The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is responsible for providing our government with intelligence on the political, social, economic, technological and military situation in countries around the world. Working for the CIA is more than a job. It means being an integral part of protecting the security of the United States.
CIA operations officers serve a central role in the Office of Clandestine Service, one of the five CIA Offices. The job requires working and living overseas, which necessitates a great deal of self-reliance and responsibility. Agents are asked to establish relationships that produce intelligence information from clandestine sources in an unstructured, ambiguous and constantly changing environment – no easy task.
The Office of Clandestine Service also employs individuals who are liaisons between agents and the home base; persons who organize, guide, direct and support intelligence collection operations worldwide; and individuals who can translate/interpret foreign language documents and provide in-depth knowledge of both geographic regions and foreign cultures. Many of these support individuals travel overseas part-time and others work exclusively at CIA headquarters.
The other CIA Offices employ thousands (the exact number is classified) of professional, clerical and manual specialists. The other four Offices are:
- Directorate of Intelligence – Analyzes intelligence and reports to the US President and other key policymakers.
- Directorate of Science and Technology – Creates, adapts and operates technical collection systems.
- Directorate of Support – Provides everything needed to support the CIA mission, including organization, security, medical services, travel arrangements, finance/accounting, etc.
- Offices of the Director – The Director has several staffs responsible for Human Resources, the Center for the Study of Intelligence, Center for Leadership Development and CIA University.
Four-Star General David Petraeus, who commanded US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and later became Director of the CIA, is registered to vote in New Hampshire where he owns property in Springfield.
How to Become a Core Collector in National Clandestine Services in New Hampshire
The CIA’s National Clandestine Service in New Hampshire has two entry level positions for individuals wanting to pursue a position as a Core Collector: the Professional Trainee Program (PT) and the Clandestine Service Program (CST).
PT Program
Candidates for this program have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and lack work experience. Candidates should be between 21-25 years of age.
CST Program
Candidates for this program have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, as well as a several years of military or work experience. Eligible candidates are 26-35 years old with 35 being the maximum age to be considered for employment.
Similar requirements for each of the Core Collector positions in New Hampshire are listed below:
Scholastic Standards
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
Preferred fields of study for candidates include:
- Biological or chemical engineering
- Economics
- Finance
- International business or relations
- Nuclear or physical science
Required Job Skills
- Ability to think and make decisions quickly
- Superior reading and writing skills
- Flexible to work as part of a team or independently
- Interest in international affairs
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
International Travel and Foreign Language Proficiency
Candidates for the Core Collector position in New Hampshire are required to be proficient in at least one foreign language, with preference given to those who speak Urdu, Dari, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian, Kurdish, Pashto Somali, Turkish, Arabic and Chinese and. Applicants for both programs should also have prior residency in a foreign country as well as a solid understanding of foreign affairs and cross cultural sensitivity.
Requirements to Become a CIA Special Agent in New Hampshire
CIA agents are required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field such as criminal justice, homeland security, criminal justice, cyber crime, etc.
New Hampshire has 23 degree-granting postsecondary institutions, including five public university systems conveniently located around the state. There are also numerous private schools including Dartmouth College, the only one with the distinction of having been founded before the American Revolution. New Hampshire residents can also take advantage of several accredited online schools.
General requirements for special agent jobs include the following:
- US citizen
- Between the ages of 21 and 35
- No illegal drug use in past 12 months
- Interest in international affairs
- Able to pass a polygraph and intense background investigation
- Complete a medical exam and psychological evaluation
- Successfully complete two interviews
- Sound judgment/integrity
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of geography and different cultures
- Foreign language proficiency highly desired
- Completion of the Criminal Investigation Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA. New hires without this training must complete it during their first year of employment.