Clandestine CIA agents work to cultivate foreign assets and collect intelligence that helps U.S. security. Foreign drug cartels pose a serious threat to the country’s security, and the Justice Department has reported that both the Federation and Gulf Mexican cartels are active in Atlanta.
In recent years, the CIA has been increasingly involved in collecting intelligence on the structure and activities of foreign, large-scale drug trafficking organizations in an effort to help domestic law enforcement officials reign them in.
CIA agents also provide information on potential terrorists to help counter-terrorism efforts in the U.S. Both domestic terrorists and those with ties to foreign jihadists have been identified and brought to justice in Georgia in recent years. The Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) was formed in cooperation with the CIA and was created to help coordinate efforts to fight terrorism in Georgia.
How to Join the CIA National Clandestine Service in Georgia
Georgia residents interested in a career as a Core Collector with the CIA’s National Clandestine Services in can apply to one of the two entry-level programs, provided they meet the requirements highlighted here. The programs are:
The Professional Trainee Program (PT):
This program was designed for applicants between 21 and 25 years old who have a Bachelor’s degree. No prior work experience is necessary to qualify.
The Clandestine Service Program (CST):
This program was designed for applicants between 26 and 35 years old who have a Bachelor’s degree. In order to be considered for this position, prior work or military experience is required.
Academic Requirements – Individuals are also required to have earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during undergraduate studies at an accredited college or university. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree is mandatory.
The following areas of study are given preference by the CIA for the Core Collector positions:
- Chemical or biological engineering
- Economics
- Finance
- Global business relations
- Nuclear or physical science
Job Related Skills – Anyone applying for the position of Core Collector with the CIA in Georgia should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and work well in both groups and own their own. Quick and decisive decision-making is also necessary as the job may present situations that develop quickly.
International Expertise and Experience – Each candidate is required to:
- Have lived in a foreign country and/or have extensive international travel experience
- Be interested in international affairs
- Be proficient in foreign languages, with preference given to those who speak Indonesian, Kurdish, Korean, Turkish, Urdu, Pashto, Persian, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Dari or Somali
Additional Employment Requirements – To qualify for a Core Collector position with the CIA in Georgia, applicants must complete the following:
- Medical and psychological exam
- Polygraph interview
- Background check
- Two preliminary interviews
Becoming a CIA Special Agent in Georgia
Residents of Georgia who want to become a special agent for the CIA must meet three requirements:
- Possession of a bachelor’s degree
- Having three years of criminal investigative experience
- Not having used illegal drugs in the past twelve months
The agency requires a number of professional skills for those seeking jobs as special agents:
- Being able to work under pressure
- Being able to work both individually and in teams
- Being able to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds
- Possessing discretion and tact
- Being able to prioritize multiple projects
- Being able to communicate well with both technical and non-technical people
The CIA requires that its special agents have had formal training in criminal investigations at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Ideally, applicants should have already gone through the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the FLETC. If they have not, special agents will have to take this course to continue with their careers in the CIA. Courses at the CITP range from academic topics such as legal training and criminal case management to such practical training as using firearms and handling vehicles effectively.
Jimmy Carter’s CIA Briefings in Georgia
While most of the CIA’s activities in Georgia are secret, their activities with candidate Jimmy Carter caught the attention of the press. He sought CIA briefings while he was still a candidate for a number of reasons. His intention was to learn the details of the SALT talks with the Soviets without inadvertently jeopardizing the talks during his candidacy.
High-level CIA officials, including the director, were flown into Plains on a military helicopter. They were forced to land in a farmer’s field, because of the lack of a landing strip. Originally, the briefings were supposed to be secret, but the press noticed the unusual activity and reported on it. This was the first time that a presidential candidate had received CIA briefings, making it an historic occasion.