I just joined the Navy as an Intelligence Specialist and am interested in pursuing this as a long term career in the intelligence field outside the Navy. Most agencies require a degree. If I want to pursue this, what college degree would I need to get?
What College Degree Is Required For An Intelligence Specialist?
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language would be a good choice, Arabic, Farsi would be good choices
The type of degree would depend on the type of intelligence specialist. For instance a lot of the intelligence the CIA gathers is in the economic field among others. It would not be very useful for an intelligence specialist on the Cuban economy to have a degree in Arabic. He should instead read Spanish and have a degree in Economics. The CIA and NSA tend to recruit on prestigious university campuses, so I would suggest that the quality of a degree is an important factor.
Check the type of degree required for various CIA positions here:https://www.cia.gov/careers/index.html
Honestly if you really want to be an analyst for the CIA or NSA as a career, I suggest not going enlisted in the Navy. Intelligence Specialist is going to involve technical aspects of preparing Photographs and other materials. http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/sanfrancisco/op…
The duties of a Special Duty Intelligence Officer are much more closely aligned to the work of a CIA or NSA intelligence analyst:http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/sanfrancisco/op…
Withdrawing from the DEP to pursue higher education is allowed. Just be careful not to use up any bonus that may have been paid as they will probably ask for it to be returned. http://www.objector.org/girights/delayed…
I suggest using an an nrotc scholarship to pay for college and then serve as an officer. nrotc, nrotc mo, and rotc scholarships pay full tuition regardless of amount. There is only a limited time window a guy has to utilize the benefits of an nrotc scholarship. The “Scholarship Program” nrotc scholarships are only available from age 17-21. So the navy’s best college program is essentially not available to guys who enlist. Good description of nrotc “scholarship program” and “college program” scholarships:http://military.berkeley.edu/naval.html
unofficial description of nrotc:http://www.lukeswartz.com/nrotc.html
Official:https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships_…
List of NROTC schools at link at bottom of web page:http://marineofficer.com/page/NROTC-O.js…
Certain universities will offer rotc cadets and nrotc mids free room and board. Partial list:http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/hssch…
Then serve the required 4 years active duty. Get out and get whatever advanced degree is required by the CIA or NSA, and then join the CIA. [GI Bill benefits will pay for part of this.] However this is probably going to involve a pay cut from the salary that was being earned in the Navy as a Lieutenant, O-3, which is almost automatic promotion at a little over 3 years. In Washington DC, including housing allowance(BAH.) this would be around 100,000 at 4 years and by the time actually going to work for the CIA could be quite a bit more:
Calculate regular military compensation for various ranks and locations at the following link. Location makes a significant difference due to BAH. Single enlisted live in barracks and do not collect BAH:http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/m…
2nd Lt( Army, Air Force and Marines) = Ensign(Navy) = O-1.
1st Lt( Army, Air Force and Marines) = Lt JG(Navy) = O-2.
Captain( Army, Air Force and Marines)= Lt(Navy) = O-3.
Advancement to O-2 by about the 18th month.
Advancement to O-3 by about 39th month
Good Luck!