Which academy is best for intelligence

[Beaz]

I am highly interested in attending one of the military academies and am wondering which branch/academy is the best to become an intelligence officer.

I would guess which ever one you could get in

 

[raimius]

My father works with the Air Force office of special investigations,

One thing he said is that the Air Force has in his opinion the most top secret intel,and the most "exciting".

Just in OSI alone, most intel officers have at least a top secret, and many obtain an SCI (sensitive compartmented information)clearance.

In the Army, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of CID and MI maintain lower levels of clearances until higher ranks.

The reason the Air Force has so many with upper clearances is due to the type of technology they hold, almost everything the Air Force does involves sensitive information.


When I looked at going to USAFA, I wanted to go OSI from the academy, but I thought the percentage that went was under 2%? Wouldn't that make the intel field in the AF more difficult to reach?

In all though, I do believe being an intel officer in the Air Force is the way to go.

Intel and OSI are different career fields.

Also, the need to maintain secrecy for certain information winds up being a (necessary) headache. I guess some people view working with classified stuff as "cool" because it is important information. However, because it is important, there are more rules, regulations, and procedures that need to be carefully followed. I remember an F-117 pilot who said he absolutely hated when his wife would ask him how his day went and he'd have to reply "I can't talk about it, honey."

 

[scoutpilot]

Intel and OSI are different career fields.

Also, the need to maintain secrecy for certain information winds up being a (necessary) headache. I guess some people view working with classified stuff as "cool" because it is important information. However, because it is important, there are more rules, regulations, and procedures that need to be carefully followed. I remember an F-117 pilot who said he absolutely hated when his wife would ask him how his day went and he'd have to reply "I can't talk about it, honey."

That conversation gets old fast. Ask my wife.

 

[Christcorp]

That conversation gets old fast. Ask my wife.

Yup. Ours got simple. She stopped asking me how my day went.

 

[Jcleppe]

That conversation gets old fast. Ask my wife.

Got up, went to work, did some of this and a little of that, had lunch, did a bit of that other thing then came home. All in all a good day.

Always loved the response...."Huh?"

 

[usna1985]

When I left the USN and Intel community, one senior officer told me I'd miss all of the classified stuff I had been privy to. I can honestly tell you . . . not for a minute. Never once have missed it. I enjoy being part of the "ignorant" world out here.

What I do love is not having to lock my office. I don't even have a lock on my door. The first time I left my office without having to lock up . . . it was a very liberating feeling!

If you're considering Intel, try to find mid-grade (O-3/O-4) officers who can tell you what their careers have been like to date. And then figure out the likelihood of being able to select Intel from that SA. And THEN make sure you'd be satisfied with your 2nd or 3td choice of career field in case you don't get Intel.

 

[Jcleppe]

When I left the USN and Intel community, one senior officer told me I'd miss all of the classified stuff I had been privy to. I can honestly tell you . . . not for a minute. Never once have missed it. I enjoy being part of the "ignorant" world out here.

The thing I found the most interesting was being debriefed before getting out.

Sat through several, always found it interesting that I was told everything I was never supposed to talk about, funny thing was, most of it were things I had never really known in the first place. During several debriefings I would make the same comment..."So, that's what that was"

I have to agree, not having to be careful of what you could and couldn't say was a big relief. Not having a briefcase with a handcuff on it was nice as well.

Sound exciting?....not really.

 

[Seavoyager]

The info above is very accurate. Please keep in mind though, in attending a service academy (or joining the military in general), your subject to the needs of uncle sam first and foremost.

 

[nick4060]

My father works with the Air Force office of special investigations,

One thing he said is that the Air Force has in his opinion the most top secret intel,and the most "exciting".

Just in OSI alone, most intel officers have at least a top secret, and many obtain an SCI (sensitive compartmented information)clearance.

In the Army, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of CID and MI maintain lower levels of clearances until higher ranks.

The reason the Air Force has so many with upper clearances is due to the type of technology they hold, almost everything the Air Force does involves sensitive information.


When I looked at going to USAFA, I wanted to go OSI from the academy, but I thought the percentage that went was under 2%? Wouldn't that make the intel field in the AF more difficult to reach?

In all though, I do believe being an intel officer in the Air Force is the way to go.

As others have mentioned, OSI and Intel are entirely different fields. OSI is a law enforcement entity. They do handle counter-intelligence, but really what they do on a daily basis is investigations for sexual assaults and underage drinking.

OSI and Intel work together occasionally when it comes to force protection but other than that, there is no connection. If someone wants to carry a gun, wear a suit and be a detective, they should go for OSI. That's not what Intel officers do.

TS/SCI is standard for AF Intel officers. Everyone has to have one. But the clearance alone doesnt mean anything if your job doesn't require access. I had the clearance when I was still a cadet. That didn't mean I could access anything.