WASHINGTON – Before the FBI announced it had arrested a suspect within the leak of dozens of highly sensitive Ukrainian war documents – a few of which were created to inform the best echelons of the Pentagon – few would have suspected the 21-year-old National Guard as a possible perpetrator.
The FBI apprehended Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira at his mother’s home Thursday after he was involved in the largest national security breach in a minimum of 10 years.
The junior aviator is accused of uploading classified and top-secret documents to Discord, a social media platform for gamers, from which they’ve been scattered across several web sites.
Teixeira, an airman 1st class, held the bottom non-commissioned officer rank the Air Force gives to enlisted men.
His job as a journeyman in cybertransportation systems would require him to work not in intelligence evaluation but in IT infrastructure.
So how could such a young, low-ranking squad gain access to so many critical secrets?
There are several possible explanations:
![Jack Teixeira](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/pantagon-leak-docs-011.jpg?w=1024)
The Pentagon often issues security clearances to soldiers as young as 18 years old.
Some service members require security clearances as soon as they join the military, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday.
“Depending on the job, it’s possible you’ll require a security clearance,” Ryder said. “When you work in an intelligence environment and wish a security clearance, you’ll pass the suitable background check”
Even in his lowly rank – only two ranks above the newly enlisted airmen – Teixeira’s skilled specialty might require a license.
![The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One flying over Washington.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Leaked_Documents_Investigation_48147-26d3c-1.jpg?w=1024)
Journeymen of cyber transportation systems may require higher clearance levels
While officials didn’t say whether Teixeira had a security clearance, his job as a Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman (CTSJ) can have required him to work and protect sensitive communications channels.
That is because CTSJs are “First Line Technicians and Trainers of the Air Force”, maintaining the infrastructure of the military’s most advanced cyber networks which can be used to securely send and receive highly sensitive information.
“[CTSJs] increase our capabilities and supply us with the most effective and safest systems in order that we are able to stay ahead of the competition in every little thing we do.
![Jack Teixeira](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/nyp-grab-82-2.jpg?w=1024)
His unit can have had the required access to foreign intelligence
While it’s unclear why cybertransport apprentices would want to know highly sensitive intelligence, it’s possible that Teixeira’s work at 102.
Although Ryder declined Thursday to say whether Teixeira’s unit was assigned to support U.S. efforts to help Ukraine, the 102nd provides intelligence to airmen assigned to each domestic and foreign U.S. military operations.
“Our mission is to provide worldwide precision intelligence, command and control alongside trained and experienced airmen for expeditionary combat support and homeland security,” the 102nd Division states on its website.
With this mission, it is feasible that the 102nd may very well be tasked with providing intelligence related to Ukraine.
![Department of Defense Press Secretary Gen. Patrick S. Ryder](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/1482002265.jpg?w=1024)
The military is working on the backs of young people
About two-thirds of American servicemen are under 30, and most of that group are under 25 – meaning the Pentagon will simply be more likely to provide security clearances to personnel who aren’t yet of legal drinking age.
As of 2021, nearly 600,000 service members were 25 and under; 290,000 were between the ages of 26 and 30; 200,000 between the ages of 31 and 35; and 150,000 were between the ages of 36 and 40. Only 100,000 soldiers – or lower than 10% of the military – are 41 years old and older.
“We’re giving our members a number of responsibility at a really young age,” Ryder told reporters on Thursday. “Consider a young combat platoon sergeant and the responsibility and trust we place in these individuals to lead troops into battle – this is only one example of many areas.”
The Pentagon had previously activated National Guard units in support of the war effort in Ukraine.
While the National Guard is best known for its domestic duties, corresponding to responding to riots and natural disasters, the USA also can activate military reserve forces for overseas assignments.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously urged National Guard units to deploy to Europe to support Ukraine in its nearly 14-month effort.
For instance, one leaked document that The Post reviewed on Thursday suggests that a North Dakota National Guard reconnaissance squadron was involved in analyzing Ukrainian drone strikes on targets in Bakhmut, where essentially the most intense fighting has taken place recently.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon has to date not publicly announced the activation of National Guard units to support Ukraine’s war effort from the US homeland.