There are many intelligence and security agencies within the United States federal government. Many of those agencies are often referred to as "three letter" agencies because of the familiar three letter abbreviations that have come to be so well known, such as CIA and FBI. In addition to the more familiar agencies, the different branches of service have their own intelligence and security agencies.
The United States Air Force, for example, has the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). The AFOSI is a federal law enforcement and investigative agency that conducts criminal investigations and provides counterintelligence services. In this respect, the AFOSI is like many of the three letter agencies and military intelligence. Indeed, the stated mission of the AFOSI is essentially to identify, exploit, and neutralize criminal, terrorist, and intelligence threats to the Air Force.
To execute its mission AFOSI focuses on threat detection. Threat detection efforts include investigating crimes of espionage, terrorism, and technology transfer and computer infiltration. In addition to threat detection, AFOSI performs a number of other functions such as criminal investigations, economic crime investigations, and cyber crime investigations. Because of its breadth, AFOSI requires a diverse range of professionals who can offer specialized services within the strategic security field. Some of these professionals include technical specialists, polygraph personnel, behavioral scientists, computer scientists, and forensic advisors.
In a sense, AFOSI resembles a little bit of other agencies all put together. For instance, AFOSI has a function similar to the FBI with its criminal investigative and counterintelligence function. The FBI utilizes forensic experts and other professionals to investigate and solve crimes, but the FBI also executes a major counterintelligence function which the AFOSI does as well. The AFOSI resembles the NSA in its cyber threat detection and deflection. The NSA is almost synonymous with cyber functions. The focus AFOSI places on threats from adversaries and terrorists resemble the CIA and DIA. These agencies work to gather useable intelligence about adversaries that can be used by leaders to make decisions. All of these diverse functions come together in the AFOSI.
This one agency underscores the broad nature of the strategic security field and increasing development of counter terrorism careers. As can be seen, AFOSI is not just military intelligence. To the contrary, AFOSI has a broad strategic security mission that spans the spectrum from criminal, counterintelligence, and counter terrorism. Those who work for AFOSI are active duty military, reserve personnel, and civilians. Though military intelligence can certainly be aligned with AFOSI, it does not define it.
Because of the broad mission and diversity of professionals who work for AFOSI, this agency is a source for counter terrorism careers. As can be seen from the discussion above, there are a wealth of possible counter terrorism careers in this agency because of its broad mission. Students trained in counter terrorism, intelligence, or strategic security can find work in these and similar agencies. Students can find this skill set at the few online universities that offer degree programs in strategic security.
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Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, military intelligence, strategic security, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu
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