I have reported on several occasions about employers utilizing social networks as background checks for their preemployment screening programs. The practice is occurring with increased frequency, and I have cautioned job applicants to use restraint and be prudent about what they post on Facebook or the other social media sites. Don’t bad mouth your boss or former bosses, and don’t cast aspersions again the companies you have worked for. Employers don’t smile kindly on the prospect of finding themselves ridiculed on your Facebook page. The last time I wrote an article about this, it was entitled , The Bugaboo of Background Checks and Social Networks.
So now the New York Times has reported that the United States Military is recruiting personnel who are savvy, even gifted, in navigating the social media channels. The new team of soldiers are using their social networking skills to flush out insurgents on the Internet and to help save the lives of American Soldiers in combat. Apparently, the Army’s team of social networkers coordinates with drones and other resources to issue warnings or to relate possible targets to the ground forces.
More than 4,000 analysts chat it up in the chat rooms. The chat rooms are rolling boxes of text and the analyst communicates with the ground forces, keeps them informed about threats or tactical targets and opportunities. Large monitors display the feeds from the drones.
So I guess that same kid who may have not gotten a job because his social networking background check showed him as too chatty, or whatever, may now be working for the Armed Forces. The Military is getting hip and hooking up video feeds with chat rooms is definitely a way to go.
