Interest in FBI / CIA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend an accessible book or two that would help someone in their late teens / early 20s understand the modern CIA and/or NSA and the range of roles and groups within these agencies?

Not looking for a history of the CIA or NSA or a moment of time / incident in the past, but rather something more current but still broad enough to get a sense of the range of these agencies. (Obv they’re not all spies trying to recruit assets in foreign countries …. )

Fiction would work, assuming it’s not grounded in reality rather than speculative trash. Thx.

After completing my obligatory military service as an officer, I interviewed for an Operations Officer position at the CIA. They asked me to read 2 books that still sit on my shelf. Sleeping with the Devil and Inside the CIA. After reading those 2 books I changed my mind and decided it was not for me.

James Bamford, The Puzzle Palace, and Body of Secrets. Both about the NSA. The NSA has reluctantly admitted that these books are decent, although they would have preferred not to have seen them published.

As for the FBI: look at the recent massive biography of J. Edgar Hoover. Not very flattering, but it is an accurate portrayal. One assumes that the abuses documented in that book no longer are practiced. Let's hope so.

[Anonymous]

J Edgar Hoover was director a lifetime ago. He has nothing to do with the current FBI.

Look at the websites, read some books, stay away from drugs, and attend career fairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend an accessible book or two that would help someone in their late teens / early 20s understand the modern CIA and/or NSA and the range of roles and groups within these agencies?

Not looking for a history of the CIA or NSA or a moment of time / incident in the past, but rather something more current but still broad enough to get a sense of the range of these agencies. (Obv they’re not all spies trying to recruit assets in foreign countries …. )

Fiction would work, assuming it’s not grounded in reality rather than speculative trash. Thx.

You could rent the film "The Good Shepherd," starring Matt Damon. After that movie came out, the CIA went so far as to convene an unclassified conference, in which they point by point disputed some of the things mentioned in that movie. Among the points made at the conference was that the Yale secret society Skull & Bones is not as influential as shown in the movie (or by a previous post to this thread).

[Anonymous]

DC freshman math major applied for a summer internship with the CIA. They hire 2 years out, so he's trying to get in summer of 2025. The security clearance takes a long time, so apply early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make sure your kid isn’t experimenting with drugs, including weed. Check out the websites. They have a lot of information on different job types. Apply for the internships they are a foot in the door.

Weed has been our biggest disqualifier.

How about food allergies? Son was interested in one of the military academies, but peanut allergy immediately disqualified him. Thanks

[Anonymous]

My sister is an intel analyst with the FBI and she has a graduate degree in anthropology from an English university. She does a lot of writing and preparing “products.” Intel analysts have to go to Quantico to attend training at the FBI Academy in a course called ACES, where agents-in-training will also be in a lot of the classes with you. It is true that it’s very divided between agents and everyone else (“support staff,” even if you have PhDs or law degrees).

As an FYI, I have a graduate degree in criminology and I work for the DOJ. It’s not the world’s worst major…

[Anonymous]

In a relatively new development, if you used marijuana more than 5 yrs before applying to CIA, it will not disqualify you.

Also - there are many different jobs at each of these organizations. Bring a case officer for the CIA overseas is an extremely different job and lifestyle than being an analyst or data scientist. Encourage your kid to follow their interest and talent and think about how those could be applied to an IC or law enforcement career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister is an intel analyst with the FBI and she has a graduate degree in anthropology from an English university. She does a lot of writing and preparing “products.” Intel analysts have to go to Quantico to attend training at the FBI Academy in a course called ACES, where agents-in-training will also be in a lot of the classes with you. It is true that it’s very divided between agents and everyone else (“support staff,” even if you have PhDs or law degrees).

As an FYI, I have a graduate degree in criminology and I work for the DOJ. It’s not the world’s worst major…

+1

I did that job, too, many years ago. This was all accurate back then, and the second class treatment is part of why I left. Agents who washed out of training could automatically slide into an intel analyst slot as a consolation prize - because intel analysis itself was not seen as a specialization you needed particular experience and skills to do. They were trying to professionalize the intel career track, and I hope they have, but I did not feel I'd be able to reach my potential there.

Fwiw, I passed the poly and got a clearance even after admitting several instances of drug use in my youth, along with other minor delinquencies. I would say probably 10 years had passed since last use at that point.

[Anonymous]

Any major is fine. Depending on the job you want, you just need to be able to convey you have the skills for that job, which you can develop in college and/or at a job somewhere. Program management, analysis, communication, etc. I know people who majored in poly sci, philosophy, math, English, theater, psychology, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend an accessible book or two that would help someone in their late teens / early 20s understand the modern CIA and/or NSA and the range of roles and groups within these agencies?

Not looking for a history of the CIA or NSA or a moment of time / incident in the past, but rather something more current but still broad enough to get a sense of the range of these agencies. (Obv they’re not all spies trying to recruit assets in foreign countries …. )

Fiction would work, assuming it’s not grounded in reality rather than speculative trash. Thx.

After completing my obligatory military service as an officer, I interviewed for an Operations Officer position at the CIA. They asked me to read 2 books that still sit on my shelf. Sleeping with the Devil and Inside the CIA. After reading those 2 books I changed my mind and decided it was not for me.

Add Legacy of Ashes to that list.

Thanks to you both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any major is fine. Depending on the job you want, you just need to be able to convey you have the skills for that job, which you can develop in college and/or at a job somewhere. Program management, analysis, communication, etc. I know people who majored in poly sci, philosophy, math, English, theater, psychology, etc.

What about local law enforcement as a path to the FBI/CIA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any major is fine. Depending on the job you want, you just need to be able to convey you have the skills for that job, which you can develop in college and/or at a job somewhere. Program management, analysis, communication, etc. I know people who majored in poly sci, philosophy, math, English, theater, psychology, etc.

What about local law enforcement as a path to the FBI/CIA?

I have a good friend attempting this. He claims big city departments are more useful in this regard (for FBI). Take what for what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

RE the weed thing- serious question: Since pot is now legal in our state, if a kid smokes at a party in high school is it really different than underage drinking these days?

I can't imagine there are NO CIA or FBI agents who had a drink in high school or college before turning 21.

[Anonymous]

Pot is still illegal at the federal level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RE the weed thing- serious question: Since pot is now legal in our state, if a kid smokes at a party in high school is it really different than underage drinking these days?

I can't imagine there are NO CIA or FBI agents who had a drink in high school or college before turning 21.

Nice strawman. Nobody claimed that.