I am interested in the Intelligence Analyst role, known as military job 35F. What does this job involve on a daily basis, and what kind of training or education should I have to pursue this path? I love research and analysis.
As an Intelligence Analyst (35F) in the military, you'll have a vital role in collecting and analyzing information related to enemy forces, potential threats, and battle areas. Your duties would generally involve preparing reports, creating detailed intelligence analyses, establishing and maintaining systematic cross-referenced intelligence records and files, and determining the significance and reliability of incoming information.
This position often involves intensive research, synthesizing large amounts of data, and providing strategic guidance to leaders. You might also work on identifying strengths and weaknesses in enemy capabilities, predicting future enemy actions, or analyzing geographic locations relevant to military strategy.
Before you can qualify for this role, you'll need to meet some basic eligibility requirements. These include being a U.S. citizen, passing a physical exam, obtaining a satisfactory score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), and getting a top-secret security clearance.
As far as training goes, if you opt for this job post-enlistment, you'd attend Basic Combat Training, followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT) which includes practice with specific systems and tasks. During AIT, you're going to learn fundamentals of intelligence gathering and analysis, among other things. You'll also be given instruction on preparing maps, charts, and intelligence reports.
Interest and skills in research, analysis, and critical thinking will be particularly beneficial for this role. Also, if you decide to go to college, pursuing a major like political science, international relations, or geography could help build a strong foundation for this career.
Remember, the military path can offer unique, hands-on experience that can later be applied to civilian intelligence roles. Having military intelligence experience can make you a strong candidate for positions within federal agencies or private defense contractors after your service.
Bear in mind that being an Intelligence Analyst can be challenging - it's a role that bears a lot of responsibility and requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills. However, it can also be fulfilling knowing that your work can make a noticeable difference in strategic military operations.
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