The very first step in considering whether a military intelligence job holds potential for your career choice is being able to define it. If you understand what these fields actually involve, then you can make an informed decision.
Many civilians still envision military intelligence as being the way it is portrayed in the movies, with covert operations and a lot of excitement as gunfire narrowly misses the hero.
However, in real life it is very different, still interesting and challenging, but different from many people’s perception. Some of the top jobs for military members are in the intelligence field.
The main duties that are involved when someone is holding a position in this growing field in the armed forces is gathering accurate information and distributing it to their appropriate superiors. This vital position is held by individuals with clean criminal records, good credit, and an upstanding military record. Why, you may ask, is good credit a consideration?
It is highly important that anyone chosen to work in the field of military intelligence be considered as someone, who will not be compromised. This means that you should not be in a position where a little extra cash might cause you to sacrifice your moral standing, character, job, and freedom.
Some people who have found themselves in tight financial straits have succumbed to temptation of accepting bribes. This is why you must have acceptable credit and be financially stable if you wish to be selected for a job in military intelligence. The ability to serve with integrity is directly linked to the lives that can be saved from a job well done.
Most of us had a crash course in military intelligence through the media after 9/11. We started to understand that the military has the ability and the legal right to listen in on specific types of information being transferred from one party to another.
It is a little more complicated than that, but overall members of many separate military intelligence teams gather whatever information they can that may detail possible threats to the nation’s security, civilian lives, or even plans to attack military establishments.
During wartime, intelligence officers become the “eyes of the future” for their commanders. For instance, if you are, stationed in the Middle East you would be responsible for updating the commanding officer about any kind of threats posed by the current or future weather conditions, as well as challenges offered by the terrain or other troops. This helps to prepare the troops for anything that they might encounter during upcoming operations.
This specialized branch of the military is also responsible for determining whether an unknown entity poses a danger or a threat to the current operations or the civilian sector. Perhaps there is a transmission intercepted that raises the question of a new threat developing from a previously unheard of group or individual.
Intelligence officers are specifically trained to determine whether or not that threat is real, and whether it should be dealt with at the commanding officer levels. This means that they are highly skilled at deciphering messages of any type, even encrypted codes.
People who wish to have a good chance at a military intelligence career should have a college degree, although there are some positions available for enlisted personnel. You will have to pass background screening and undergo a battery of intelligence, personality, and psychological tests as well. If you are fluent in other languages, that experience will also give you an advantage over other candidates.
There are varying ranks of intelligence officers and enlisted personnel and these people can be found stationed throughout the world. You can find a comprehensive military jobs list at MilitaryCrossing, an online job board that will show you which jobs are currently open and available in the areas of intelligence, and will outline a list of duties, and qualifications.
During peacetime, there is no shortage of demand for people to work in USA military jobs. In fact, during peacetime it could be said that this division has a very heavy responsibility to keep the country safe from potential attacks and acts of aggression.
These skilled men and women work hard to keep our country safe. Intelligence is the branch of the military that must always be alert by keeping an ear to the world and an eye to the sky.
There are many intelligence needs that are scattered all over the world during both war and peace times, and many of these are found in the military community. This means there are many opportunities for travel abroad by those who choose this type of career. While the armed forces are known for handing out assignments to those who are in the service but there are times when volunteering for a specific location, or a specific assignment, can be accommodated.
Once a person’s military career is over, there are plenty of opportunities to continue to use skills learned in military intelligence to find good jobs in the private sector. Many companies will hire former military intelligence workers to help them find the best ways to keep sensitive information safe. The FBI and the Department of Defense often hires people with intelligence experience to help them with computer and IT security.
While perhaps Hollywood makes people think of military intelligence as a James Bond type of environment, the more accurate view is no less exciting. For anyone with a commitment to serve their country while increasing their skills and knowledge, this is a wonderful and challenging career choice.
