May 05, 2006
by Jonathan Haeber
Local Education Columnist
The Central Itelligence Agency may not be in its best days. It's been marred by a bit of bad press. For one, Valerie Plame's outing has posed serious questions about the agency's ability to protect agents' identities. Second, many of the original false claims about weapons in Iraq originated at the CIA. Despite all of the sour journalism about the CIA, they are still looking for talented individuals.
The CIA is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, though field offices can be found in almost any country. The field offices are where the intelligence gathering truly happens.
The Secret International Business of Espionage
Usually a clandestine officer needs to possess advanced language skills, a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and training in economics, international business, or electrical, chemical, or nuclear engineering.
Clandestine officers for the CIA need to commit to frequent travel, secrecy, and physical and mental fitness. The danger is everywhere, especially for non-official cover operatives (NOC). NOCs don't have diplomatic status, and any NOC found to be a CIA officer in a foreign country is likely to punished.
If you feel you have what it takes to be a secret agent for the CIA, consider earning your Bachelor of Science in International Business, Economics, and Business Administration (all recommended by the CIA) in Washington, D.C. Schools in Washington, D.C. offer a solid education, as well as career prospects in intelligence, defense, and politics.
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About the Author
Jonathan Haeber is no secret agent man, but writes about merchandise as a full-time copywriter for Discovery Channel Stores. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley with degrees in English and Geography.
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