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Thursday, 29 November 2012

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) | Coordination - tice

The EQF aims to relate different countries'
national qualifications systems to a common European reference
framework. Individuals and employers will be able to use the EQF to
better understand and compare the qualifications levels of different
countries and different education and training systems. Agreed upon by the European institutions in
2008, the EQF is being put in practice across Europe. It encourages
countries to relate their national qualifications systems to the EQF so
that all new qualifications issued from 2012 carry a reference to an
appropriate EQF level. An EQF national coordination point has been
designated for this purpose in each country.
Shifting focus
The core of the EQF concerns eight reference levels describing what a learner knows, understands and is able to do ? 'learning outcomes'. Levels of national qualifications will be placed at one of the central reference levels, ranging from basic (Level 1) to advanced (Level 8). This will enable a much easier comparison between national qualifications and should also mean that people do not have to repeat their learning if they move to another country. The EQF applies to all types of education, training and qualifications, from school education to academic, professional and vocational. This approach shifts the focus from the traditional system which emphasises 'learning inputs', such as the length of a learning experience, or type of institution. It also encourages lifelong learning by promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning. This reflects a wider shift within which the EQF is acting as a catalyst for reforms: most Member States are now developing their own National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) based on learning outcomes. Several countries (IE, MT, UK, FR and BE-Flanders) already have one in force.
Easier comparison
At present, an enterprise in France may hesitate to recruit a job applicant from, say, Sweden, because it does not understand the level of the qualifications presented by the Swedish candidate. But once the EQF is fully implemented, a Swedish person's certificates will bear a reference to an EQF reference level. The French authorities will have already decided where their own national certificates in the field concerned lie, so the French enterprise would use the EQF reference to get a better idea of how the Swedish qualification compares to French qualifications. An EQF advisory group brings together representatives from national authorities and other stakeholders to help with the implementation of the framework. Its work is complemented by the EU-wide Learning Outcomes Group which supports debate and peer learning on relevant issues, focusing on the development of national qualifications frameworks and the validation of non-formal and informal learning. The EQF initiative is closely related to the qualifications framework for the European Higher Education Area: the two frameworks are compatible and their implementation is coordinated.
More information EQF internet portal

Referencing the Lithuanian Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area,

Portal dedicated to the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning

Reports on the referencing of national qualifications frameworks to the EQF

Referencing the Lithuanian Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area,

Referencing of the Estonian Qualifications and Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework

Referencing the Danish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning to the European Qualifications Framework

Referencing of the Latvian Education System to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area

The referencing document of the Dutch National Qualification Framework to the European Qualification Framework

Referencing of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.

Referencing of the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF/EHEA)

Referencing the Qualifications Frameworks of the United Kingdom to the European Qualifications Framework

R?f?rencement du cadre national de certification fran?ais vers le cadre europ?en de certification pour la formation tout au long de la vie

European Qualifications Framework Series EQF Newsletter

Source: http://blog.univ-provence.fr/blog/coordination-rgionale-paca/qualification/2012/11/29/the-european-qualifications-framework-eqf

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Jobless claims drop below 400k

Jobless claims declined by 23,000 to 393,000 from a revised 416,000 jobless claims for the prior week.

By SoldAtTheTop,?Guest blogger / November 29, 2012

This graph shows total continued unemployment claims since 2010. Currently there are more than 2 million people receiving federal extended unemployment benefits.

SoldAtTheTop

Enlarge

Today?s jobless claims report?showed declines for both initial and continued jobless claims as initial claims dropped below the closely watched 400K level.?
Seasonally adjusted ?initial? unemployment claims declined by 23,000 to 393,000 claims from a revised 416,000 claims for the prior week while seasonally adjusted ?continued? claims declined by 70,000 claims to 3.287 million resulting in an ?insured? unemployment rate of 2.6%.?

Skip to next paragraph SoldAtTheTop

Writer, The PaperEconomy Blog

'SoldAtTheTop' is not a pessimist by nature but a true skeptic and realist who prefers solid and sustained evidence of fundamental economic recovery to 'Goldilocks,' 'Green Shoots,' 'Mustard Seeds,' and wholesale speculation.

