R 041426Z MAR 26 MARADMIN 086/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DC I WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS CYBER GAMES FOR THE SPRING  SERVICE-WIDE CAPTURE THE FLAG COMPETITION//  POC/W. L. WARREN/GYSGT/DC I IMD/703-692-9315/[email protected]  POC/D. J. HUNSAKER/CWO3/DC I IMD/703-659-7578/ [email protected]  GENTEXT/REMARKS/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 [email protected], CWO3 David Hunsaker at [email protected], and Dr. David ‘Fuzzy’ Wells at [email protected].  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)