FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Drugs and clearance. Contributor Sean Bigley advises, “There are many factors that security clearance adjudicators consider in reaching a determination on cases involving substance abuse. One of the most important factors is the recency of the conduct. The recency (and frequency) of an applicant’s adverse conduct is relevant under any guideline, but it is especially important in drug cases because – unlike, say, debt or security violations – substance abuse frequently involves addiction. Only the passage of time alleviates concerns about possible relapse.”
GI Bills demystified. Contributor Ron Kness explains, “For veterans having both GI Bills, making the decision of which one to use can be confusing. With at least three years of eligible service, both GI Bills provide 36 months of education benefits. Both pay for degree, non-degree, on-the-job (OJT)/apprenticeships, certifications and licensing programs. So what are the biggest differences?”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Taliban hit Pakistan. AP’s Riaz Khan and Munir Ahmed report, “The Pakistani Taliban launched a brazen assault on a military base on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar early Friday, storming a mosque inside the sprawling compound and killing 16 worshippers during prayers. . . . The attack was a major blow for Pakistan’s military, which stepped up operations against the militants following a horrific Taliban attack last December at a Peshawar school that killed 150 people, mostly children.”
Haqqani Camp Salahadin Ayyubi. The Long War Journal’s Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss report, “In a video released almost two weeks ago that included a speech from Siraj Haqqani and several advertisements of the Taliban’s relationship with al Qaeda, the Taliban also showcased a training camp that is run by the Haqqani Network. . . . The location of the camp was not disclosed, however, it is likely in eastern Afghanistan where the Haqqanis are known to operate, or in North Waziristan, Pakistan, where the network also maintains a headquarters.”
Raising China’s hackles. Reuters’ reports, “China said on Friday it was “extremely concerned” about a suggestion from a top U.S. commander that U.S. ships and aircraft should challenge China’s claims in the South China Sea by patrolling close to artificial islands it has built. China’s increasingly assertive action to back up its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea have included land reclamation and the construction of ports and air facilities on several reefs in the Spratly Islands.”
CONTRACT WATCH
Cold war ramping up. Defense One’s Marcus Weisgerber reports, “Russia’s invasion of Crimea and its aggressive stances along Europe’s eastern borders have NATO militaries racing to rebuild their combined-arms skills — and Western defense companies revamping their product lines to suit. . . . Much has changed in the two years since a thousand-plus weapons manufacturers last gathered at this massive arms bazaar in southeast London.”
Drone swarms. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., released a broad agency announcement Wednesday (DARPA-BAA-15-59) for the Gremlins program, which relies on relatively inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in volley quantities to saturate enemy defenses. The Gremlins approach would launch swarms of UAVs with a variety of surveillance and electronic warfare (EW) payloads from aircraft beyond enemy air defenses, and then recover surviving UAVs when they have completed their missions.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Ransomware. Wired’s Kim Zetter reports, “Earlier this year, the FBI issued an alert warning that all types of ransomware are on the rise. Individuals, businesses, government agencies, academic institutions, and even law enforcement agents have all been victims. The malware can infect you via a malicious email or website, or attackers can deliver it straight to your computer if they’ve already infected it with a backdoor through which they can enter.”
Tech future of defense. Defense Media Activity’s Cheryl Pellerin reports, “The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s ‘Wait, What?’ Future Technology Forum wrapped up . . . with a remembrance of those who died on 9/11 and presentations covering the bleeding edges of everything from extraterrestrial life and cold molecules to lighting up the living brain. More than 1,400 scientists and engineers engaged on those and many other topics during the sold-out Sept. 9-11 forum. Writing in the Wait, What? activity feed, one attendee likened it to the best science fair ever, on steroids. More than a few said it was the best meeting they’d ever attended.”