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

NASA seeks concepts for innovative uses of large space telescopes

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? NASA is exploring options for innovative and imaginative uses of two large space telescopes recently transferred to the agency. In a request for information (RFI) published Monday, NASA seeks information about system concepts and architectures that would take advantage of these assets to address NASA's goals in astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary sciences, and human spaceflight.

"Because there are two telescopes, there is room for projects that span the gamut of the imagination," said Michael Moore, a senior program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They range from simple balloon flights to complex missions in science using new technologies under development and the capabilities available with the International Space Station and our commercial space flight partners."

The telescopes are equivalent to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in aperture, but designed to have a much wider field of view. They already are being studied for possible use as a wide field infrared survey observatory, which would address the top priority recommendation in the National Research Council's 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. NASA is seeking alternative goals and unique approaches in order to expand the range of concepts for use of this capable hardware.

The RFI invites interested parties to provide an outline of their concept in enough detail for a next-step assessment by NASA as it prepares for future investments in diverse areas of science and technology. Respondents who submit the most interesting concepts will be invited to present their ideas at a workshop in Huntsville, Ala., in early February 2013.

"We will give all ideas equal consideration and choose the most promising for further study," said Marc Allen, acting deputy associate administrator for research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "We want to tap into innovative ideas wherever we can find them in order to optimize use of these telescope assets."

For more information about the RFI, NASA goals and objectives, details on the telescopes, and other supporting information, visit: http://science.nasa.gov/salso

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/d_xXm1Xrgac/121128070705.htm

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Network Analyst/Micro-Computer Technician - HigherEdJobs

Clackamas Community College

Network Analyst/Micro-Computer Technician

Bulletin Number:
161-2012

Full or Part Time:
Full Time

Job Type:
Classified

Union/Non-Union?
Union

Length of Position:
12 Months

Percentage Working:
100%

Grade:
VIT

Salary Details:
$3,456 - $3,765/month

Location:
Oregon City Campus

Posting Detail Information

Special Instructions to Applicants
Please upload materials pertaining to the qualifications in the job description.
Official transcripts and/or certifications to be submitted to Human Resources upon hire.

Position will be posted until filled.

Position Purpose
Provide support for the College's technology needs (networks, servers, computers, printers, imaging, multimedia, audio-visual, video, peripherals, etc). Serve as the primary contact with customers to support internal and external technology users by troubleshooting and resolving network, hardware, and software issues. Act as subject matter expert on specific assigned technologies and provide input/ recommendations for technology and procedural decisions.

Essential Functions

Respond to Helpdesk calls for assistance, incidents, and problems by phone or as dispatched. Analyze and diagnose in order to train others and/or repair, correct, or resolve technology, equipment, and/or systems issues.
Research, test, recommend, and implement technology and technology solutions; collaborate with staff, vendors, hardware, and software manufacturers to determine specifications that meet functional needs of customers, staff, integrated dependent systems and interoperability.
Use Helpdesk-based ticket tracking system to log requests; document completed and pending work orders, incidents, problems, and resolutions. Monitor progress and identify patterns.
Install upgrades, service packs, patches, and fixes. Replace hardware and modify software configurations in order to maintain and update technology systems.
Install new and replacement technology systems (computers, printers, imaging, peripherals, networks, audio-visual, multimedia, video, etc).
Prepare and maintain written and electronic materials (e.g. helpdesk tickets, procedures, manuals, user guides, status reports, instructions, equipment inventory, projects, drawings, whitepapers, memos, etc.) in order to document activities, convey information, and provide an up-to-date guide and audit trail.
Provide appropriate equipment and materials at job site; Provide appropriate equipment for storage, repair, surplus, or disposal by transporting as needed.
Train others to share knowledge regarding the operations and maintenance of computer systems; provide instruction on technology and the integration of technology as well as customer support.
Communicate with team lead or supervisor regarding work assignments, resolved and unresolved incidents and problems, risks that prevent or obstruct adherence to service level agreements or the execution of assignments, violations of college and departmental policy, procedures, guidelines and/or rules.
Maintain cooperative working relationship with College staff, other organizations, and the public.
Follow all safety rules and procedures for work areas.

