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October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Here's What That Means for You.

MARADMIN 496/26·October 14, 2026·2 min read·Official source

The Marine Corps published MARADMIN 496/26 to mark October 2026 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. There's no new policy here, but there are clear behavioral expectations for every Marine and civilian who touches a Marine Corps network or device. The message also flags two emerging threats worth knowing about: AI-enhanced phishing and the long-term risk of quantum computing to current encryption.

★ Affects all reservists: If you use a Marine Corps system, network, or device, this applies to you, even if you only log in at drill.

Who it affects

Everyone. Commanders, cybersecurity professionals, and all authorized users of Marine Corps networks and information systems. That includes SMCR, IMA, and IRR Marines who access government systems, email, or devices during IDT, AT, or any other duty.

What you need to do

Most of this is awareness, but a few behaviors are specifically called out as required of all personnel:

  1. Protect your credentials and information. Do not share passwords or leave accounts exposed.
  2. Use Marine Corps systems only as authorized. No unauthorized applications, devices, or workarounds.
  3. Accept authorized updates. Do not dismiss or delay them.
  4. Do not bypass, disable, or work around cybersecurity controls.
  5. Stay alert to phishing, suspicious links and attachments, unexpected removable media, and abnormal system behavior.
  6. Report suspicious activity immediately through your command's established procedures (your local Information System Security Manager (ISSM), Information System Security Officer (ISSO), system administrator, or help desk). Do not try to investigate or fix a suspected incident yourself.

For commanders and cybersecurity representatives, the MARADMIN recommends practical unit activities during October: short weekly awareness events (10-15 minutes), reviewing incident-reporting procedures, tabletop exercises, and recognizing Marines who report suspicious activity promptly.

Key dates

  • October 2026: Cybersecurity Awareness Month observance window. No hard administrative deadline.

The official version

Source: MARADMIN 496/26

Supporting resources cited in the message:

POC for questions: W. J. Bush, HQMC DC I IC4, william.bush@usmc.mil, 703-693-3490. Also R. Staten, roddy.staten@usmc.mil, 571-256-8875.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    This is CISA's Cybersecurity Awareness Month page, offering practical guidance on protecting systems and data through steps like multifactor authentication, software updates, phishing reporting, and incident response planning. Reservists working with government networks or unit data may find the checklists and free CISA hygiene services directly applicable to their responsibilities.

  • National Cybersecurity Alliance (Stay Safe Online)

    This is the National Cybersecurity Alliance's Stay Safe Online website, a public resource offering articles, toolkits, and videos on personal and professional cybersecurity topics such as scam avoidance, AI safety, and protecting sensitive accounts. Reservists who want practical guidance on staying secure online, both in their civilian careers and daily lives, will find straightforward, accessible material here.

  • NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography resources

    This is NIST's official hub for post-quantum cryptography standards, explaining why today's encryption may eventually be broken by quantum computers and what federal agencies are required to do about it. Reservists working in IT, cybersecurity, or communications fields may want to review it because these standards are mandatory for federal systems and relevant to any Marine Corps networks or systems they support.

  • NSA Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Resources

    This NSA page outlines the agency's current guidance on post-quantum cryptography, including its selected quantum-resistant algorithms and its position that quantum key distribution is not recommended for protecting National Security Systems. Marines working in communications, cybersecurity, or IT roles may want to review it to understand where official policy stands as the Defense Department moves toward quantum-resistant encryption standards.

  • Department of War Post Quantum Cryptography Strategy

    This document outlines the Department of War's strategy for replacing current military encryption systems before adversaries can use quantum computing to break them. Reserve Marines may want to read it because nearly every deployed military asset is affected, and it sets the direction for how the systems they rely on for communications and command and control will be secured going forward.

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