Internships

[lana5candidate]

For any current cadets/former grads, do any of you have experience with internships through the ABC agencies as a cadet? Just curious if the opportunity exists. Bonus points if it's CIA, it interests me a lot.

 

[emwvmi01]

I am most familiar with NSA but intelligence careers.gov. lays out a variety of intern programs with NSA, DIA and NGA. The only cadet/midshipman programs I am aware of are pretty technical focused on cyber or signal intelligence but there may be some analysis focused positions as well at other agencies.

I do know from the cyber side there is now thought of tracking cadets very early with internships after freshman year. The benefits are we can get better assessment of technical acumen and initiate clearance earlier.

 

[lana5candidate]

Does your major dictate your eligibility for these programs? For example, are these type of internships only available for ORCA, EE or Cyber Systems? Or are these available to Government/Mechanical Engineering students as well?

 

[Thumper]

Current 2/c cadet here- Government major. My class just went through the process of applying for internships last fall. The process is competitive, and mostly internal within the academy, meaning that you don't apply to the agency directly, but the academy coordinates with each agency, which offers a limited amount of spots for the academy to fill. I was fortunate enough to receive a internship opportunity through the DIA, and I know other cadets who have internships lined up at NGA, FBI, and NSA this summer. Though they did not offer one through the CIA this year, the staff would do everything in their power to try and get you an internship of your interest.

As far as majors go, each department coordinates their own opportunities for internships, so your major somewhat dictates what internships you could apply for. I can only speak to the opportunities offered through the humanities department, but I have seen other cadets go outside of their departments for internship opportunities (i.e. An ORCA major got an internship at DIA through the humanities department). Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[tycarpen]

Current 2/c cadet here- Government major. My class just went through the process of applying for internships last fall. The process is competitive, and mostly internal within the academy, meaning that you don't apply to the agency directly, but the academy coordinates with each agency, which offers a limited amount of spots for the academy to fill. I was fortunate enough to receive a internship opportunity through the DIA, and I know other cadets who have internships lined up at NGA, FBI, and NSA this summer. Though they did not offer one through the CIA this year, the staff would do everything in their power to try and get you an internship of your interest.

As far as majors go, each department coordinates their own opportunities for internships, so your major somewhat dictates what internships you could apply for. I can only speak to the opportunities offered through the humanities department, but I have seen other cadets go outside of their departments for internship opportunities (i.e. An ORCA major got an internship at DIA through the humanities department). Hope this helps, good luck!

Valuable info and insight. Thank you for sharing @Thumper ! And thanks for asking the question OP@lana5candidate... DS is looking for more information on internships too.