Auxiliary Functions

May provide assistance to other department personnel as workload and staffing levels dictate.
Maintain proficiency by attending training and meetings, reading materials, and meeting with others in areas of responsibility.
Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly manner.

Required Qualifications
MINIMUM/MANDATORY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties as described. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be: Equivalent to a High School diploma supplemented by additional coursework equal to an Associate's degree AND a minimum of 3 years of experience with network and desktop support.

KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of network and desktop computer operating systems, equipment, terminology, network systems configuration and integration, and installation/ maintenance/ troubleshooting practices and techniques. Knowledge of Active Directory, network security and TCP/IP. Knowledge of helpdesk practices for providing assistance to support and maintain instructional technology, multimedia, audio-visual, video, etc. Knowledge of practices and guidelines pertaining to community colleges, general business operations, processes, and procedures.

SKILL: Skill in the use of personal computers and desktop applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel), virus protection, imaging, remote desktop, etc.

ABILITIES: Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with students, staff, other agencies, and the general public; manage time effectively; read and interpret policies, regulations and laws as they relate to this job; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including the ability to provide customer service and support to individuals and groups with varying degrees of experience. Physical ability to perform the essential job functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/LICENSES:
Valid Oregon Driver's License
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential and a Certified Network Administrator or Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification must be acquired within 2 years of hire.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Comptia Network , A , Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential; Certified Network Administrator or Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification or similar.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, bend, kneel, stoop, communicate, reach, and manipulate objects. The position requires mobility including the ability to move materials weighing up to 5 pounds on a regular basis such as hand tools, computers, monitors, equipment, files, books, office equipment, etc. and may infrequently require moving materials weighing up to 75 pounds. Manual dexterity and coordination are required more than 50% of the work period while operating equipment such as computers and other standard office equipment.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Computer, laptop, keyboard, monitors, projectors, mouse, calculators, printers, and other standard office equipment.

Working Conditions
Usual office working conditions. The noise level in the work area is typical of most office environments with telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises. Some exposure to less desirable conditions when installing cabling and troubleshooting problems.

Supervisor Responsibilities
Supervision of others is not a typical function assigned to this position. May provide training and orientation to newly assigned personnel, and may assign work to student workers.

Supervision Received
Works under the general supervision of the Director of Technical Services.

To apply, please visit: https://clackamas.peopleadmin.com/postings/2494

Open Until Filled

jeid-3350c7b6c566415ff563a0a9e4183a9e

Source: http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175696334

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Graphene/nanotube hybrid makes single-surface material for energy storage, electronics

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? A seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created at Rice University may be the best electrode interface material possible for many energy storage and electronics applications.

Led by Rice chemist James Tour, researchers have successfully grown forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns, according to a paper published November 27 by Nature Communications. A house on an average plot with the same aspect ratio would rise into space.

That translates into a massive amount of surface area, the key factor in making things like energy-storing supercapacitors.

The Rice hybrid combines two-dimensional graphene, which is a sheet of carbon one atom thick, and nanotubes into a seamless three-dimensional structure. The bonds between them are covalent, which means adjacent carbon atoms share electrons in a highly stable configuration. The nanotubes aren't merely sitting on the graphene sheet; they become a part of it.

"Many people have tried to attach nanotubes to a metal electrode and it's never gone very well because they get a little electronic barrier right at the interface," Tour said. "By growing graphene on metal (in this case copper) and then growing nanotubes from the graphene, the electrical contact between the nanotubes and the metal electrode is ohmic. That means electrons see no difference, because it's all one seamless material.

