that soldiers stationed at a South West base were annoyed by seeing two cyber reservists with hair at shoulder length. A colonel gave letters to reservists in order to explain their appearance.

The source said:

“It’s causing a lot of upset among regulars. People are saying it is just disrespectful. They seem to revel in the fact that they have a letter from their colonel which says the rules don’t apply to them.”

This example only serves to show the increasing desperation for cyber talent. With threats being more prominent than ever, it is essential that all government sectors and every UK firm take the necessary action. This includes a more defined IT security strategy. If cyber criminals are adopting a more strategic outlook, we are leaving ourselves open to attacks if we sit back and do nothing.