One of the more operations based careers in the Coast Guard is the Maritime Intelligence Specialist. They have a variety of duties, in a wide range, and they process, collect, analyze, and disseminate various information. They are stationed all different places in the Coast Guard, most commonly located at Field Intelligence Support Teams, Maritime Cryptologic Units, or Intelligence coordination centers.
The duties that a Maritime Intelligence Specialist perform are:
-Assembling and analyzing different operations data and intelligence.
-Plotting and preparing different images, data and information using maps and charts.
-Assembling and compiling communications gained by computer technology.
-Taking raw information and producing intelligence from it.
-Preparing, planning and giving intelligence briefings.
-Presenting and preparing operational missions and mission briefings.
-Taking computerized intelligence data and compiling it for relay to officers in the field.
-Conducting debriefings, analyzing information and preparing summary reports.
-Maintaining files, intelligence libraries and libraries.
All Maritime Intelligence Specialists in the Coast Guard start with basic training in New Jersey, then progress on to individual special training at the school in Yorktown, Virginia. After ten weeks at their Virginia class A school, they may receive additional intelligence training at a variety of specialized C schools located around the country. Training also is conducted on the job following graduation from Class A school. The job of Maritime Intelligence specialist is varied and challenging. Only those with a desire to succeed, and who is detail oriented need to apply. To qualify for training as a Maritime Intelligence specialist, you have to be eligible and qualify for a Top Secret Security clearance.
Normal color vision and hearing is required, and minimum scores on the ASVAB are also required. In addition to requiring a Top-secret military clearance, you must additionally be eligible for Sensitive Compartmented Information Eligibility. Working as a Maritime Intelligence Specialist is often shore based, but there are also duty billets available on the larger Coast Guard Vessels. It is a highly competitive job field; there are not a huge number of candidates selected each year. Following service in the Coast Guard as a Maritime Intelligence Specialist, some of the possibilities is further service with the United States Government as an intelligence Manager, Intelligence collector or an intelligence Analyst. You may also be qualified to work in counter intelligence or counter terrorism.
This is a highly specialized, but also highly challenging career field. If you feel that you could do well in this career specialty, talk to your local Coast Guard Recruiting station, or visit the U.S. Shield of Freedom Coast Guard web site on the Internet for more information.
