Spies and terrorists operating in Oklahoma are nothing new, and neither are the CIA agents working to detect and apprehend them. The Oklahoma City bomber was postulated to have foreign intelligence contacts, and Oklahoma’s oil industry is regularly spied on by domestic and international organizations. To address the threats posed by these types activities, the Central Intelligence Agency gathers information both at home and abroad using highly educated and skilled agents.
Becoming a CIA agent in Oklahoma starts with obtaining a solid educational foundation, and proceeds through an intensive application, interview and training process.
Requirements for Joining the CIA National Clandestine Services in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, there are two entry-level positions for individuals seeking employment as a Core Collector in the CIAs National Clandestine Service: the Professional Trainee Program and the Clandestine Service Program.
- Professional Trainee Program – Candidates for this position are between the ages of 21 to 25 who have a Bachelor’s degree or higher and usually no previous work experience.
- Clandestine Service Program – Candidates for this position are between the ages of 26 to 35, with 35 being the maximum age for consideration. Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, as well as previous work or military experience.
Requirements applicable to each Core Collector position include the following:
Candidates should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with preference given to the following studies:
- Nuclear Science
- Physical Science
- Biological Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Economics
- Finance
- International Business or Relations
Applicants must have maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA during all undergraduate studies.
Other occupational requirements include:
- Interest in international affairs
- Ability to act and think quickly
- Superior verbal and written communication abilities
- Capability to work as part of a team or independently
Applicants for a Core Collector position with the CIA should also have fluency in a second language. Preferred languages are:
- Arabic
- Kurdish
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Pashto
- Persian
- Russian
- Somali
- Chinese
- Dari
- Indonesian
- Korean
Qualified candidates should have prior residency in a foreign country, experience with foreign travel and an understanding of cross-cultural sensitivity.
Each individual applying for the Core Collector position is required to complete two personal interviews, undergo a medical and psychological exam, agree to polygraph interviews and undergo a comprehensive background check. Eligibility is also dependent on individuals being free from illegal drug use for 12 months prior to applying to the Core Collector position.
Preparing, Applying and Training to Become a CIA Special Agent Investigator
Meeting the requirements – One of the principal CIA requirements for employment is a bachelor’s degree. This can be in any subject, including:
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Law Enforcement
- Sociology
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Law
In addition to education, another important requirement for CIA jobs is work experience. Applicants are required to have an excellent performance record for at least three years of experience working with complicated criminal investigations. Applications are only open to US citizens who have a strong record of a moral character.
Submitting an application – The application for CIA careers is one of the most extensive of any governmental agency. From the time an applicant creates an account to their final medical exam they will need to adhere to strict standards.
The online application starts when a candidate creates an account, which will automatically become permanently inactive after three days. Once an account has been created, applicants should find the listing for the Special Agent/Investigator job title. Candidates will need to provide information about the following with their application:
- Background
- Education
- Language proficiencies
- Previous violations of the law, including drug use and copyright infringement
- Any disciplinary proceedings related to work or military experience
- Previous results of polygraph examinations
Participating in training – Once agents have successfully completed an extensive background investigation, polygraph test, and medical examination for both physical and psychological health they may be selected for hire. This is contingent upon graduating from the Criminal Investigator Training Program, also known as CITP.
New recruits who have already completed this essential CIA training program may have an advantage in the hiring process. Those who have not graduated completed the CITP can begin their 56 days of training at one of several Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in the country. Topics covered include:
- Surveillance
- Firearms training
- Driving techniques
- Undercover operations
- Courtroom and evidence procedures
- Interviewing witnesses and prisoners
The Importance of the CIA to Oklahoma
Detecting terrorist threats is an obvious service CIA Agents provide for the state of Oklahoma. Although the most catastrophic attack on US soil between Pearl Harbor and 9/11 was perpetrated in Oklahoma City, the CIA has prevented untold other atrocities from taking place, most of which are unbeknownst to the public.
There is even a school in Tulsa with its own cyber security program, one of the newest security threats posed to Oklahoma and our nation. This program prepares future CIA Agents with instruction on computer viruses, cyberspace spying, and password cracking. And many of these cyber-spying techniques are used by commercial companies who want to gain an upper hand in the state’s industrial sector.
Cushing, Oklahoma is the site of the nation’s largest stored amount of crude oil, and is regularly spied on. Those doing the spying are commercial companies, both domestic and multinational, trying to obtain advanced information about the oil market using tools such as infrared cameras which can detect oil movement through pipes. However the Cushing oil storage facility is also potentially a target for a terrorist organization. CIA Agents are tasked with gathering information on critical infrastructure targets such as these, to ensure they are protected from both foreign and domestic terrorists.