Air Force Seeking Geeks For 'Cyber Command'

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."

In the words of another military leader:

[UnknowingFool]

Admiral Ackbar: It's a TRAP!

Re:Yeah, right

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

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).

Re:this is good but

[Dr_Barnowl]

He's not using a "unique font". He's using a <tt> tag.

Re:this is good but

[aproposofwhat]

"mens sana in corpus sana"

And if you don't understand that, it's probably because you haven't done enough exercise....

No, it's probably because you've mangled the Latin - it's Mens sana in corpore sano [wikipedia.org]

Just being a Latin Nazi :)

Re: Yeah, right.

[kooshvt]

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 [wikipedia.org] or Portuguese [wikipedia.org]

Re: Yeah, right.

[Forseti]

French-Canadian... [wikipedia.org]

Re:At least I know

[kent_eh]

That explains it...

I work for a telecom company in Canada, and every time I encounter American techs (at training, or vendor staff) they all have some military background.

I was beginning to think everyone in the USA was formerly in the service.

I wonder if the current military reality in the 'states is having a negative effect on recruitment of techies who want the same deal as you got, without the risks of getting dead on the other side of the planet?

Re:At least I know

[Anonymous Coward]

Too bad there's no low impact way of helping out, kinda like the Army Reserve, but for geeks.

How about playing with the United States's largest shortwave radio network? The Civil Air Patrol is available. Check out a local unit and tell them what you are interested in. BTW, Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force.

http://cap.findlocation.com/ [findlocation.com]

Re:Electronics techs can be sent into harms way ..

[budgenator]

Actually you can quit up to 180 days without any legal repercussions, you don't get an "Honorable", but a Entry level separation (ELS) [wikipedia.org], that isn't a big deal anymore either. On the 181st day a lot of veteran's benefits kick in and it's difficult to get out without a General Discharge [wikipedia.org], but it's possible to get a hardship discharge that avoids the bad papers of a General Discharge. After your military obligation is fulfilled you can then just resign, but that's a serious action.

Generally the contract will be fulfilled if they give you the training you want, assign you to the duty station you want and your in a unit that uses your Military Occupation Specialty. If the 1SG in the unit decides your a better asset doing something your pretty much SOL.