Careers in United States Intelligence By: Patrick Shea Peer Advisor; Department of Political Science
For those interested in serving their country in a setting other than the military, the intelligence community can be an exciting and rewarding field. The United States has 16 different intelligence branches that provide a variety of services to the federal government.
General Advice Work in the intelligence community requires a security clearance, this comes with many stipulations. Security clearances take up to eight months to process, because of this intelligence internships have earlier deadlines that usual. The agency you are interested in should have an application deadline posted. It should be sometime in the fall (late October/November)
General Advice cont. The security clearance process includes a background check and polygraph, keep this in mind if/when: Meeting/communicating with foreign nationals Using/purchasing/selling illegal narcotics (often will disqualify a candidate ) Using/purchasing/selling fake IDs (often will disqualify a candidate) Using Facebook/twitter/instagram/etc.
General Advice cont. The minimum GPA requirement for a majority of the agencies is a 3.0, however due to the high demand for these positions candidates with below a 3.5 are often not considered. When giving examples of classes, focus on the skills learned and how you could apply them to new situations rather than the actual subject matter learned. Language skills are always preferred, even a basic understanding can help you over a candidate with no skill. Certain languages are more highly sought after than others; Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, Pashtun, Farsi
Central Intelligence Agency The CIA is by far the most well know intelligence agency in the United States. It was established in 1947 by the National Security Act. The mission of the CIA defined by the CIA website is Collecting intelligence through human sources and by other appropriate means. Correlating and evaluating intelligence related to the national security and providing appropriate dissemination of such intelligence. Providing overall direction for and coordination of the collection of national intelligence outside of the United States through sources by elements in the intelligence community authorized to undertake such collection. Performing such other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting national security as the President of Director of National Intelligence may direct.
Organization and Structure The CIA is broken down into 4 distinct directorates which all serve a different purpose and have different objectives. National Clandestine Service (NCS) Directorate of Intelligence (DI) Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T) Directorate of Support (DS)
National Clandestine Service The NCS is the directorate responsible for collecting human intelligence around the world as well as executing covert action. NCS officers are often stationed in the field after a period of intense training. Officers must possess strong language and interpersonal skills. Their primary duty is to recruit foreign nationals to become human intelligence assets for the United States.
Directorate of Intelligence The Directorate of Intelligence is responsible for analyzing various sources of intelligence and preparing briefs to inform superiors as well as policy makers of potential threats to national security. Their primary function is the analysis of various sources of intelligence, including human intelligence as well as open source and signal intelligence in regions where human intelligence is unavailable. Analysts often have an area of expertise and are stationed at CIA headquarters. They often spend time in the field in their region of expertise. They may also be lent out to do work for other agencies, such as policy analysis for the U.S. Department of State in a particular country. Strong writing and analytical skills are needed and language skills are preferred.
Directorate of Science and Technology The DS&T is responsible for the development and implementation of new technologies that can assist officers to gather and process intelligence data. The DS&T employs individuals from a variety of backgrounds, especially engineering, computer science, and information technology; as well as working with private sector companies and institutions to conduct research.
Directorate of Support The Directorate of support is responsible for day to day operations of the agency. This includes security of its facilities, management of financial assets, delivery of equipment, and many other behind the scene operations.
Employment and Internship Opportunities The CIA has an extensive recruiting and internship process in most major universities across the country as well as from the military (Special Forces and Intelligence) Many professionals also join the agency after working a variety of civilian jobs including engineers, journalists, and administrative positions. Please visit the following websites for more information Internships-https://www.cia.gov/careers/studentopportunities
Defense Intelligence Agency The DIA is the primary source of military intelligence for the United States and falls under the Department of Defense. The DIA defines its current mission as, supporting warfighters and policy makers in an era of persistent international conflict and enduring U.S. fiscal challenges.
Contribution to National Security The DIA s primary contribution to national security is providing information on the military capabilities of other nations as well as non-state actors that pose a threat to national security. This role has changed from primarily monitoring Russian strength during the cold war to monitoring the military assets of non-state actors such as Al-Qaeda as well as traditional threats like Iran and North Korea.
Structure The DIA is broken up into sections based on various regions and objectives, they are the following Americas Center Asia/Pacific Center Europe/Eurasia Center Middle East/Africa Center Defense Combating Terrorism Center Directorate for Science and Technology All regional branches have both a Directorate for Analysis and a Directorate for Operations
Employment Opportunities The DIA employs both military personal as well as civilians with expertise in analysis, foreign language, and computer information skills. The DIA also offers an extremely competitive internship program. For more information please go to: http://www.dia.mil/careers.aspx
National Security Agency The NSA is responsible for the collection of signal intelligence (intercepted communication) and information assurance (protection of U.S. communications/intelligence) from foreign governments and enemies of the U.S.
