Attention, Cyber Pros: The Pentagon Wants You -- 3,000 of You

The military has been given the go-ahead to fast-track the hiring of 3,000 computer whiz civilians, in part, to flesh out the half-staffed US Cyber Command, federal officials announced. Command leaders told Congress they need to be able to quicker make compensation deals with prospective employees, as threats from nation state hackers mount.

The permission slip the Office of Personnel Management signed applies to the entire Defense Department, including the command, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register. The 5-year-old command organizes cyberattacks against adversaries and network defense operations. The hiring powers sunset Dec. 31, 2015. The command’s target workforce size is 6,200 personnel, Admiral Mike Rogers, the force’s chief, told Congress. It is unclear how the new recruitment option fits into the command's buildout plans.