How Do Militaries Treat Their Nerds?

An anonymous reader writes "Cyber Warfare is a hot topic these days. A major reorganization may be looming, but a critical component is a culture where technologists can thrive. Two recent articles address this subject. Lieutenant Colonel Greg Conti and Colonel Buck Surdu recently published an article in the latest DoD IA Newsletter stating that 'The Army, Navy, and Air Force all maintain cyberwarfare components, but these organizations exist as ill-fitting appendages (PDF, pg. 14) that attempt to operate in inhospitable cultures where technical expertise is not recognized, cultivated, or completely understood.' In his TaoSecurity Blog Richard Bejtlich added 'When I left the Air Force in early 2001, I was the 31st of the last 32 eligible company grade officers in the Air Force Information Warfare Center to separate from the Air Force rather than take a new nontechnical assignment.' So, Slashdot, how has the military treated you and your technical friends? What changes are needed?"

Comments

If the military sucks, don't joint 'em.

[Kartoffel]

If the military needs nerds, they can always hire civilian contractors.

Alternatively, there are certain nerds who enjoy military culture and do fine there.

Re:If the military sucks, don't joint 'em.

[xrayspx]

Another solution is "Treat everyone like a General, all the time" and you'll be fine no matter what environment you're in. If you speak to your janitorial staff the same way you speak to your CEO, you will gain respect in your organization. If you treat a Private like crap because he's a Private, he will think of you as Lieutenant Jerkass going forward, and probably won't be shy about his opinion.

Re:If the military sucks, don't joint 'em.

[Kartoffel]

There's one more important thing you earned, besides that measely 14.4k per year: respect.

Some civvie contractors may never earn it, regardless of their salaries.

Re:Contract.

[elrous0]

The military these days contracts out EVERYTHING, not just IT stuff. I remember going back to one of my old bases a few years ago and realizing that they didn't even have real MP's at the gates anymore. All the gate security was being contracted out to a private firm. How sad is it when the Army is contracting out one of its most essential functions? We're not talking food services or vending services here, we're talking BASIC PERIMETER SECURITY.

True tech talent is shunned

[kaaona]

As a degreed electrical engineer and Air Force communications *engineering* officer I was expressly confined to assignments within that narrow career field. In a service dominated by flying ("rated") officers that was the kiss of death, career-wise. I was passed over for promotion again and again because I "lacked the breadth of assignments and experience required for advancement". My classmates with history and general studies degrees got the maintenance, operations, and command assignments and promotions I could not.

Now retired from the Air Force and working as an IT contractor, my skills are very much in demand. My salary is probably double that of my peers that got "definitely promote" ratings in uniform.

In my estimation there is absolutely no possibility that the military will ever adopt -- let alone embrace -- the computer nerd culture needed to develop any serious IT capability of its own. Its leadership is too narcissistic and firmly rooted in the past to allow it.

Re:How Do Militaries Treat Their Nerds?

[Whorhay]

Humorous as it may seem in Vietnam soldiers did actually scavenge AK-47's and ammunition from fallen foe's to use rather than the first issued M-16's which where horrendously unreliable in combat conditions.

Re:Stop with the religious aspects?

[bigstrat2003]

The holy-rollers disparage any knowledge that doesn't come from the Bible.

Bullshit. I know many Christians (although I am not one myself), and you know what they believe? They believe that scientific advances are a GOOD THING, because we're getting to understand God's creation better. Indeed, various prominent scientists have been Christians, and I think it was Maxwell who characterized his work as "thinking God's thoughts after him".

Don't get me wrong. Many religious people are great workers. Give them a job to do, convince them that Jesus or Allah will be pleased and they work their butts off. They just don't have leadership skills.

Again, bullshit. Religious people are just like any other people: some are great leaders, some aren't really meant for it, but will excel at their work nonetheless. And, just like any other person, they don't do their work just because "Jesus or Allah will be pleased" (although the Christians I know do believe that working hard is a virtue God favors), they do it because they actually enjoy it. Imagine that!?

Holy fuck, the atheist trolling and intolerance of religion is getting bad here.