Cyber Training Environment (CTE)

Mission — Cyber Training Environment source

Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE) supports the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) by enabling the critical need for the DoD Cyber Mission Force (CMF) to train at the individual, team, and force level. PCTE provides the DoD CMF with a standardized training capability that maximizes shared content across the Services. PCTE emulates network environments and connects with other range environments and cyber training assets. The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) was designated as the DoD Acquisition Lead for the PCTE. The program is directed by the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 1645. The PCTE program achieved Milestone B on 6 December 2019. The program received approval to transition from a Major Capability Acquisition program to the Software Acquisition Pathway Execution Phase with a signed Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) dated 2 May 2025 from the Army Acquisition Executive. An updated Cyber Capability Integration and Development System (CCIDS) validated Information System - Capability Development Document (IS- CDD-U) was approved on 8 January 2024. Through ongoing rapid prototyping efforts, the PCTE platform has fulfilled the critical need for a CMF standardized training capability since release of PCTE Version 2 in FY 2020 and continues to do so with each software release through a continuous integration and continuous delivery approach.

Mission — Cyber Training Environment source

PCTE supports USCYBERCOM by enabling the critical need for the DoD CMF to train at the individual, team, and force level. PCTE provides the DoD CMF with a standardized training capability that maximizes shared content across the Services. PCTE emulates network environments and connects with other range environments and cyber training assets. The PEO STRI was designated as the DoD Acquisition Lead for the PCTE, and the program is directed by the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 1645. With the JROC validation of the IS-CDD on 4 November 2019, the PCTE program quickly achieved Milestone B on 6 December 2019. Through ongoing rapid prototyping efforts, the PCTE platform has fulfilled the critical need for a CMF standardized training capability upon release of PCTE Version 2 in Fourth Quarter FY 2020 and continues to do so with ongoing version releases. FY 2024 PCTE funding focused on CDRUSCYBERCOM priorities within platform releases to include capability improvements that enhance CMF operations and support mission readiness. Areas of planned enhancements focus on feature updates and capacity expansion required to deliver initial PCTE schoolhouse training, improved CMF JQRs training and increased mission rehearsal capabilities. The PCTE platform continues collaboration with all stakeholders, within the JCWA, and integration efforts across the JCWA portfolio as prioritized through USCYBERCOM. The PCTE platform maintains accreditations at all required classification levels to serve DoD CMF user training on all domains/classification levels. Platform infrastructure and licensing supports the full DoD CMF user base.

Mission — Cyber Training Environment source

PCTE supports the USCYBERCOM by enabling the critical need for the DoD Cyber Mission Force (CMF) to train at the individual, team, and force level. PCTE provides the DoD CMF with a standardized training capability that maximizes shared content across the Services. PCTE emulates network environments and connects with other range environments and cyber training assets. FY 2026 delivers features that enhance the capability and functionality to improve CMF operations and support to mission readiness. PCTE increases scalability through capacity expansion of the infrastructure at the UNCLASSIFIED, SECRET/RELEASABLE and TOP SECRET enclaves required to deliver accelerated PCTE schoolhouse training, integrate additional cyber skills via third-party commercial courseware, complete content alignment to CMF Job Qualification Requirements (JQRs) training, collective training and increased mission rehearsal capabilities. Planned improvements to the PCTE capability include expanding the environment through additional Cloud capabilities, white cell automation, which will assist in exercise orchestration through the automation of setup, control, and management of the cybersecurity exercises. The program establishes agreements with existing commercial data centers across the continental United States to support the modernized PCTE enterprise systems. Utilizing the commercial data centers across the continental united states reduces latency issues for cyber forces accessing the system from remote, austere locations. PCTE provides the most realistic training environment by leveraging existing technology and services from designated/supporting Cyber Training Ranges, physical cyber test beds, tools, and sensors. The Cyber Resiliency and Training (CRT) product office collaborates with all stakeholders within Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA) to advance the integration efforts across the JCWA portfolio as prioritized through USCYBERCOM. The PCTE platform maintains accreditations at all required classification levels implementing aan Authority to Operate (ATO) approach to serve DoD CMF user training on all domains/classification levels. Platform infrastructure and licensing supports the full DoD CMF user base. Other enhancements focus on the development of a deployable PCTE training-based system to support on-site training in austere environments with limited to trace communications. In FY 2025 PCTE is focusing capability improvements that enhance CMF operations and support to mission readiness. Areas of planned enhancements focused on feature updates and capacity expansion required to deliver accelerated PCTE schoolhouse training, improved CMF Joint Qualification Requirements (JQRs) training and increased mission rehearsal capabilities. Some improvements to the PCTE capability include instructor course management, improved notifications and alerts functionality, and automated environment building. PCTE integrates scalable enterprise platforms for the SECRET/RELEASABLE and TOP SECRET enclaves. PCTE expands infrastructure on existing UNCLASSIFIED platforms. The PCTE platform continues collaboration with all stakeholders and integration efforts across the JCWA portfolio as prioritized through USCYBERCOM. The PCTE platform maintained accreditations at all required classification levels that serve DoD CMF user training on all domains/classification levels. Platform infrastructure and licensing were maintained to support the full DoD CMF user base.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (8)