Im not sure if anyone will be able to answer this question but after a miltary career(long or short) im considering trying to get a job in the CIA as a political or military analyst possibly or something in the area of international relations. What job as an officer would be best for me to get in the military? Military intelligence?
CIA
- Thread starter Jman2014
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Pima
10-Year Member
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There are a lot of jobs, but having a cousin and 3 friends (AF) in the CIA, a lot has to do with your connections (networking), and your military background. Our 3 friends all fly for the CIA, they flew fighters and didn't want to become busdrivers in the sky as their 2nd career.
My cousin was an analyst (he retired in Dec as the equivalent of a 4 star). He had a law degree, a Masters and a ph.d. Their DS just got hired on, and he has both a law degree and a Masters. Note: connections got him in, but he had to have the education level they like to see for their members.
If this is a path you would like to go down, keep getting more degrees, because they want that as much as they will want your military background.
From what my cousin has told me, and what I can see with those that I know work for them, they don't prefer the cliche jack of all trades, master of none. They want the ones that are a Master in something...the go to guy/gal.
My cousin was an analyst (he retired in Dec as the equivalent of a 4 star). He had a law degree, a Masters and a ph.d. Their DS just got hired on, and he has both a law degree and a Masters. Note: connections got him in, but he had to have the education level they like to see for their members.
If this is a path you would like to go down, keep getting more degrees, because they want that as much as they will want your military background.
From what my cousin has told me, and what I can see with those that I know work for them, they don't prefer the cliche jack of all trades, master of none. They want the ones that are a Master in something...the go to guy/gal.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
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- 9,295
The CIA recruits from all walks of life.
I generally don't like these threads. The "how do I get another job by being an officer" kind of question doesn't appeal to me. The CIA is more than just a bunch of spies. It's a large organization that needs secretaries and guards and everything else you could expect.
But from time to time someone comes to SAF and asks "how do I join the FBI or CIA or SEALs or SWAT"...
Well first, no one who is in the CIA is going to answer that here. Second, I think at some point people realize it's not all James Bond.
99% of the time people are in love with the idea of being something. You're not even a cadet yet, much less an officer, and you're already thinking about how to line up something else.
If you want to be in the CIA, you don't HAVE to be in the military to do it.
I generally don't like these threads. The "how do I get another job by being an officer" kind of question doesn't appeal to me. The CIA is more than just a bunch of spies. It's a large organization that needs secretaries and guards and everything else you could expect.
But from time to time someone comes to SAF and asks "how do I join the FBI or CIA or SEALs or SWAT"...
Well first, no one who is in the CIA is going to answer that here. Second, I think at some point people realize it's not all James Bond.
99% of the time people are in love with the idea of being something. You're not even a cadet yet, much less an officer, and you're already thinking about how to line up something else.
If you want to be in the CIA, you don't HAVE to be in the military to do it.
If your goal is to get a pol-mil analyst job with a three letter agency, then I'd suggest a job in the military intelligence community. AF and Navy intel tend to have more opportunities for that type of intel than the other services.
If you intend to make it a long career, then if you have language skills/regional expertise, you can get into the RAS/PAS (Regional Affairs Specialist/Political Affairs Specialist) field as an O-4/O-5.
If you only intend to spend a few years in the military, then you'll still have plenty of opportunities to meet and possibly work with people from the three letter agencies. The key, like in most career fields/industries, is networking.
Im not trying to line up a job already, and i know the CIA isnt all James Bond. As a younger person with a full life ahead of me im just curious about different career opportunities. Im trying to widen my career options. Im very ambitious and want to know what i can do in life. Im just looking for general advice here from people more knowledgable than me.