The Marine Corps counterintelligence military occupation specialty, or MOS, is a highly specialized billet that involves gathering intelligence from human sources, as done in interrogations, individual meetings and debriefings. The Marine Corps Counterintelligence/ Human Source Intelligence Unit, also known as CI/HUMINT, assigns both enlisted Marines and officers to execute human source intelligence gathering missions as well as to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized exposure. CI/HUMINT Marines must meet certain criteria, such as high aptitude scores, a top secret/SCI clearance and completion of the CI/HUMINT specialization course.
Rank
To qualify for a lateral move to a CI/HUMINT specialization (MOS 0211), you will need to be at least a corporal, sergeant or staff sergeant. If you are an officer, you will need to apply as a 2nd lieutenant, 1st lieutenant or captain. The MOS designation for CI/HUMINT officers is 0204. Both officer and enlisted candidates must be at least 21 years of age.
U.S. Citizenship
Because all Intelligence Marines must be eligible for security clearances, the Marine Corps requires CI/HUMINT candidates to hold U.S. citizenship. Whether you are a citizen by birth or by naturalization, you will need to provide your command with proof of citizenship at the time of your background investigation. If you have been recently naturalized as a U.S. citizen, notify your command immediately to proceed with your lateral move to CI/HUMINT.
Top Secret/SCI Clearance
The Marine Corps requires CI/HUMINT Marines to be eligible for a top secret/SCI or top secret clearance with access to sensitive compartmentalized information. This specialized top secret clearance will enable you to have access to extremely sensitive information not accessible even to regular top secret clearance holders. You will be subject to an extensive SSBI or single scope background investigation, where a Counterintelligence Scope polygraph will also be required. An investigating agency will check your employment history, credit report, military service record and other items to ensure character, trustworthiness and overall suitability for a TS/SCI clearance.
Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB)
To proceed to CI/HUMINT, you will also need to take and pass the Defense Language Aptitude Battery or DLAB exam. The DLAB is designed to measure linguistic skills and is a basic requirement for the military intelligence specialization. You must have a General Technical or GCT score of 110 or higher prior to taking the DLAB.
CI/HUMINT Training Course
Once you have passed your background investigation and are granted a TS/SCI clearance, you will proceed to the official CI/HUMINT training program. If you are an officer, you will need to attend the Basic Intelligence Officer Course (BIOC). The CI/HUMINT course is approximately 16 weeks in duration. Courses cover basic intelligence principles, briefing, interrogation tactics, intelligence report writing, tactical communications, photography and surveillance techniques. You will also need to make extension or re-enlistment arrangements with your command career retention specialist to serve three additional years as a CI/HUMINT Marine.
References
Writer Bio
Chiara Sakuwa has been a writer since 2005. Her work has appeared in publications such as the "Liberty Champion" newspaper and "The New World Encyclopedia" project. She is also the author of the novel "The Lady Leathernecks." She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Campbell University and a Master of Criminal Justice from Boston University.