INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AGENCIES CHOICES

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the student choices in the intelligence community. The personal skills, abilities and interest play an important role in the career of choice and ought to match with that if the intelligence agency as well as their strengths and challenges. The U.S. Intelligence Community is an extensive, complex, systematically structured and activated pursuant that consist of massive law, policies directives and executive orders. Essentially intelligence compels the daily activities within the intelligence agency. The role of the intelligent community is to provide in timely, significant and appropriate information that can be used by the U.S. decision makers, policymaker, and war fighters. In order to accomplish this mission of intelligence information, the task involves collecting, dispensation, analyzing and propagating the information.

Central Intelligence Agency

CIA is an agency that is engaged in the collection of information across the fields of science, technology and operations. A career choice in this agency requires not only the education but personal skills, abilities and interest play an important role. This is because most of it work is practical and not theoretical. Minimum academic requirement involves different degrees and masters such as in political science, national security, computer science and international studies and other closely related subjects. In order to be a competitive candidate as an analyst in CIA relevant experience is important as well as other personal traits (Vallabhaneni, 2013).

The agency requires a student who has a strong verbal presentation in order to enhance effective communication and passing of the information in the right context. Writing skills play a significant role in the writing of a clear and a concise text that will pass the right information and communicate effectively to the parties involved (Vallabhaneni, 2013). The student matches the abilities and the skills in this agency in that the student possesses excellent analytical skills, well developed interpersonal skills and problem to solve techniques. The CIA requires these abilities due to the nature of the job as the processing of the intelligence information are crucial (Vallabhaneni, 2013).

As a counter-terrorism analyst, foreign language proficiency is important. This matches the requirement by the organization from the student. An excellent briefing skill enhances the ability to convey complex information in a clear concise manner as expected (Vallabhaneni, 2013). The ability to be conversant with technology is important. The student skills match with the agency in that it operation are computerized. A significant portion of work is employed to the complex databases that the student is well equipped with. The efficiency plays an important role that ensures that work is met on the right time under strict deadlines.

Strengths of CIA

The strength of the organization lies in the secret license to acquire, seduce and wipe out the potential and the real foes in America. The organization also owns barrels of weapons and large funds allocation that helps the organization in its secretive operation as it is able to pay well the people involved in its analyst work. Its strength also arises due to the fact that it absorption process to employment requires a minimum of certain abilities and skills to be possessed by the job seekers. The job candidates are first to required to complete a pre-employment process such as psychological, medical and polygraph examination and extensive background checks that ensure that the agency only picks the best candidates. This also ensures that candidates with talent are best selected further enhancing the strength of the agency (George, Bruce, & Georgetown University, 2008).

Challenges of CIA

For a long time, the agency remains ill-suited for desiring, promoting and installing leaders who can be trusted. Some of the CIA agents have been accused of being rogued leaking out the very confidential information helping the terrorists escape raids. Inside jobs have also been witnessed compromising the integrity of the agency which makes the citizens lose hope in the institution (George, Bruce, & Georgetown University, 2008). Transnational issues have also weakened the agency due to many different trends in the global character. Many of the international terrorist’s attacks are conceptualized planned and launched in different countries making the intelligence of the CIA service ineffective in detecting them, deterring and preventing the attacks (George, Bruce, & Georgetown University, 2008).

National Security Agency

NSA has the mandate of establishing and operating a integrated organization for conveying signals of intelligence actions and performing out the gathering, dispensation, examination and coverage of the intelligence signals. This is done for the national foreign intelligence need which is in accordance with from the DCI. As an area of career choice for a student personal skill, abilities and interests play an important path as a candidate in this agency (Swenson, 2012). However professional education is also needed which includes computer science as a major degree course, political science, national security among other closely related subjects. The agency is more technologically advanced as the collection of the intelligence information is electronically collected. Despite that personal abilities and skills are needed in order to process the data into more meaningful information that can be used to prevent the occurrence of terrorist attacks facing America (Swenson, 2012).

