Back in November 2014, SOFREP writer Frumentarius wrote an excellent piece titled Top 5 Qualifications for CIA’s Clandestine Service, which outlined the checklist of resume items for aspiring spies. The list included background prerequisites such as military experience, language, experience abroad, higher education, and life experience. In this article, I will discuss some of … [Read more...] about 8 attributes of an effective CIA Intel Officer
It was cold. What is it that they say? “Bone chilling?” Yeah, that was about right. And it was windy as all hell, too. It was as if God had looked down and said “Ya know what, Gabriel? (one of his main angels) I haven’t messed with J for a minute…watch this…” I mean, I knew that the area I had deployed to was known for its cold and windy winters but good Lord. Overall though, I … [Read more...] about JP’s Adventures in Spyland: First dates and spilled drinks
Check out Part 1, "Room Service" here. Once I had “paper walked” -- mapped -- my tentative routes and filled my belly, I figured that it was time to hit the streets and do some spy sh-. OK full disclosure – "spy sh-" meant, at that point, nothing more than looking like the bumbling, lost tourist that I actually was. In an optimal situation, I would have been met by … [Read more...] about JP’s Adventures in Spyland: Sightseeing and a bit of shopping
Note: The following articles in this series may have taken place during real-world events... or it may have just been a training exercise... either way, no methods, sources or secrets were or will be divulged. This is all generic stuff that you can read in any "spy" novel---so take a puff of your inhaler and calm down, OPSEC Nazi. As soon as I stepped out of the … [Read more...] about JP’s Adventures in Spyland: Room service
For many people born after about 1975, the 80’s was a time of adventure and rebirth from the gas shortages and economic downturn of the decade before. The first space shuttle, Columbia made its maiden flight in 1981; movie goers could take in everything from Terms of Endearment to Friday the 13th; and the geek in us could spazz out over the first personal computer launched by … [Read more...] about Airspace conflict before Open-Skies, Korean Airlines Flight 007
Something just wasn't right. I knew that I was probably overreacting, but I also knew that my instincts had saved my ass more times than I could count, and the times that I didn't listen were the times that said ass got kicked. I looked around at the people in the room, and it seemed that they could sense the uncertainty as well. Every now and then I could hear muttering … [Read more...] about College and my success at failing to fit in – Part 1
Not too long ago, I contacted a friend who is still in the community. He and I keep in regular contact, so the fact that I was calling was not out of the ordinary. The reason for my call, however, was. "Hey man, I have someone that I believe your employer might be interested in." Sounds Hollywood-esque, but I had learned enough to know that it was not smart, nor was there a … [Read more...] about Can the US intelligence community overcome its institutional roadblocks?
I recently had the opportunity to interview Anthony Hassan, Ed.D, LCSW, President and CEO of Cohen Veteran's Network, an organization founded with the mission to "strengthen mental health outcomes and complement existing support, with a particular focus on post-traumatic stress." This is a simple but encompassing statement that sums up Cohen Veterans Network and Dr. Hassan's … [Read more...] about SOFREP Writer James Powell interviews CEO of Cohen Veterans Network
Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 here. OK, so now it is time to hit that SEND button. So far, we have looked at some of the in's and out's of USAJOBS, the online venue that most folks use to search and apply for U.S. government jobs. Two things should be noted here. First, USAJOBS is only one of the ways that people search for government jobs (there is also Monster.com, etc.) … [Read more...] about How to submit your application and land that federal job (Part 4)
President-elect Donald Trump added to the growing list of nominees to fill his cabinet when it was announced that he had named Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS) as his pick to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Pompeo is the latest in a list of controversial (to some) nominees that include Jeff Sessions (R-AL, U.S. Attorney General), and retired Lieutenant … [Read more...] about Trump taps Congressman Mike Pompeo to head CIA
Aaanndd we're back. Previously, we looked at the administrative details of the USAJOBS announcement, including the salary and location. This time, we will get to the meat-and-potatoes (you have my word that I will never use terms that my grandparents did again) of the announcement and - next to the salary - the part that most jump right to anyway, the Job Summary, Duties, and … [Read more...] about How to hunt down and land that Fed job: USAJOBS (Part 3)
Sometimes while I am working I like to throw in my wireless headphones and either listen to music or watch movies on my non-exploding Samsung Note 5 Android. Most of the time, I am content with really just listening while I work, even to movies, if I have seen them before. (I am on my 10th listening of Batman vs. Superman—don't judge me.) But every now and then a movie or book … [Read more...] about Movie review: ‘The Siege of Jadotville’
