Earlier quoted context omitted.
Used to work in this field. You're correct: not being able to talk about it is the worst part. This is equally true of successes as well as challenges. I did some cool, very impactful stuff in that job. I will go to jail for a long, long time if I ever go into detail about it.
Is there any type of internal support where you're allowed to chat about it?
US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
141–150 of 220 posts
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#142Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was, on a technical level, the most interesting work I’ve ever done. What people say about the US government being ahead of the commercially available technology curve is certainly true. The work I did absolutely had positive impact on the world. People rush to criticize and write off working in the defense sector, but it can be a very rewarding place to work. There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad man…
> There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad management and regulatory capture being primary among them. (Ultimately, those are why I left.) Where does 'murder' rank in your list of problems with 'the defense' sector? Is it above or below the number of vacation days?
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#143Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was, on a technical level, the most interesting work I’ve ever done. What people say about the US government being ahead of the commercially available technology curve is certainly true. The work I did absolutely had positive impact on the world. People rush to criticize and write off working in the defense sector, but it can be a very rewarding place to work. There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad man…
> There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad management and regulatory capture being primary among them. (Ultimately, those are why I left.) Where does 'murder' rank in your list of problems with 'the defense' sector? Is it above or below the number of vacation days?
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The US is a net oil exporter, while China halved their oil imports [2]. This seems to be the opposite point you want. Everybody is going to have increased expenses for everything due to their oil dependency _except_ China. Which will raise the price of Chinese exports to the market price but giving China a lot of producer surplus. Or China can keep doing it's Belt & Road plans and grant other countries money to hel…
It's believed China managed to halve oil imports due to large (undisclosed) reserves, emergency public policies and overdriving coal use, but this can't last. China is also extremely dependent on Russian oil, which is a country at conflict and having its key infrastructure destroyed. China is building their renewable energy capacity fast, but this has to be quick started on oil. Increasing oil prices have the double…
This is beyond arrogant and makes discussion impossible. Your opinion is not automatically a 100% accurate reflection reality because you have citations.
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was, on a technical level, the most interesting work I’ve ever done. What people say about the US government being ahead of the commercially available technology curve is certainly true. The work I did absolutely had positive impact on the world. People rush to criticize and write off working in the defense sector, but it can be a very rewarding place to work. There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad man…
> There are absolutely problems in that sector - bad management and regulatory capture being primary among them. (Ultimately, those are why I left.) Where does 'murder' rank in your list of problems with 'the defense' sector? Is it above or below the number of vacation days?
Tech workers for Silicon Valley daily enable and positively contribute to the pervasive surveillance and exploitation of the majority of the world. To the point the poors cant even open the app or walk into the store without an algorithm raises prices to the mathematical max this person can afford. But they only complain when free bananas are removed from the snacks.
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#146Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
Used to work in this field. You're correct: not being able to talk about it is the worst part. This is equally true of successes as well as challenges. I did some cool, very impactful stuff in that job. I will go to jail for a long, long time if I ever go into detail about it.
Wow crazy, what’s it like having a job with absolutely zero ethical consideration?
I definitely do, I would rather work in the military than Meta/Amazon/Microsoft/Any online gambling/and loads of other shit companies.
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#148Wasn't there something similar with scientists recently? I wonder how much of that is just statistical noise.
yep, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyw9rpdl4po > "The US Top Secret-cleared aerospace and nuclear workforce is ~700,000 people," science writer, investigator and pseudoscience debunker Mick West wrote on 16 April on his Substack. > "Ordinary mortality over 22 months predicts ~4,000 deaths, ~70 homicides, and ~180 suicides. The list has 10 … The deaths are real. The families' grief is real. The pattern is not."…
A useful comparator is military suicides, which are a growing problem; among enlisted ranks (E1-E4) the rate is about 26/100k. Enlisted personnel tend to be younger, less well educated, have less personal autonomy, and earn less money etc. Among commissioned officers (with command authority) and warrant officers (occupational specialists) the rate falls to ~14/100k, nearly half. Non-combat morbidity exhibits similar disparities. I would guess that the selectivity for TS clearance is more rigorous that the occupational qualification alone.
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#149"Between early June and early July, as many as five individuals who worked in or closely with US Cyber Command died by suicide, based on internal communications, public records and sources. The deaths have raised concern among lawmakers and military leaders within the highly secretive command, which is responsible for defending US networks and conducting offensive cyber operations." According to https://www.gao.gov/a…
> In some cases, they suffer from insomnia, memory loss, rumination and physical illness, So, like most middle-aged desk jockeys then? > “There’s always a crisis and everything’s always a priority,” said Schoka. “We would burn people out faster than we could produce them.” Sounds a lot like my job...
Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide
#150Glad to see this brought up! My entire Air Force experience is blocked to comment on besides basic training...Tech school and forward is NDA'd, read in, etc You don't really get to sneak a glimpse of operations and write a book like the SEALs seem get to (jk!)