The agency requires a student who has vast knowledge in computer science and is up to date with how to operate the technological devices used by the agency. This vast knowledge facilitates the simulation of intelligence information which is used to prevent the attacks. The job requires a multitude of skills to be possessed by the students in order to become a competitive candidate in the agency. Better analytical skills assist the student to be able to decode the information obtained from the computers. The information used by the terrorist hackers is mostly coded information which a data analyst should be able to identify and process it (Swenson, 2012). Communication skills for the students match that of the organization in that the information obtained is in most cases sensitive and should be handled with care and communicated in the right way and channels in order to increase efficiency. The interpersonal communication skill of the students matches that of the organization due to the complex databases used by the agency in order to avoid hacking of the NSA website. The encrypted data requires real-time interface and telecommunication in order to ensure that the communication channels are not also compromised (Swenson, 2012).  The agency is efficient in its operation which requires the student to be efficient as well in that the delay of any information can cause massive damage to the state. As a counterterrorism analyst, mathematics plays an equally important role. This is because probability and mathematics theory requires skills and knowledge of a student that matches that of the organization in order to analyze and simplify the complex logarithms that contribute directly to national defense (Swenson, 2012).

Strength of NSA

One of the major strength of NSA is the ability to collect data and more data, essentially obtaining data whether encrypted or not so long as it is through the internet. It has been able to obtained information from the terrorist’s servers that are remotely connected due to the vast technological devices put in place and the skills and the abilities of the employees that play a significant part. Its strength has been contributed by the fact that it has been able to save more data that is filled in the servers at its headquarters eliminating communication and internet communication (Rogers & Syngress Media, Inc, 2004). The agency has massive network chart that facilitates its ability to gather information. The talents, skills, abilities and interest of its staff members have continued to make it stronger as they have a clear understanding of how to obtain the information and its sensitivity when it comes to national defense. Large storage capacity has helped the agency to store more information which is used frequently identifying the threats thus limiting their occurrence (Rogers & Syngress Media, Inc, 2004).

Challenges of NSA

Despite the tremendous strengths of NSA, there are challenges that hinder the agency from being more effective. The funding issue of the budget is a major challenge for the agency. This is because it hinders the agency from effectively performing its duties thus limiting their operations. Attacks by former employees who have extensive knowledge of the complex databases are a threat. Some of the employees join the terrorist groups thus jeopardizing the efforts of the agency (Rogers & Cunningham, 2005). Inside job is also a challenge to the agency as it is mostly difficult to identify who it is. Cyber-spying has been on the rise making the detection of the mostly the encrypted data more difficult. The scandal facing the agency such as the phone tapping in Europe is damaging especially to the court of public opinion. This limits data sharing and more willing co-conspirators which have further led to more regulation of the agency leading to inefficiency (Rogers & Cunningham, 2005).

Defense Intelligence Agency

DIA is essential for the well-being of the state. The agency is charged with the responsibility of providing intelligence support in America to the secretary of defense. DIA is significantly involved into analytical support to the national military. It also has the responsibility of ensuring that the analysis of the intelligence performed by other departments does not duplicate that of the CIA and the DoD (Congress, 2009). As an information analyst in DIA which a student may venture into integrity is a core principle. The core values together with objectivity and dedication play a major part in this field. Intellectual honesty, courage and adherence to the ethical codes is a must have other than the academic qualification that which are equally important. This is because the soul and a unique responsibility for the agency are to seek and tell the truth as they see it. For DIA without integrity, there is no credibility which without credibility the analytical judgment carried out by the analysts is ignored resulting to no useful purpose for the organization Congress, 2009).

In order to maintain the integrity of the agency that will facilitate the provision of accurate and real-time finished intelligence to its customers and the state personal skills and abilities play a vital path. Excellent analytical skills and well developed interpersonal skills of an individual match that of the agency in that the agency is only supposed to report on facts that can confirm the data available into making the right judgment when drawing conclusions and most importantly the ability to resist all external and internal pressure in the analytical judgment Congress, 2009). Absence of integrity is exceedingly harmful to the associations of the organization. When an individual is effective the internal process of the agency is more productive which is essential for a healthy agency and the individual professional careers. Excellent communication skills match that of the organization in that it facilitates in conveying the right message with can be used by the military and other agency to prevent terrorism attacks Congress, 2009).

Strengths of DIA

The DIA has been able to gather intelligence from countless sources over the years most identified by the successful raid of Osama bin Laden. The agency has also been able to diversify its self with the rapid changes in the nature of threats that are faced by the state. Its strength can also be attributed to the fact that it has been able to maintain high levels of integrity amongst its personnel that has enhanced objectivities and honesty (Theoharis, 2006). Its strength is also attributed to the fact that the agency has worn many clients and the state which makes them give out information they think will be helpful to the agency. In the 20th century, the information obtained by the agency during the two world wars has enabled the military of the United States and it aliens to prevail thus making the agency more powerful and credible. The agency is able to obtain unique defense intelligence that gives it an advantage in decision-making as a result of the strategic position of its men and women globally (Theoharis, 2006).

