CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. ​At the core of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, the nation's largest cyber defense competition that puts high school and middle school students in charge of securing virtual networks. Other programs include AFA CyberCamps, an elementary school cyber education initiative, a children’s literature series, CyberGenerations –a seni​​​​or citizen cyber safety initiative, and a Tech Caregivers program designed to encourage cyber-savvy volunteers to give back to their communities. 

CYBERPATRIOT XV (2022-2023) COMPETITION SCHEDULE

​​TRAINING EVENTS ​

EVENT

DATES AND TIMES (EASTERN TIME)

DESCRIPTION

September 08 - October 02, 2022​

Start: September 8 @ 5:00 PM ET 

End: October 2 @ 11:59 PM ET

Training images with answer keys available.

Sneak Preview

TBD

Start: 9:00 AM ET

End: 5​:00 PM ET

Practice/Test New Software

One Day - No Alternate Dates 

Scores do not count toward competition.​

​Practice Round

September 29 - October 07, 2022​

Start: September 29 @ 5:00 PM ET 

End: October 07 @ 11:59 PM ET

​Re-release of training images with answer keys available.

Scores do not count toward competition.

COMPETITION DATES AND TIMES 

(DATES ARE TENTATIVE - MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Teams may compete during the following times on competition weekends. All times are US Eastern Time.

Friday, 9:00 AM - Saturday, 3:00 AM ET

Saturday, 8:00 AM - Saturday, 11:59 PM ET

Sunday, 10:00 AM - Sunday, 10:00 PM ET

Please refer to Chapter 4 of the CYBERPATRIOT RULES BOOK for procedures concerning severe weather and emergencies.

(NOTE: Scheduling conflicts are not considered emergencies)

ROUND

DATES

DESCRIPTION

Round 1

(All teams participate)

October 14 - October 16, 2022 

& October 20 – 21, 2022* ​

Because of Fall Break for many teams, Round 1 will have additional competition windows during Oct. 20-21. Teams may choose their competition period from any of the competition windows for Round 1. TEAMS MAY COMPETE ONLY ONCE IN ROUND 1. The Download instructions will be the same for all Round 1 dates. Sneak Peeks or Premature image openings will result in penalties for teams.

Image download instructions and links are sent to Coaches at 5 PM ET, on or before the Monday prior to the competition round. The StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams at 9 AM ET the Friday of the competition round.

All teams may compete.  Tests basics of cybersecurity skills.

Round 2

(All teams participate)

November 4 - November 6, 2022​

Image download instructions and links are sent to Coaches at 5 PM Eastern, on or before the Monday prior to the competition round. The StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams at 9 AM Eastern the Friday of the competition round.

All teams may compete even if they did not compete​ in Round 1 or had a low score. More difficult than Round 1, to allow teams to be divided into skill-level tiers for the State Round.

State Round

(All teams participate)

December 9 - December 11, 2022​

Image download instructions and links are sent to Coaches at 5 PM Eastern, on or before the Monday prior to the competition round. The StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams at 9 AM Eastern the Friday of the competition round.

All teams may compete with a clean slate. Past performance or participation in Rounds 1 and 2 do not count toward placement. Teams compete against other teams based on skill level for State Awards and Tier Awards.

​Semifinals

January 20 - January 21, 2023​

(Two Days only)

Image download instructions and links are sent to Coaches at 5 PM Eastern, on or before the Monday prior to the competition round. The StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams at 9 AM Eastern the Friday of the competition round.

​

National Finals

March 17-21, 2023

National Finalist teams compete for National Championship in their respective divisions.