For many, a job is a job. For others, it’s more than a career. It’s an identity. Sometimes that identity includes a quest for adventure, and an ambition to aim higher. Here is a round-up of adventurous jobs for the clearance holding professional.
Network Administrator Commando
Who among us has not called technical support and wanted to kill the guy on the other end? Maybe we should start worrying the he wants to kill us too, and whether or not he’s experienced in such business. Expeditionary Systems Engineer might look good on a business card, but the job itself is even more adventurous than it sounds. In short, government and industry have footprints and outposts in every corner of the world, including some pretty dangerous ones. When the Internet connection goes down in a war zone, though, it’s not like you call Comcast and wait for the white vans to show up. To keep World of Warcraft going even in austere environments, employers are now hiring computer geeks with Ranger tabs.
Snake Eating Accountant
There are terrible people in the world who do terrible things, but it’s not always practical to send in the hellfire missiles. Sometimes, the best strategy is to go to the nearest H&R Block. The kinds of guys who sell bioweapons to terrorists don’t take credit, and so it’s often the case that the best way to stop a bad guy is to cut off his funding. This is where forensic accountants come into the picture. These spreadsheet warriors “follow the money,” so to speak, by identifying anomalies in the spending patterns of suspicious persons and organizations. They are able to build detailed profiles of targets based on purchases (or the lack thereof) and trace trouble to the source. One frozen account later, Johnny Terrorist is too busy working the night shift at Waffle House to bother building an atomic bomb.
Counter Threat Finance/Intelligence Operations Specialists take it one step further. Contractors don’t just want accountants who know how to find terrorists—they want accountants who can do it in person. Ideal candidates are former Navy SEALs or Army Special Forces who can not only help plan but also facilitate daring financial raids.
Hostage-Rescuing G-Men
The Hostage Rescue Team came into existence after William Webster, former director of the FBI, saw a demonstration by Delta Force at Ft. Bragg. Up until that moment, Delta was the FBI’s go-to organization for hostage rescues. After the exercise, while reviewing the equipment used by the commandos, Webster noticed something conspicuously absent. Webster turned to Richard Scholtes, the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, and asked where Delta kept their handcuffs. Gen. Scholtes said they didn’t need them. “We’re not taking any prisoners.”
If you’re the head of a law enforcement agency, this is a problem. The FBI has to testify in court, deal with judges, and handle civil litigation—not exactly Delta’s area of expertise. To make things right, Webster ordered the creation of an elite unit within the FBI to handle hostage rescue. Webster was aware that such a unit might smack of a commando force, and worked to avoid that kind of culture at the bureau. According to his aide, Webster didn’t want guys “sitting around Quantico sharpening their bayonets.” Rather, he wanted his operators to always “think and act” like the FBI agents they are.
Would-be members of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team must first make it through an exhausting selection process, and then complete a six-month operator training course. There they are graded on everything from close-quarters combat and rock climbing to judgment and leadership skills. Graduates—called HRT Tactical Operators—are then assigned to teams. The career field is open to any special agent with two years of field experience. Females are eligible to join, though no woman has yet completed selection. So if you’re a hard charging female pioneer, here’s your chance to make history.
Paramilitary Spook
The CIA Special Activities Division, part of the National Clandestine Service, has long been the paramilitary wing of the company, though historically it’s been relatively small and rarely used. The attacks on September 11, 2001 changed that in a big way. Because the hunt for terrorists doesn’t require tank divisions, but rather small teams slipping across borders, the division is currently able to fight what amount to secret wars around the world.
So how do you join up? Positions as Paramilitary Operations Officer – Specialized Skills Officer are hard to come by and extremely competitive. Before 9/11, you could be an artillery officer in the Marine Corps and still earn a spot on the team. (Such was the experience of Johnny “Mike” Spann, a CIA paramilitary and the first KIA of the war on terror.) Today your best bet is to have experience as an operator with an elite special mission unit. If you’re up for spending 70% of your time abroad, this is the job for you.
