British Intelligence Looking for Recruits with Gaming Skills

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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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Jane McEntegart
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cats_Paw
    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.
    Reply
  • saudagar
    Basically looking for forces to combat cyber warfare as China leads that in the world and in the clout of gaming skills bah.
    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.
    Reply
  • samuelspark
    T.T Where's the US version for PC?
    Reply
  • yu n33dz 5p34k 1337!!1
    Reply
  • joytech22
    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.
    Reply
  • CrArC
    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?
    Reply
  • ojas
    Erm...the Xbox Generation?
    Reply
  • lpedraja2002
    ...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.
    Reply
  • 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.
    Reply
  • LaughALot
    I would think they would want people that think outside the box.
    Reply