Contribution to National Security The NSA is broken into two main divisions to serve its two primary functions The Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) branch collects signals intelligence from foreign intelligence agencies as well as individuals who pose a threat to national security. This includes deciphering intercepted communications and distributing them to other agencies. The Information Assurance branch serves to protect the U.S. intelligence community s networks and other vulnerable electronic resources.
Employment Opportunities The NSA is always looking for new employees, especially those with knowledge of high demand languages or advanced computer skills The NSA also has a very competitive internship program http://www.nsa.gov/careers/index.shtml
National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency The GEOINT was originally founded as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and serves both the Department of Defense as well as the U.S. Government.
Contribution to National Security The primary role of the GEOINT is to provide satellite imagery and geographical analysis in support of U.S. military and intelligence goals and operations. In recent years GEOINT has began to analyze and evaluate threats to U.S. and global environmental security Satellite image of UBL compound GOEINT also conducts extensive research and scientific development but all information on this is highly classified.
National Reconnaissance Office The NRO is responsible for designing and operating America s Intelligence satellites. The NRO collects information on areas too remote or too hostile to gather intelligence by other means. This includes both imagery as well as signals intelligence.
Contribution to National Security The NRO designs and operates satellites to provide a variety of services to the various U.S. intelligence agencies. Signals intelligence to the NSA Various imagery to CIA, GEOINT Military measurement and signature intelligence to the DIA
Employment Opportunities Both the NRO and GEOINT employ a variety of specialized technicians as well as other individuals with a very specific skill set. These employees often have prior experience in the intelligence community coming from another agency such as the NSA, CIA, or DIA. Both agencies also rely heavily on contracts with private firms involved with the design and upkeep of some of their technology. Because of this employment opportunities are limited, but some are available to those who qualify GEOINT- NRO- http://www.nro.gov/careers/careers.html
Air Force Intelligence Air Force Intelligence collects various forms of intelligence to support Air Force operations, as well as airborne surveillance on enemy targets.
Army Intelligence The Military Intelligence Corps of the Army serves to collect intelligence in support of operations as well as conduct electronic warfare.
Marine Corps Intelligence Marine Corps Intelligence provides intelligence in support of operations as well as developing doctrine on force structure.
Office of Naval Intelligence The ONI was founded to report on the activities and advancements of other nation s naval forces. Currently the ONI conducts intelligence in support of maritime operations as well as conducting intelligence on and countering threats to international trade, such as pirates.
Coast Guard Intelligence The primary role of CGI is to protect the coast of the United States from maritime threats, including WMDs through major ports. CGI also collects intelligence on maritime human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.
Employment in Armed Forces Intelligence Members of both active duty and reserve are eligible to serve under their respective branch of military intelligence Each branch has different opportunities and regulations for entry into respective intelligence programs, if interested ask a recruiter for further details. http://www.army.mil/ http://navy.com/ http://www.marines.mil/ http://www.af.mil/ http://www.uscg.mil/
FBI National Security Branch The FBI provides an opportunity to participate in the intelligence community domestically. The FBI has an extensive intelligence program to fulfill its duties as the main intelligence department responsible for ensuring national security. Gathering intelligence on terrorist organizations attempting to carry out attacks on the United States Preventing intelligence agencies of foreign countries from successfully gathering intelligence on the United States
Drug Enforcement Administration DEA intelligence focuses on gathering information on the narcotics industry including drug selling, smuggling, and manufacturing networks. As opposed to other agencies the primary purpose of gathering intelligence at the DEA is to make arrests and seize illegal narcotics.
Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence The Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) falls under the Department of the Treasury. Its main purpose is to safeguard financial systems against illicit use and combating rouge nations, terrorist organizations and organized crime It is broken up into four departments Office of Foreign Assets Control Office of Intelligence and Analysis Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture
Contribution to National Security The primary role of the TFI is to monitor and determine the source of funding for threats against U.S. national security Additionally the Office of Foreign Assets Control has the authority to freeze the assets of known terrorists or enemies of the state.
Employment and Internship Opportunities The TFI is currently under size restrictions due to governmental budget cuts and is not expanding, however other divisions in the Treasury, including the financial crimes division are hiring. All job openings posted at usajobs.gov There are no internship programs for the TFI, however the Treasury has a volunteer internship program. See: http://www.treasury.gov/careers/pages/pathwaysprograms.aspx for information about Treasury s upcoming Pathways program.
Sources https://www.cia.gov/about-cia http://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational- structure/offices/pages/office-of-terrorism-and-financial- Intelligence.aspx http://www.dia.mil/about.aspx http://www.nsa.gov/about/index.shtml https://www.nga.mil/about/ngastrategy/pages/default.aspx http://www.nro.gov/about/nro/index.html