Intelligence Officer Job Description, Career as a Intelligence Officer, Salary, Employment

Education and Training Military enlistment and certification

Average Salary Varies – see below

Job Outlook Excellent

Basic Job Description

Intelligence officers are military personnel who are trained to observe threat levels, gain information through observing war zones and enemy lines, direct security operations and other activities that involve secret observational operations regarding threats to the military or country. Intelligence officers often conduct the procedures that will be done during interrogations of suspected terrorists or foreign invaders. They report their findings to the commander in chief to help determine what needs to be done regarding war tactics and security procedures. They also design and use computer and surveillance equipment that is developed to spy on border patrol locations and places at risk of terror attacks or foreign invasions. Intelligence officers observe the duties of the military, what they are doing in foreign nations, and whether they believe there are other procedures that may need to be done to enhance the safety of their nation.

Education and Training Requirements

Intelligence officers must first be enlisted in the military and a trained member of a specific military branch. They have completed basic military training and advanced to complete the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center. They also complete the Post Graduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence College.

Training for the position of an intelligence officer varies according to the military branch they are working in. They must pass several levels of training and certification to qualify as an intelligence officer and pass a series of tests to adapt to the skills necessary for an intelligence officer.

Getting the Job

Intelligence officers must be United States citizens and already enlisted in a military branch. They must have completed basic training and gone through the series of training courses, tests and graduate programs that are required for intelligence officers.

Intelligence officers have an excellent understanding of technological advancements and know how to implement new technologies and strategies into their existing skills in order to make them more effective and advanced.
Intelligence officers also need an extreme eye for detail and perfect color vision, as they frequently look over surveillance footage and need to decipher specific details that can make significant differences in the result of a test or observation.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Job prospects for military intelligence officers are expected to be excellent over the next several years as military personnel are needed for operations being performed all around the world. Foreign affairs have grown and developed significantly, and technological advancements in the military are growing as well. Intelligence officers are constantly updating their systems and procedures to implement the use of advanced technology, so candidates with knowledge of technology and who can quickly learn new processes are ideal for the field of military intelligence.

Many intelligence officers advance to become head of their department or head of a specific project that is going on. The more an intelligence officer works in their field, the more likely they are to think of plans or strategies that can be used for specific operations. These officers will often be instructed to develop their own operation and hire appropriate officers to help them complete the job.

Military officers in all positions have plenty of room for advancement, as there is always a higher department that an officer can advance or move to. The role of intelligence officer is a job many military workers strive to achieve, so working in the field is considered a huge accomplishment for many military officers.

Working Conditions and Environment

The work environment for an intelligence officer is extremely variable and likely to change often. Some intelligence officers work in an office at computers where they operate surveillance equipment and create reports regarding their findings. Others work directly in a war zone as a “spy” or interrogation officer where they will hold suspects hostage for questioning. There are plenty of opportunities for an intelligence officer, and rarely will they have the same workday twice. Some work primarily in the field while some work solely in an office in front of a computer, but there is always a variety of jobs to perform and new findings to report.

Intelligence officers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many of them rotate shifts between mornings, evenings and midnight shifts, but many officers become accustomed to working for days at a time if they are working on a large or dangerous operation. Some will work directly in a war zone and risk their life for the sake of finding information they need. Those who work in an office environment keep in constant communication with those out in the field and need to know the status of their fellow officers at all times. If an intelligence officer working at a computer does not hear from an officer in the field, they may have to continue working until the status of the other officer has been reported.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for intelligence officers is determined by the military and Armed Forces pay scale. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, military pay ranges from $1,294.50 per month to $14,668.60 per month according to rank and years of experience. Military personnel also receive free room and board or tax-free housing, free medical and dental care, military clothing allowance, discounts at military grocery stores, 30 days of paid vacation or leave, and an abundance of travel opportunities. Military veterans also receive benefits and opportunities once they have retired from the service. Some receive medical and hospitalization care even after they have retired.
Military personnel who have finished their time in the service and no longer wish to serve will also receive long-time benefits as a reward for their job done for their country. The military will pay for a college education for those who wish to continue their education outside of the military.

Where to Go for More Information

Association of Former Intelligence Officers
6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 200
McLean, VA 22101
(703) 790-0320
http://www.afio.com

The Military Intelligence Corps Association
PO Box 13020
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85670
http://www.micorps.org