All articles / Page 2
The Intel Brief
Page 2 of 2.
Apr 20, 2026 Federal Pay Explained: GS Grades, Locality Pay, Steps, and Promotions
How GS grades, steps, and locality pay combine to determine your federal salary — and what actually drives promotions and within-grade increases.
Apr 19, 2026 DoD 8140 Explained: Work Roles, Required Certs, and 8570 Replacement
DoD 8140 replaced 8570 in 2023 and uses 50+ DCWF work roles across seven workforce elements. Here's how compliance, proficiency levels, and cert requirements work.
Apr 19, 2026 What Is the SF-86? The Clearance Form, Explained (2026)
The SF-86 is the federal security clearance questionnaire. Here's what it covers, how long it takes, and how to prepare before you open NBIS eApp.
Apr 18, 2026 The Best Credit Cards for Active Duty Military (Annual Fee Waived)
Active duty service members can get $895+ annual-fee cards for $0 through SCRA and MLA. Here's which cards qualify, which don't, and exactly how to claim the waiver.
Apr 18, 2026 CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+: Is the Trifecta Worth It?
Only Security+ is required for DoD compliance. Here's the honest breakdown of what A+, Network+, and Security+ actually do for a cleared IT career — and which ones you can skip.
Apr 18, 2026 How to Pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Without Burning Out
The exact study approach for Security+ SY0-701: Professor Messer for content, Jason Dion for practice exams, 4–8 weeks of consistent sessions. Pass score is 750/900.