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US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

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141–150 of 268 posts

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#141
post #77

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?

There are chaplains and in-agency psychologists, both can have classified conversations with you. The problem is that you cannot change the underlying causes of any illness/sickness

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#142

Earlier 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?

A bit of an unconstructive, unwarranted jab, if I may say so.

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#143

Earlier 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?

Is the implication here that we should take the moral high ground and let our adversaries murder us first?

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#144

Earlier 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…

> Please note none of this my opinion, the current US foreign policy strategy is a public fact.

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

#145

Earlier 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?

Ah. Cool story bro. Meanwhile private equity doctors let their private corp owners kill people over insurance denials. But complain only when their malpractice copay rises.

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

#146
post #124
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US and Russia are allies.

No, despite what the conservatives and Fox News say, we are not

Does US know it ? Coz it certainly acts like one for most part of the war

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#147

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.

Wow crazy, what’s it like having a job with absolutely zero ethical consideration?

I think most people think the ethical values are far higher in those jobs than most random startup bs just wasting resources.

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

#148
post #3

Wasn'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."…

I'm not sure how much value there is in comparing it with ordinary mortality considering the fairly strict selectivity on handing out TS clearances. You're definitely not going to give one to anyone who looks like an alcoholic or habitual drug user. You'll be less likely to give one out to people who struggle with cravings like heavy smokers or the morbidly obese. Gambling and financial instability are are also exclusionary factors. You would prioritize people who are highly disciplined and exhibit a preference for fitness and a survival mindset in general. So before you get into psychological issues at all, your population will be significantly healthier than the median, less likely to fall victim to homicide, and have fewer life problems than the general population.

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...

Ah yes- your old job where your boss could put you on twelve hour shiftwork indefinitely while making you pt while denying you adequate housing or food all under the threat of military justice and telling you if you tell anyone anything you're breaking a dozen national security laws.

Re: US Military's cyber command unit grapples with cluster of deaths by suicide

#150

Glad 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!)

Your tech school is not nda'd.
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