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Air Force Seeking Geeks For 'Cyber Command'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the they-also-serve dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Wired reports that the two-star general in charge of the US Air Force's new Cyber Command is looking for hacker-types to beef up its cadre of cyber warriors — no heavy lifting required. 'We have to change the way we think about warriors of the future,' General William Lord says. 'So if they can't run three miles with a pack on their backs but they can shut down SCADA system, we need to have a culture where they fit in.' The Cyber Command is the Air Force's first new Major Command since the early 1990s. Its purpose is to be able to win an electronic war with China and other potential adversaries."

2 of 524 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yeah, right by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Informative

    If they want us, they can bring us in as civilian contractors. Why would anyone want to take a low paying job they can't quit. It doesn't necessarily need to be low-paying. The air-force and navy have been suffering a mass pilot exodus to the commercial industry, so they started implementing retainer bonuses to keep their pilots. There is no reason the military can't do the same for computer guys. In addition, the computers guys don't have to worry about the biggest downside - dying.

    There are perks to being in the military - access to USAA banking and insurance, being able to jump a transport flight to anywhere in the world for free, stay in military housing world wide for a pittance (some of said housing is near resort quality), pension, medical care, etc.

    For the right combination of benefits, it might be a good deal. Of course it would have to be head and shoulders above what they give to the rank and file, but that's the nature of a competitive labor market.

    PS - for you 420 types, there is no drug testing required for a secret clearance, nor most types of top-secret clearances, but they will ask about drug usage as part of the standard questionnaire (along with stuff like defaulted loans, arrest record, etc).
    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  2. Re: Yeah, right. by kooshvt · · Score: 4, Informative

    What the hell screwed up keyboard are you using? My | key is about 8 inches to the RIGHT of the ! key.
    These are possibilities:
    Italian or Portuguese