The command hopes to attract cyber pros with special incentives, including bonuses and education benefits. It said it will take time to build the force it needs. But it was having trouble winning over Americans who were concerned about privacy.

The Pentagon said it is careful to protect individuals' rights during operations. But there's always the threat that cyber weapons, once unleashed by the military, could get into the wrong hands.

This story is part of Federal News Radio's daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.