New Career Opportunities in Homeland Security - And How to Find Them
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CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 9/11, homeland security
-- once a topic only for defense strategists -- has become a household word.
What's more, it's now a growing career field for those interested in law
enforcement, intelligence, border patrol and more.
"I knew right away I wanted to be in homeland security. I wanted to be
part of the solution," says Charlotte Coylar, an American Public University
System ( http://www.apus.edu ) student majoring in intelligence and currently
working as a contractor for the Department of Defense. "There are some
amazing job opportunities out there."
In fact, within just one federal cabinet department alone -- the
Department of Homeland Security -- nearly 200,000 related jobs have been
created in less than three years.
Getting started
The key to a career in homeland security is the proper training and
education. Fortunately, many higher education institutions are now offering
degrees and certificates in the field.
"We launched our comprehensive homeland security program in May 2001 --
months before 9/11," says Bob Jaffin, chair of American Public University
System's public sector and critical infrastructure studies program. This
distance learning institution serves more than 11,000 students worldwide.
"We saw a need -- and a growing interest -- and built a program using
'real-world' professors, including former CIA agents, forensic scientists,
fire chiefs and former military officers," says Jaffin. He also says that
"reality check" is an important consideration when choosing a program.
"Modern homeland security is so new that textbooks are being written right
now," he says. "It's important to choose an institution with a comprehensive
curriculum taught by diverse faculty members -- those who are experts in a
variety of related career disciplines."
How to compete
Because this new field can be very competitive, future professionals need
to be innovative to win the job. Coylar incorporated terrorism studies into
her degree path. Another student, Army Reserve Staff Sgt. David Moore,
combined traditional courses, distance learning and certification programs to
help prepare him for the job market.
"The United Nations certification I received at American Public University
System and my graduate work in international politics at Temple University
impressed my new employers," says Moore. Moore recently was hired as an
account manager for a private security company.
Finding the jobs
There are plenty of resources on the Internet to find homeland security
and related jobs. Here are a few to begin your search:
-- For career opportunities related to homeland security, visit
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/homeland.asp .
-- For related careers in readiness and security, visit
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/homeland.asp#other .
Here are other resources for related careers:
-- U.S. Secret Service (including a list of upcoming job fairs):
http://www.treas.gov/usss/opportunities_fairs.shtml
-- National Security Agency: http://www.nsa.gov/careers/index.cfm
-- National Institutes of Health: http://www.jobs.nih.gov/current.htm
-- Bureau of Diplomatic Security:
http://www.state.gov/m/ds/career/c8853.htm
-- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
http://www.fema.gov/career/index.jsp
-- Transportation Security Administration:
https://tsacareers.recruitsoft.com/
-- U.S. Customs Department: http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/careers/
-- Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/hrmo/hrmo.htm
More info on American Public University System
American Public University System is comprised of American Public
University, American Military University and American Community College. The
distance learning institution was founded in 1993 as American Military
University. Today, the entire system now supports more than 11,000 students
in 50 states and 110 countries, delivering more than 50 undergraduate and
graduate degree programs as well as certificates in the emergency and disaster
management fields. The University System combines a quality, career-focused
curriculum with the convenience of 100 percent online courses and monthly
class starts. Visit http://www.apus.edu to learn more.
Suspicious powder mailed to several newspapers across the country; FBI investigating
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The Associated Press
The FBI is investigating envelopes containing suspicious powder that were sent to several newspapers, including one in North Carolina, in the last several days.
Among them was an envelope addressed simply to The News that was opened by a Detroit Newspapers' stockroom clerk Tuesday, The Detroit News reported in a Wednesday story.
The envelope included a brown granular substance and a letter that claimed it was "snail poison," said Richard Karstensen, purchasing manager for the agency that handles business operations for The News and the Detroit Free Press.
Three News employees - including Karstensen - were exposed to the substance, but did not suffer any ill effects or undergo any treatment.
Tests hadn't been completed, but the material wasn't believed to be harmful, FBI Special Agent David Brooks said.
The letter received by The News bore a return address of an Arlington, Va., post office box and a Sacramento, Calif., postmark - as did some of the other letters, said FBI spokesman Jeff Tarpinian in Omaha, the field office leading the investigation.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Charlotte Observer received letters Monday, officials at both newspapers said. The FBI was investigating.
No injuries have been reported.
"We always take something like this seriously," said Peter Ridder, publisher of the Observer. "But it's an indication there is some kook out there trying to frighten people."
The Cleveland Plain Dealer received a similar envelope Saturday, but the substance turned out to be onion powder and other seasonings.
A day earlier, The Des Moines Register received a package, prompting the evacuation of 70 employees. Tests confirmed the substance in that letter was the chemical Metaldehyde, possibly from snail poison.