CIA agents work discretely to obtain information from all manner of sources. This intelligence is used to help formulate policies designed to improve national security and identify specific threats to the country.
While most CIA efforts in Kansas take place below the radar, the involvement of the CIA in joint training exercises at Leavenworth in 2011 is publicly known. This large interagency operation involved agents from a number of federal agencies, along with officers from Canada.
Requirements for Joining the CIA National Clandestine Service in Kansas
Residents of Kansas interested in pursuing a Core Collector career in the CIA’s National Clandestine Services can apply to one of two entry-level programs, depending on their qualifications: the Professional Trainee Program (PT) and the Clandestine Service Program (CST).
PT Program – Kansas residents between 21 and 25 years old and that has a Bachelor’s degree can apply for this position. No prior work experience is necessary.
CST Program – Kansas Residents between 26 and 35 years old that has a Bachelor’s degree can apply for this position. Prior work or military experience is required.
Requirements for consideration into both Core Collector programs are highlighted below:
Job Related Skills
Candidates will only qualify if they possess the following job related skills:
- Knowledge of foreign countries
- Previous international residency or travel
- Proficiency in foreign language
Preferred foreign languages for the Core Collector position in Kansas include Chinese, Korean, Dari, Indonesian, , Kurdish, Urdu, Pashto, Persian, Russian, Somali, Arabic, and Turkish.
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must have earned a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies and have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Candidates that have earned degrees in biological engineering, chemical engineering, economics, finance, global business relations, nuclear science and physical science are preferred for the CIA’s Core Collector Positions.
Requirements to Become a CIA Agent in Kansas
Education and Experience – Residents of Kansas who want to become special agents for the CIA go through a rigorous selection process. The requirements for these types of jobs include having at least a bachelor’s degree. Applicants are also required to have a fairly high-powered background having performed criminal investigations for three years.
The agency requires strong professional skills including the following:
- Multi-tasking with the ability to prioritize multiple projects
- Strong communications skills with both technical and non-technical people
- Being able to work under pressure
- Possessing discretion and tact
- Being able to work both individually and in teams
- Being able to interact with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
Special Agent Training – All of the CIA’s special agents have been trained in the elite Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Ideally, newly hired agents already have this training. Those that do not must go through the 56 day program.
The CITP involves the following types of training:
- Legal
- Performing surveillance and interviews
- Obtaining warrants
- Arresting people
- Testifying in court
- Working as part of a task force
- Using firearms
- Tactical training
- High-performance driving
A Continuing Case Investigation Coordinator mentors each trainee throughout the program, so they emerge from the program highly trained for their careers.
The CIA’s Connection to Kansas
As of 2013, authorities interrupted at least 60 attempted terrorist plots throughout the country. One high-profile attempt took place in Kansas in December 2013. An American citizen who had become a jihadist attempted to detonate a suicide car bomb at the Mid-Continent Airport terminal in Wichita. Fortunately, he had been under investigation, and the FBI had provided him with inert explosives.
The Juarez cartel is known to be active in Kansas, and drug smuggling is particularly rampant in Kansas City. The CIA collects intelligence on foreign drug trafficking organizations to help authorities better understand the nature of these cartels, so they can implement better policies to stop money laundering and the trafficking of drugs and weapons.