"This gives us, effectively, a very high surface area of more than 2,000 square meters per gram of material. It's a huge number," said Tour, Rice's T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry as well as a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science and a co-author with former postdoctoral researcher and lead author Yu Zhu, now an assistant professor at the University of Akron.

Tour said proof of the material's hybrid nature lies in the seven-membered rings at the transition from graphene to nanotube, a structure predicted by theory for such a material and now confirmed through electron microscope images with subnanometer resolution.

Carbon has no peer as a conductive material in such a thin and robust form, especially in the form of graphene or certain types of nanotubes. Combining the two appears to offer great potential for electronic components like fast supercapacitors that, because of the massive surface area, may hold a great deal of energy in a tiny package.

Rice chemist Robert Hauge and his team made the first steps toward such a hybrid over the past decade. Hauge, a distinguished faculty fellow in chemistry at Rice and co-author of the new work, discovered a way to make densely packed carpets of nanotubes on a carbon substrate by suspending catalyst-laced flakes in a furnace. When heated, the catalyst built carbon nanotubes like skyscrapers, starting at the substrate and working their way up. In the process, they lifted the aluminum oxide buffer into the air. The whole thing looked like a kite with many strings and was dubbed an odako, like the giant Japanese kites.

In the new work, the team grew a specialized odako that retained the iron catalyst and aluminum oxide buffer but put them on top of a layer of graphene grown separately on a copper substrate. The copper stayed to serve as an excellent current collector for the three-dimensional hybrids that were grown within minutes to controllable lengths of up to 120 microns.

Electron microscope images showed the one-, two- and three-walled nanotubes firmly embedded in the graphene, and electrical testing showed no resistance to the flow of current at the junction.

"The performance we see in this study is as good as the best carbon-based supercapacitors that have ever been made," Tour said. "We're not really a supercapacitor lab, and still we were able to match the performance because of the quality of the electrode. It's really remarkable, and it all harkens back to that unique interface."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rice University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Yu Zhu, Lei Li, Chenguang Zhang, Gilberto Casillas, Zhengzong Sun, Zheng Yan, Gedeng Ruan, Zhiwei Peng, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji, Carter Kittrell, Robert H. Hauge, James M. Tour. A seamless three-dimensional carbon nanotube graphene hybrid material. Nature Communications, 2012; 3: 1225 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2234

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/electronics/~3/rB6NJZnJIoU/121127111342.htm

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Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Come Find About About This Great Affiliate Marketing Advice ...

By GuestBlogger|Internet Marketing Articles

TIP! Most every cellular carrier will let you use your device for a dedicated business number, as well as your personal one. It is important, therefore, that you take the necessary steps to get a number.

There?s a ton of hard work with internet marketing. Remember that you must focus your hard work toward effective ends if you want a successful online business. You don?t want to invest time and money into an unsuccessful endeavor. To be sure of that, practice the tips below to strengthen your Internet promotion.

TIP! A lot of folks might not think your advertisments are truthful. Like Pavlov?s dogs, people have been trained to be suspicious of an advertiser?s honesty.

Offer your customers a way to make charitable donations by buying your products. The fact that you make these donations should be advertised on your site. A small part of your profit will go to the charity and your number of sales will probably increase.

TIP! As one aspect of your strategy for internet marketing, you need to include a refund guarantee. People don?t have a lot of money to spend these days, and trusting things bought online is hard enough as is.

Try giving free incentives to get more business. Rewarding customers is something that doesn?t get addressed enough in most Internet marketing campaigns. Although free gifts are expensive, the potential payoff in terms of customer loyalty can easily justify their cost.

TIP! For effective internet marketing, it is crucial to stay abreast of what your competitors are doing. It does not matter what your niche is, you will have competition at all times.

Real-time leads are necessary if you are looking to increase sales. They provide instant access to potential customers who want to learn more about your products or services. There is no delay in the time they filled out the information to the time you contact them, which results in a greater chance of you converting the lead into a sale.

TIP! A great way to make a sale is to show your customers content that demonstrates your product?s effectiveness, like a video of the product in action. Customers like to feel that they are making an informed decision before purchasing your product.

