FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Landing the job. Editor Lindy Kyzer advises, “It’s not rocket science (unless you’re looking for a job as a rocket scientist, that is). But it is hard work. Everyone knows the importance of building a great resume and preparing for an interview. The real path to a successful career involves a lot more subtle choices, however. If you’re a cleared professional wanting to work on your career, here are a few subtle tips to help you score a job or land your next career opportunity. . . .”
IT career: lift off! Contributor Charles Simmins reports, “The VA plans to open 27 learning hubs across the nation this year. These sites will utilize both online and in-person course work. Along with the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts and to network, a successful completion will earn one free verified certificate. The hubs were selected for areas that offer the greatest opportunities for veterans in the IT field. They are being developed in partnership with the American Red Cross, The Mission Continues and Coursera.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Russia in Syria: the Bear comes out of the woods. BBC reports, “US Secretary of State John Kerry has called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a bid to clarify the intent of Moscow’s military build-up in Syria. Mr Kerry warned that continued support for President Bashar al-Assad ‘risks exacerbating and extending the conflict’ . . . . The US accuses Russia of boosting its military presence in Syria. Russia—Mr Assad’s ally in the four-year civil war—says it is helping Syria fight Islamic State militants.”
China keeps building. Reuters’ David Brunnstrom reports, “China was carrying out land reclamation in contested waters of the South China Sea this month, more than four weeks after saying it had stopped such activity . . . . The evidence of continued dredging in the Spratly archipelago could complicate a visit to the United States by Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, when U.S. concerns about China’s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia are expected to be high on the agenda.”
North Korea ready to launch. Christian Science Monitor’s Annika Fredrickson reports, “North Korea is ‘fully ready’ to launch nuclear weapons against the US or other ‘hostile forces,’ said a Korean official on Tuesday. And the US is ready to respond, say Pentagon officials. . . . Pentagon officials say the US military is fully prepared to handle a North Korean threat if it were to arise and that they have taken precautionary measures to limit and de-escalate tensions.”
CONTRACT WATCH
Saudi’s like Lockheed’s littoral combat ship. Defense News’ Christopher P. Cavas reports, “The long-awaited deal to choose the frigates for Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Fleet modernization program could be closed before the end of the year . . . and the choice of ship will come as little surprise — a variant of Lockheed Martin’s littoral combat ship (LCS). A letter of request (LoR) from the Saudi Navy that detailed requirements for the program was signed in early August . . . and the Saudis have reportedly asked the US Navy and Lockheed to complete a letter of agreement by November. After that, it’s up to the Saudis to agree to the US Foreign Military Sales program and sign.”
Welcome to London’s Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition. Defense One contributor Aamna Mohdin reports, “Some of the world’s most repressive regimes are coming to London to go shopping—for military weapons. . . . Of the 61 countries invited, 14 are authoritarian regimes and four are on the British government’s own ‘countries of concern’ list. The event is supported by the UK’s ministry of defense and export promotion agency.
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
ISIS intel magic show. The New York Times’ Mark Mazzetti and Matt Apuzzo report, “A group of intelligence analysts have provided investigators with documents they say show that senior military officers manipulated the conclusions of reports on the war against the Islamic State, according to several government officials, as lawmakers from both parties voiced growing anger that they may have received a distorted picture about the military campaign’s progress. . . . The matter is complicated because the analysts who made the complaint work for the Defense Intelligence Agency — it was created to be immune from the pressures and biases of the officers leading the war — but are supervised by officers at Centcom.”
Easy Android hack. Wired’s Andy Greenberg reports, “If you protect your Android phone with a password rather than an unlock pattern or PIN, you may want to keep it in your sight a little more carefully than usual. A new, dead-simple attack could allow anyone who gets their hands on it to bypass that password lock with no more skill than it takes to cut and paste a long string of characters.”
