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British Intelligence Looking for Recruits with Gaming Skills

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 17 comments

Calling all young gamers.

The UK's Government Communications Head Quarters, also known as GCHQ, has announced a new apprenticeship scheme for young people and is specifically looking for recruits from the "Xbox generation." Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the new scheme during a speech at Bletchley Park, home to the National Codes Centre and the National Museum of Computing.

"[...] Today, I am announcing a new development programme for Apprentices, which will help to identify and develop talent in school and university age students and give opportunities to 70 new recruits for GCHQ and our other Intelligence Agencies," said Hague, adding that GCHQ will no longer only recruit annual, nor will it be looking only for those with a university degree. Instead, the Government Communications HQ will be looking for individuals with relevant experience or vocation qualifications as part of an effort to attract a wide pool of talent.

Hague said if the UK is to maintain a leading role on cyber issues, it must 'harness' experts from the 'Xbox generation' who have grown up a digital world filled with social media, interactive gaming, and global connectivity.

The Foreign Office says those participating in the SIA Apprentices scheme will be part of a two-year program that will offer a Foundation degree in Communications, Security and Engineering from De Montfort University and a Level 4 Diploma in IT, Software, Web and Telecommunications Professional competence.

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Top Comments
  • 17 Hide
    cats_Paw , October 19, 2012 9:15 AM
    From Xbox? Even from PC sounds a bit far feched, but Xbox? Next thing we will hear is they are looking for Wii Gamers :D .
Other Comments
  • 17 Hide
    cats_Paw , October 19, 2012 9:15 AM
    From Xbox? Even from PC sounds a bit far feched, but Xbox? Next thing we will hear is they are looking for Wii Gamers :D .
  • 0 Hide
    saudagar , October 19, 2012 9:57 AM
    Basically looking for forces to combat cyber warfare as China leads that in the world and in the clout of gaming skills bah.
    Quote:
    two-year program that will offer a Foundation degree in Communications, Security and Engineering from De Montfort University and a Level 4 Diploma in IT, Software, Web and Telecommunications Professional competence.
  • Display all 17 comments.
  • 0 Hide
    samuelspark , October 19, 2012 10:42 AM
    T.T Where's the US version for PC?
  • 2 Hide
    Anonymous , October 19, 2012 11:01 AM
    yu n33dz 5p34k 1337!!1
  • 1 Hide
    joytech22 , October 19, 2012 11:54 AM
    Quote:
    Level 4 Diploma in IT


    The f**k is that?
    I have a Diploma in IT and that's the 5'th level here.
    Level 4 here is Certificate 4.
  • 8 Hide
    CrArC , October 19, 2012 11:55 AM
    So they want candidates for cyber security applications... and their number one choice is a cesspool of illiterate teenagers screaming about each other's mothers while clutching crappy console controllers?
  • 3 Hide
    ojas , October 19, 2012 12:06 PM
    Erm...the Xbox Generation?
  • 0 Hide
    lpedraja2002 , October 19, 2012 1:35 PM
    Quote:
    ...if the UK is to maintain a leading role on cyber issues, it must 'harness' experts from the 'Xbox generation' who have grown up a digital world filled with social media, interactive gaming, and global connectivity.


    They already lost that "leading" role when they allowed the Foreign Secretary to harness "experts" from the 'Xbox generation' Someone please send an email to that moron and tell him that it's the PC gamers he's supposed to be looking for or anyone who shows even the slightest talent on PC's which doesn't include surfing on facebook.
  • 2 Hide
    Anonymous , October 19, 2012 1:57 PM
    Headline is misleading; they are NOT looking for XBox gamers. From a different article "The program implies selection of the best 18-year-old candidates among promising techno freaks with proven science, technology, and engineering backgrounds." The guy uses the phrase "XBox generation" and everyone leaps to conclusions, including the author of this article.
  • 0 Hide
    LaughALot , October 19, 2012 2:36 PM
    I would think they would want people that think outside the box.
  • 0 Hide
    djscribbles , October 19, 2012 2:56 PM
    Generation X... box
  • 0 Hide
    azraa , October 19, 2012 3:01 PM
    Cats_PawFrom Xbox? Even from PC sounds a bit far feched, but Xbox? Next thing we will hear is they are looking for Wii Gamers .

    +1 this dude.
    Man, everytime I read xbox gamers or wii gamers, my eyes catch on fire. Blasphemy!


    @Article, however, the UK government has it right. You cant expect to lead trends on IT or general connectivity if you dont actually understand how the majority (young ppl) handles comms, interactions, slangs and actual goals for the internet in the country. Recruiting night crawlers and butthurt dwellers like us seems like a viable option, given some qualifications (studying engineering or IT carreers, or pro gamers from SC2/other rts leagues atc) are proven.
    Besides, again, you cant expect to handle the internet, not even by chance, by letting old and outphased seniors with no expertice in how to actually use the internet for media interpretation, even if they are crazy good programmers or systems admin.
  • 0 Hide
    infernocy , October 19, 2012 5:59 PM
    British Intelligence Looking for Recruits with Gaming Skills --
    are you serious --- you put intelligence next to british and then you bring xbox ???

  • 0 Hide
    Anonymous , October 19, 2012 7:49 PM
    All the poking fun at the XBox Generation™ comment kind of misses how it proves the point that the GCHQ is out of touch with the gaming generation. That's why they're trying to recruit people who can understand their peers.
  • 0 Hide
    ojas , October 20, 2012 6:07 AM
    ArglebargHeadline is misleading; they are NOT looking for XBox gamers. From a different article "The program implies selection of the best 18-year-old candidates among promising techno freaks with proven science, technology, and engineering backgrounds." The guy uses the phrase "XBox generation" and everyone leaps to conclusions, including the author of this article.

    Yeah 18-year olds pre-date consoles. They're more like the PC generation.
  • 0 Hide
    jisamaniac , October 21, 2012 1:47 AM
    Xbox players know about AES? Interesting...please tell me more.
  • 1 Hide
    assasin32 , October 21, 2012 4:55 AM
    Seems like they should have just said we want young talented people instead of "Xbox generation" that just makes that "generation" sound like a bunch of stupid whining crybabies tbh.