News

Counterintelligence agents needed

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 3, 1998) -- The counterintelligence field needs soldiers to fill more than 125 positions. Applications are currently being accepted for reclassification to Military Occupational Skill 97B.

Soldiers in this field are serving around the world supporting force protection, information operations and technology protection. They are involved in collection, operations, analysis and production, and investigations.

It takes a special person to be a counterintelligence agent, Staff Sgt. Gerald Gurtiza said. He is assigned to III Corps G-2 Counterintelligence and Security Division at Fort Hood, Texas. A counterintelligence agent for more than eight years, he said that often times it is human intelligence that gives the commander the human aspect of the battlefield.

Since agents deal with people, maturity and a keenness to human nature as well as being good at interviewing and having good report writing skills, are plusses he said.

"Technology is able to let the commander know where forces are and what is going on from a distance, but we let the commander know what the enemy is thinking. We provide the human contact with locals and refugees, so we can give the commander a different perspective on intelligence gathering."

The Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) while in Haiti, Brig. Gen. George Close, said "CI/HUMINT was the key to success...Ninety percent of the information we used came from CI and HUMINT...I had 25 CI/HUMINT teams, I could have used 50...Each company commander and platoon leader wanted their own CI/HUMINT."

Many agents find themselves at the forefront of operations worldwide. Gurtiza has served in Croatia in the former Yugoslavia, and participated in Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, as well as in Haiti as part of the U.S. Support Group-Haiti. He said he finds the work very rewarding because, " I like the Army and I know what we do is critical. I like people and understanding others is very fascinating to me and gives me insight about myself too."

Sergeant 1st Class Traci Goodwin with the Ramstein Field Office, Heidelberg Detachment, Region IV, 650th Military Intelligence Group in Germany, has participated in Operation Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard in Bosnia, and has worked with security and intelligence personnel from nations such as Great Britain, Canada, Belgium and France. "It was a great experience and I made some good friends."

Goodwin said she enjoys being a CI agent because it provides a variety of job opportunities such as investigations, security management, liaison duties, security education and counter-terrorism. "In my 10 years in the field my assignments have provided me with a wide range of experience. The possibilities for additional training are extensive, from learning a foreign language to taking an anti-terrorism driving course."

Even though the 97B-application/reclassification process is time consuming and should only be undertaken by those with a genuine interest and desire, Goodwin said the rewards are well worth it. "I would recommend qualified soldiers to this field because of the unlimited potential for personal and professional development...being a CI agent requires a large degree of dedication because, the job is not always pleasant or easy."

Gurtiza added being a CI agent isn't a glamorous job. "You need a solid Army background. We do a lot of tactical deployments, motor stables, field exercises, PT and everything else the rest of the Army does."

Prerequisites can be found in Army Regulation 611-201. Soldiers' servicing counterintelligence office processes applications for interested soldiers in the ranks of corporal, specialist and sergeant. This is a controlled MOS and falls outside normal retention/reclassification channels. Soldiers serving overseas, including Alaska and Hawaii, who desire to submit applications should be within 12 months of their date of estimated return from overseas; CONUS soldiers should have a minimum of 24 months time on station.