SIGNAL Magazine - “Service Members and Veterans Face a New Cyber-Meets-Cognitive Battlefield”
Hannah Becker, along with co-authors Welton Chang and Michael Meehan, recently published an article in SIGNAL Magazine—Service Members and Veterans Face a New Cyber-Meets-Cognitive Battlefield. This powerful piece sheds light on how America’s military community has become a high-value target in the age of information warfare, where foreign adversaries seek to weaponize trust, influence, and digital spaces.
The article explains how veterans’ unique credibility makes them especially vulnerable to manipulation. With eight out of ten Americans expressing high trust in veterans, hostile actors—including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—see opportunities to exploit their voices as trusted messengers. From fake news outlets that mimic legitimate media to online personas disguised as fellow veterans, adversaries are using increasingly sophisticated methods to push propaganda, recruit unwitting participants, and amplify discord within American society.
The analysis highlights specific tactics: Russia’s covert media fronts and disinformation bots; China’s attempts to recruit veterans through deceptive job postings; Iran’s malware-laced employment ads; and North Korea’s cyber intrusions into defense contractors employing former service members. These efforts are not abstract—they are already shaping conversations around domestic politics, military operations, and even veterans’ mental health, underscoring the real-world consequences of cognitive warfare.
Equally important, Becker and her co-authors provide a path forward. They call for awareness as the first line of defense, urging service members, veterans, and their families to sharpen their digital literacy, verify information sources, and recognize adversary tactics online. The piece also recommends collective action—partnering with trusted veteran organizations, government agencies, and nonprofits to deliver training and resources that strengthen community resilience, particularly for those nearing separation or retirement.
Through a clear and urgent lens, Service Members and Veterans Face a New Cyber-Meets-Cognitive Battlefield is both a warning and a call to action. It reminds us that while veterans may no longer serve on the physical frontlines, they remain at the center of an emerging conflict where influence, trust, and digital integrity are at stake.