Having a mailing list for your clients to join is very important. Post notification on your website to collect emails. However, if you want to be slightly more aggressive, request it in order for customers to purchase items off your site. This address can be then used for either sales letters, promotions or seeking feedback on their recent purchasing experience.

TIP! Be sure that you keep very detailed statistics. This should include refunds, sales, traffic, referrals and anything else you can think of.

It might seem useful to have 256 different social media accounts, but if you let them stagnate, they could become liabilities. Inactive profiles that are not updated regularly are useless.

TIP! One online marketing strategy is encouraging your visitors to purchase your product by offering discounted prices. You can easily do this by putting a price which has been discounted alongside the regular price of any particular item.

When you are using signatures, link them to your site or email. Your signature and link should appear in every post you make on any message board. Make sure you link your website to your email. This is a passive way to promote your site all over the Internet, and it might even improve your search engine ranking. Above your link, make sure that there is an interesting line that will make them want to click it.

TIP! Find out common complaints and you might find the perfect niche. Why would you want to do this? This will show you what problems you need to fix.

Make sure that you personally deal with all customer complaints. You may want to get some outside help, but you will do better to handle customer service yourself. If you get an email from an unsatisfied customer, return the email yourself, and offer them a resolution to the problem.

TIP! Make effective use of email in your business. Create interesting newsletters that not only inform your customers, but intrigue them.

Placing ads on different sites is one popular advertising method. Google AdSense and similar companies make this service easily accessible. This allows you to get the most exposure and variety for your advertising dollar.

TIP! One good idea is to think about Internet marketing like a hobby instead of something to replace your job, at least initially. If it turns out that your website becomes popular and has good potential, then you can consider going into it as a full-time job.

Mobile marketing is a new conduit to customers that deserves your consideration. Customers can have the opportunity to subscribe to text alerts for sales or promotions. It?s the newest tool on the scene for affiliate marketing.

TIP! Whenever it applies, feel free to use phrases such as ?limited quantity? or ?special edition? in your online marketing efforts. Exclusivity is very attractive to people in general, and customers may feel the need to buy your product sooner than they would otherwise.

When you are starting out your site and are trying to make the best site you can for marketing your product on the internet, start small. Search engines may jump over a site with too many index pages.

TIP! Try having a page where your customers can find press about you. When doing this, be sure to include material that could be used by online newspapers and magazines.

An effective website is one of the most important parts of a successful Online marketing plan. You can do this by using different color schemes and other design techniques. If your website does not appeal to visitors, they won?t return.

TIP! One great source for site traffic is posting a press release about your product or site. Focus on writing informative, relevant and interesting press releases, then distribute them to trusted outlets.

You should use links inside your page and associate them with keywords. People typically stay on a website for a very short time. If you have relevant posts showcased near what they are looking at, they are more likely to keep clicking within your website. Internal links can not only keep your visitors? attention, but also make it easier for search engines to index your site.

TIP! Great content is essential to a successful Internet marketing strategy. Go over your content often to see if you?re getting any reaction from your customers, whether it?s good or bad.

Do not overlook direct marketing as a streamlined complement to your Website marketing system. You can impart information regarding promotions and services to your customers via phone, email and fax. You can find a lot of helpful information in the yellow pages, or in online directories.

TIP! It is important that your customers feel special. To make them feel valued, personalize all correspondence.

Knowledge of your competitors is one of the keys to successfully marketing your business. If you can understand the options your competitors are offering, you can stay one step ahead of the game. This will allow you to become the one that customers look for, leaving your competition in the dust. To be successful in Website marketing, this is essential.

TIP! If you have free material, consider advertising it on sites or directories that showcase free services and products. Feel free to list your free e-zine in several e-zine oriented directories for maximum exposure.

For business or personal correspondence, always place your own signature at the end of emails. On the internet, your email signature is the equivalent of your business card. By including your signature, you offer everyone you email a link to your business.

