FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Cover letter counsel. Contributor Julie Mendez advises, beware the template: “While formatting is seemingly a secretarial task, I would caution you not to use templates where you just insert your information. . . . It might be a great idea to print out that template and use it as a reference for spacing, but instead of using it, open a blank document (no form boxes that you insert information), and write/edit it manually.”
The Veteran transition. The Security Clearance Careers Podcast unpacks one Veteran’s story: “Veterans are well-positioned to land government positions. But don’t think veteran’s preference is all it will take to help you land a job. Learn how one veteran made the transition from military service to government service. The transition wasn’t easy, but he offers his tips on what made the transition possible, and how he used his network to finally land his ideal career.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Salvaging Syria’s truce. Reuters’ Stephanie Nebehay & Shadia Nasralla report, “The United Nations mediator on Thursday called on the leaders of the United States and the Russian Federation to salvage the ‘barely alive’ two-month-old ceasefire in Syria and revitalise the damaged peace process. U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura voiced deep concern at the truce unravelling in Aleppo and at least three other hotspots, although he saw some narrowing of positions between the government and opposition visions of political transition.”
Tracking the Kabul Attack Network. The Long War Journal’s Bill Roggio reports, “The US military made an unusual public plea for information yesterday in its hunt for eight members of a terrorist network which is plotting attacks in four provinces in eastern Afghanistan. The organization, known as the Kabul Attack Network, is comprised of fighters from various jihadist groups operating in the country, and has endured for years.”
Fight to fund the future fight: Carter testifies. Defense Media Activity’s Jim Garamone reports, “The fiscal year 2017 Defense Department budget request must, of necessity, take the long view, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee . . . . The secretary said the long view is needed, ‘because, even as we fight today’s fights, we must also be prepared for what might come 10, 20, or 30 years down the road.’”
CONTRACT WATCH
CIA spy contracting gone wrong. Vice News’ Jason Leopold reports, “The CIA violated federal laws and its own internal regulations by hiring independent contractors for a wide variety of intelligence and national security-related work that was supposed to be performed by government employees, according to a CIA Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit report . . . . The report, dated June 22, 2012 but only declassified last month, raised numerous red flags about the CIA’s use of independent contractors throughout all divisions within the agency, and for work performed work in areas that included covert operations and protective security services overseas. By law, that work must be done by CIA employees.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Spy story: CIA’s Robert Levinson. Washington Post contributor Valerie Plame reports, “The tale of Robert Levinson — a retired Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agent turned CIA contractor who disappeared in 2007 from a resort island in the Persian Gulf — underscores the dangers of the multi-headed bureaucratic monster called the CIA.”
The cyber-side of war in Syria. The Small Wars Journal contributor Bryan Lee writes, “The Syrian Civil War has been ongoing for nearly five years and has captured the news headlines for its brutality. It is also notable because communications and social technology have pervaded almost every aspect of this conflict. These technologies have played such a prominent role that the conflict has been described as ‘the most socially mediated civil conflict in history.’”
