FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Life balance and employer evals. Editor Lindy Kyzer writes, “Job seekers are increasingly citing work-life balance as a critically important trait in a potential employer. . . . Smartronix conducts regular employee surveys, noted Laurell Aiton, director of human resources at Smartronix. Employees cite the involvement of leadership, and the knowledge that leadership themselves care about work-life balance.”
Career track choices. Contributor Peter Suciu writes, “It is typically said that contractor jobs pay more, the positions are easier to get and are considered to provide for a better work/life balance. By contrast, it is often argued that government jobs have more security and stability, while also providing a truer sense of ‘serving one’s country.’ In today’s job market those could be too simplistic ways to look at the different sides of the argument . . . .”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
War crimes in Syria. Vice News’ Samuel Oakford reports, “The Syrian government has practiced a policy of ‘extermination’ against thousands of detainees, and is guilty of other crimes against humanity and war crimes, UN-appointed investigators have found. . . . Killings outlined in the report were described as taking place with ‘high frequency, over a long period of time and in multiple locations, with significant logistical support involving vast resources.’”
Korea’s Belligerence Strategy. AP’s Tim Sullivan reports, “On Sunday, Pyongyang launched its rocket – which it says was designed only to carry a satellite into orbit, but which much of the world insists was a camouflaged long-range missile test – and then proudly proclaimed its success. Because North Korea learned long ago that it could achieve a great deal with deliberate belligerence.”
Afghanistan: “A generational thing.” Christian Science Monitor’s Anna Mulrine reports, “When candidate Barack Obama laid out his vision for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008, he promised not to get drawn into an ‘endless war.’ Now, as his presidency comes to an end, some military experts are saying that that calculus has changed. . . . In his final appearance before departing as the top commander of American forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell told Congress that perhaps the US should look on its presence there as ‘a generational thing.’”
CONTRACT WATCH
Dog fight: F-35 v. LRSB. Defense One’s Marcus Weisgerber reports, “The two aircraft at the center of the Pentagon’s future-of-war plans are headed for a fierce battle, even though one has never faced off against a foreign rival and the other has never flown. . . . That money will fund two of the most sophisticated and expensive planes ever built, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the new Long Range Strike-Bomber, or LRS-B. The bomber needs cash to get off the ground and the skittish F-35 camp already is worried the new kids will steal from the huge but finite pot.”
Navy sensor networks. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “U.S. Navy researchers are asking for industry’s help in developing new technologies to enable next-generation sensor networking, electromagnetic maneuver warfare, and integrated fires for naval shipboard forces. Officials of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) issued a broad agency announcement on Friday (N00014-16-R-BA07) for the Communications and Interoperability for Integrated Fires (CIIF) future naval capability (FNC) project.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Cybersecurity funding. Federal Times’ Aaron Boyd reports, “Federal agencies need to implement the strongest cybersecurity tools available but with so many competing mission priorities, departments rarely have enough funding to secure their systems. To make sure no agency is breached for lack of funding, the president’s 2017 budget proposal includes a $3.1 billion revolving fund to secure the most high-risk networks.” See also, “Obama’s new cybersecurity plan.”
Horse trading: the Strategic Portfolio Review (SPR) process. Defense News’ Aaron Mehta reports, “As the fiscal year 2017 budget request awaits delivery, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work has kicked off planning of fiscal year 2018 with a memo outlining seven areas set to undergo the Strategic Portfolio Review (SPR) process. The items chosen by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter for study give insight into what the Pentagon presumes will be the key challenges to be addressed in the next budget. The results will guide tradeoffs that need to be taken in the next budget request.”
Army’s CRAM: robotic bugs. Defense One’s Patrick Tucker reports, “CRAM it isn’t the military’s first foray into robotic or semi-robotic insects. The robot fly funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in the video below weighs just 60 milligrams and stands at 3 centimeters tall. But steering remains a real issue.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Messaging. “Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Monday night said he will continue his attacks on President Obama amid criticism from his GOP rivals that the Florida senator sounds scripted. ‘At the end of the day, I’m going to continue to say what I said that night,’ Rubio said . . . . When pressed if he memorizes responses, the Florida senator pushed back and reiterated why he repeats the line.”
Opinionless. “President Obama’s top spokesman put some distance between the White House and Hillary Clinton on Monday, by declining to offer an opinion on whether Clinton should release transcripts of speeches she gave to Goldman Sachs and other corporate interests. The speeches occurred after Clinton left the Obama administration so the White House doesn’t have an opinion about it, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
“When a Disunited Europe Meets Transnational Terrorism.” Lawfare contributor Marc Hecker argues, “To be sure, it is not easy to increase the law enforcement and defense budgets in times of economic crisis. However, the security of Europe – even the future of the European project – is at stake.”
“North Korea’s Latest Missile Test.” Defense One contributor Thomas Karako argues, “. . . we must actively hedge against deterrence failure, not merely for the U.S. homeland but also for forces and allies in the region.”
“Ask questions.” Fast Company contributor Stephanie Vozza writes, “Asking the right questions can mean the difference between success and failure. Unfortunately, asking questions can also feel uncomfortable. . . . The key is to approach questions with the mind-set that they will give you information that will help improve your job performance . . . .”
