Deployed to the country's long-running war, he spent his days working out how buildings were being used, spotting changes in patterns.

Returning home, a back injury forced him out of the army but any questions Mr Line had about fitting back into civilian life were quickly answered.

"You leave with these fantastic skills that are not necessarily relatable for civilian employers," he said.

An ability to spot anomalies. Practice in breaking down complex problems before solving them. Job candidates with these bullet points on their CV might find themselves on a Department of Human Services shortlist as it builds its new cyber security team.

Human Services will hire 36 veterans in three years as it partners with an employment agency helping ex-defence force personnel find work after life in the military.

Veterans will join the department's cyber security team protecting Australia's $175 billion welfare program from hackers trying to exploit weaknesses.

Mr Line began work this month as one of the department's newest recruits, after his work in Afghanistan set him apart.

Acting chief information officer Charles McHardie, who spent 30 years in the navy, said Mr Line's training in geospatial intelligence gave him the perfect set of skills to join the Human Services cyber security branch.

"To be able to bring those skills in rounds the teams out quite well," he said.

"We're always looking for what is the odd thing out."

Threats to IT systems are growing but industries are preparing for an expected 1.8 million-person global cyber security skills shortage by 2022. Human Services is responding by hiring people with experience that readies them for the work, even if they learn the details on the job. The department, employer to about 34,000 staff, has the scale to train recruits not experienced in cyber defence.

Chief information security officer Narelle Devine, another veteran who served for 23 years in the navy, said the strategy had shielded it from shortages as its cyber security team expanded to 200 staff. It already recruits veterans directly into jobs, and the Veterans' Affairs Department has also helped it give work placements to ex-defence force personnel.

Human Services' newest recruitment drive will open a third avenue for veterans into the department, rotating them through telcos and banks to learn their cyber security methods on the way. It draws on a program set up by training provider WithYouWithMe putting former navy, army and air force personnel into new careers.

Minister for Human Services Michael Keenan said veterans often found the switch to civilian life challenging and the new training partnership would help them build on the skills they gained during military service.

"Their proven leadership and problem solving skills make them ideal candidates to work within our cyber security branch where they will continue to help defend Australia, albeit against a different type of threat," Mr Keenan said.