FINAL WORD
Urdu is a language that is likely to have more national security utility than Italian. Same for Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and other very difficult languages. Plan accordingly. Paranoia. The world is one big intelligence vulnerability. The Internet has made it exponentially worse. Everything you do leaves a trail. Anywhere you go you can be tracked. For normal folks, these are helpful tips about everyday security. For an intelligence officer, the environment around you takes on whole new sinister meaning. This isn’t going to help you sleep at night, but James Bond doesn’t get nap time. Patriotism. You work in intelligence because you love your country. If you want to date supermodels and drive around in sports cars, there are better ways to go about it... Practice your fastball or become a great investor. “ You must constantly seek out and absorb new information. Intelligence officers aren’t in it for the glory, and they definitely don’t do it for the money. It really is public service – with an emphasis on the “service” part. If after reading this, you’re still interested in a career in the intelligence world, God bless. It can be a thrilling calling and there is no other job like it. Just remember not to wear a tuxedo and ask where the baccarat table is on Day 1.
in the fifth century B.C. Today, the right information at the right time could stop the next big terror attack or prevent the next unnecessary war. How then, does one prepare for a career in the secret realm of espionage, covert action, and international intrigue? What should a college-aged person do to prepare for a life that is the closest real-world equivalent to Homeland , 24 , and The Bourne Identity ?
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You work in intelligence because you love your country.
Read. Spying is a knowledge-based profession, and reading is a big part of the job. This isn’t glamorous, but the first step for every information warrior is to gather as much as you can. A tremendous amount of background information is available on what is called “open source” material. To be a good intelligence officer, you must constantly seek out and absorb new information. It is as much a habit as a skill. Languages. This is still a very useful ability for the intelligence profession, but it is also a moving target. Not all languages are equally useful. Your two years of high-school Spanish isn’t going to cut it. While studying abroad in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan isn’t nearly as fun as meeting foreign-exchange students on the Spanish Steps in Rome,
100 May 2018
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