TIP! Don?t forget the little details on your web pages. Place your site?s title in the top corner of each page.

You should make sure you know the answer to their inquiries. Visitors visit your site to learn information, and if you cannot give it to them, they will look elsewhere. Answer all questions from customers accurately and in a timely manner.

TIP! A banner including a slogan should be on your site. This can help make your website look official and communicate to the visitor exactly what you are about and what goals you are setting out to achieve.

Allow your customers to pay wholesale prices if they order in bulk. You are still going to make money on your wholesale items, just remember that this is a good way to increase your sales.

In conclusion, the best way to up your profits is to use Website marketing. Having this advice will help you start making your hard work bring in some cash.

Source: http://dynamicmarketingpartners.com/2012/11/come-find-about-about-this-great-affiliate-marketing-advice/

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Report challenges key Pentagon spending assumption

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the U.S. military grappled with budget cuts over the past year, one thing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made clear was the Pentagon must avoid reductions in training and maintenance that would lower the force's readiness to fight.

But a report released by a Washington think tank on Tuesday challenged that assumption, concluding that a short-term cut in readiness funding could free up cash to develop weapons and equipment needed to be ready in the future.

Several teams of defense experts brought together by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments to re-envision U.S. defense strategy in a time of tight budgets concluded that a short-term reduction in readiness spending could be done with little risk.

"These teams reasoned that, 'well, we're coming out of a decade of war and frankly our force is very ready," said CSBA fellow Mark Gunzinger, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and retired Air Force colonel who helped lead the exercise.

Rather than spending to maintain a high state of readiness, the teams reasoned they could reduce readiness spending and invest that money in "modernization programs which will help us be a better prepared force in the future," Gunzinger said.

The finding was one of several made when the CSBA assembled seven teams of defense experts this summer to look at how the Pentagon should address the likelihood of additional budget cuts in the coming years.

The report released on Tuesday is one of a series produced by think tanks following the U.S. elections as Congress returns to Washington looking for ways to avert massive across-the-board spending cuts due to hit defense and other federal programs in early January.

President Barack Obama and Congress agreed last year to cut projected national security spending by $487 billion over the next decade. The Pentagon faces another $500 billion in across-the-board cuts beginning in January unless Congress can agree over the next month on an alternative.

But even if Congress is able to reach a deal to avoid the automatic spending cuts - a process known as sequestration - there is a growing realization in Washington that the Pentagon is likely to face more reductions, possibly as much as the $500 billion envisioned under sequestration.

Panetta has warned that a new round of defense cuts would force the Pentagon to go back to the drawing board and redesign the military strategy adopted earlier this year.

The CSBA exercise asked seven teams of defense experts - including Pentagon civilians, congressional aides and think tank scholars - to do exactly that: to re-envision the strategy approved in January assuming defense spending will be cut by another $519 billion, the amount likely under sequestration.

CSBA scholar Todd Harrison, who also worked on the project, said the most successful team, as recognized by the participants, was the one that looked at what kind of military the United States would need in 20 years and then worked backwards to decide how to achieve that goal.

Harrison said the teams generally agreed with the new U.S. military strategy, which calls for a shift in focus to the Asia-Pacific region. But several thought the Pentagon did not have the right mix of ships, aircraft, weapons and equipment to carry out the strategy, he said.

Many potential U.S. adversaries, like China or Iran, are developing missiles and other weapons aimed at preventing U.S. planes and warships from operating against them at close range. To counter that threat, the United States needs systems that can operate at longer ranges.

To fund development of those systems, some teams called for deep cuts in active duty ground forces, steep reductions in civilian defense personnel and reductions in readiness funding. Most called for reductions in the purchase of F-35 strike fighters, the Pentagon's costliest weapons system.

A majority of the teams emphasized four critical capabilities for the future: special operations forces, cyberspace assets, long-range strike bombers and unmanned aircraft and more submarine and unmanned undersea vehicles.

(Reporting By David Alexander; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-challenges-key-pentagon-spending-assumption-015834696.html

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