The INSIDER daily digest

Security clearance approvals for defense contractor personnel have slowed down as of late:

Defense executives report slowed security clearance approvals

Contracting executives say they're facing difficulty in getting security clearances approved, in some cases slowing their ability to staff contracts.

Document: DNI report on security clearance determinations

Expect to see an Air Force RFP for the JSTARS program soon:

Air Force: JSTARS recap RFP coming soon

The Air Force expects to release a request for proposals for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System recapitalization program in the near future, announcing this week that the solicitation would follow soon after the Pentagon acquisition chief signs an acquisition decision memorandum.

More Marine Corps news from this week's Inside the Navy:

Marines use Reaper drone for first time during tech experiment

The Marine Corps used the support of a MQ-9 Reaper organic to a Marine Expeditionary Unit for the first time during a recent technology experiment, and contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is pitching the drone as an interim capability for the service as it weighs long-term requirements for a large, sea-based unmanned aerial system.

Marines see need for 'assistant squad leader' to use new tech

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA -- The Marine Corps wants to push a range of technologies down to its infantry squads, and the service believes an "assistant squad leader" may be needed to successfully employ the new systems.

Despite software glitches, F-35 op squadron had 98 percent sortie completion

Despite software glitches the first-ever Joint Strike Fighter operational squadron had a 98 percent sortie completion rate during a recent Red Flag joint integration exercise, according to a Marine Corps official.

(Want more JSF news? Check out our Notification Center, where you can sign up to receive email alerts whenever a new story is posted.)

Marine Corps may decide by the beginning of 2017 on force organization

The Marine Corps may decide by the beginning of 2017 on how the future force should be organized, according to the service's top general.

Keep an eye out for an upcoming Army cyber innovation challenge:

Army seeks vehicle to centralize cyberspace operations

The Army intends to host a Cyber Innovation Challenge "to evaluate the technical feasibility of an integrated cyberspace operations platform," according to a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website.