Intelligence Specialists

Background

Military intelligence is information needed to plan for our national defense. Knowledge of the number, location, and tactics of enemy forces and potential battle areas is needed to develop military plans. To gather information, the services rely on aerial photographs, electronic monitoring using radar and sensitive radios, and human observation. Intelligence specialists gather and study the information required to design defense plans and tactics.

What They Do

Intelligence specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Operate sensitive radios to intercept foreign military communications
• Prepare intelligence reports, maps, and charts
• Store and retrieve intelligence data using computers
• Study aerial photographs of foreign ships, bases, and missile sites
• Study foreign military codes
• Study foreign troop movements
• Study land and sea areas that could become battlegrounds in time of war

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is required for some specialties in order to work with color-coded maps.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to organize information
• Ability to think and write clearly
• Interest in gathering information and studying its meaning
• Interest in reading maps and charts

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Algebra
• Geography
• Geometry
• Trigonometry

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Intelligence specialists work in offices on land and aboard ships, and in tents when in the field.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of nine to 24 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in intelligence gathering. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Analyzing aerial photographs
• Planning aerial and satellite observations
• Preparing intelligence reports, maps, and charts
• Using computer systems

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian intelligence specialists generally work for federal government agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency or the National Security Agency. Their duties are similar to those performed by military intelligence specialists. The analytical skills of intelligence specialists are also useful in other fields, such as research or business planning.

Related Civilian Careers

• Computer Network Architects

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 26,000 intelligence specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, intelligence specialists collect information and prepare maps and charts under close supervision. With experience, they are given more responsibility for organizing and studying intelligence data. Eventually, they may become chiefs of intelligence units.