Challenges of DIA

The national defense agency is faced with the challenge of effective military operations. This is brought about by the accessibility of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups. It also faces the inability to collect good and sufficient information about WMD in countries such as Iraq. Moreover, the DIA is facing regional threats, especially in the Middle East (D’Agostino &Wilshusen, 2011). The civil wars in the countries are dangerous and mostly unpredictable in the modern history. The agency has also faced opposition from other countries that are joining up to challenge U.S as a super power which includes Russia, Moscow, North Korea and China as well as South Asia. The volatility of the Africa political system, criminal groups conflicts and transnational terrorist has continued to challenge the DIA. Latin America has continued to threat regional prosperity and stability further challenging the operations of the DIA (D’Agostino &Wilshusen, 2011). Global threats such as malicious cyber attacks, transnational terrorism, and foreign intelligence threat have greatly challenged the DIA.

Department of Homeland Security

DHS is an intelligence agency that has a vital mission of securing the nation from the many threats they face internally and within the borders. A career option in DHS can be that of a special agent (Goldstein, 2016). The special agent has the responsibility of analyzing a different number of laws in defending the U.S. this may vary from immigration, weapons, breach of law and money laundering exercises. Educational programs are important in becoming a member of the agency. However, personal skills and abilities are essential to a special agent as they facilitate the understanding of the information and process it to be more meaningful in order to protect the state (Goldstein, 2016). The ability to speak other foreign language places a critical role. Analytical skills of the information hence in understanding the potential kind of the state are facing. This then requires good communication technique to convey the message to the right authority. Honesty, objectivity, and integrity play an equally important role as it ensures that the sensitive information is well handled (Axelrod-Contrada, 2003).

The student’s skills such as integrity and honesty match that of the department as a result of the mission to serve with honor and integrity in order to safeguard the American citizens as well as their values. The moral adherence of the students corresponds to that of the agency as it is a requirement in DHS (Axelrod-Contrada, 2003). Communication skills and efficiency in a foreign language of the students is significant to the organization as it enables it to a greater capacity force even where the official language is different.

Strengths of DHS

The agency has strong collaboration in the justice system and the networks of service providers. Due to the number of secret and special agents in the agency it has been able to obtain relevant information that has prevented attacks (Simmons & Lehmann, 2013). It also has an extensive network of its personnel that has enabled the agency to cover a significant area in America with increased patrols on communities that consist of gangs. The agency strength is the ability to develop strategically and operational plans, ability to establish new as well as expanding the existing offices and programs that aid in their effective operations (Simmons & Lehmann, 2013).

Challenges of DHS

The Department faces challenges in effective partnership as well as sharing and utilizing information which has led to inefficiency to some of its mission. DHS has for some time been unable to effectively execute and integrate the management functions (United States, 2005). As a result of the challenges, there has been a cost increase, delays and performance problems. Despite the interpersonal skills possessed by its personnel the agency still faces the challenge of enough skilled personnel in management thus straining the agency. Implementation of statutory programs has continued to challenge DHS impacting on its approaches and investments. This has rendered the agency the inability to meet the strategic need in a more efficient manner (United States, 2005).

Conclusion

The intelligence community consists of a wide range of agencies that is paramount in protecting the state, especially on terrorist’s threats. The agencies are similar to one another especially in the academic qualification and personal skills and abilities. Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills are significant for a career choice in the intelligence community. Communication skills are essential in conveying the right information in the right context. Gathering of information and obtaining the relevance of the information is equality important. The intelligence community also requires the adherence to moral codes, objectivity, honesty and integrity due to the sensitivity of the information. It has been identified that the intelligence community has offered a wide range of excellent programs to the students in the career path of intelligence. Despite the personal skills, abilities and interest there are programs that apply to all. These include computer science, political science, computer engineering, security studies, and telecommunication among others. Therefore it is true to say that intelligence communication is a wide area of career path to students who have better and developed skills, abilities as well as having an interest in it.

 

 

 

Reference

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Vallabhaneni, S. R. (2013). Wiley CIA exam review focus notes 2013: Part 3. New York: Wiley.