Do You Have to Go Into the Military to Become a CIA Agent?
Any past military experience can benefit you in a Central Intelligence Agency career. However, as of August 2011, it’s not necessary for you to have a military background to join the CIA as an agent. Contrary to what you might expect, the CIA welcomes both depth and breadth of knowledge in many subject areas. Your most important skill to market yourself to the CIA is excellence in your area of expertise.
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CIA Requirements
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To become a CIA agent, you must first apply and meet certain requirements imposed by the agency. You must be a United States citizen at the time you apply, and you must be permanently based in the U.S. If you are currently living abroad, the CIA will not accept your resume until you are permanently in the U.S. -- even if you are a U.S. citizen. It’s also not necessary to have a college degree to work for the agency, as of August 2011 -- but nonclerical positions within the agency require you to have at least one.
Transferring From the Military
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The CIA states that it is not a “veteran preference agency.” Also, you cannot fulfill your military obligation by working for the CIA. However, the agency encourages you to apply at any time during your final year of military service, if you’re interested. If you successfully earn a position at the CIA, some of your benefits as a federal employee will be affected. Special rules may apply regarding transitioning your annual leave accruals and retirement funding.
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Study Recommendations
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The CIA encourages you to pursue all kinds of knowledge and to get the best grades you can in any educational environment -- including the military. Since the agency values a wide pool of knowledge, and since different positions require different specialties, the CIA doesn’t suggest any specific course of study.
Considerations
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One thing both the CIA and the military have in common is that foreign language skills are very useful. If you have the interest and aptitude, study one or more foreign languages to make your application more appealing. If you’re bilingual due to your family background, mention that as well. The agency strives to respond to applications within 45 days but receives several thousand applications per month. If your education or job experience changes significantly while your application is still under review, don’t worry -- you’ll be able to update it as your application moves through the hiring process; this includes updating it with military training and experience as well.
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