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U.S. spies have been in existence since the country's beginning, as far back Revolutionary War and a man named Nathan Hale. However, the Central Intelligence Agency is a comparatively new organization. It was established by President Truman by the signing of the National Security Act in 1947. The purpose of the CIA is: "to collect, evaluate and disseminate foreign intelligence" and "to engage in covert action at the president's direction". The agency formerly carried out many more undercover secret actions, many of which were in Central America.
The CIA does not make policies, but rather gives policy makers (i.e. the President, and the National Security Agency) the information they need to make informed decisions. Recently the agency has taken on new responsibilities, tracking nuclear and chemical weapons, drug producers and terrorists. To sum it up, the Central Intelligence Agency is what generates the United State's "intelligence" regarding world issues.
As the factbook of the CIA explains, the CIA finds responsibility in:
- Providing accurate, timely, comprehensive, evidence-based, foreign intelligence associated with national security; and
- Conducting special activities, counterintelligence activities, and other functions related to national security, and foreign intelligence, as directed by the President.
To a large extent, much of what the CIA does changes case-by-case. If the U.S. suspects an international act of terrorism is going to take place, needs to respond to a foreign crisis, or is involved in a conflict, the CIA is ready and willing to take the case. When the CIA determines what's happening, they send FBI agents into apprehend the criminals involved. The first step to pursuing a career in the CIA is to realize that the agency is advisory and international in nature, and that only a few privileged people (spies) get to do "cool" things to help enlighten these decisions.
Educational Requirements
In order to become an agent for the CIA it is recommended that an undergraduate degree, though not required, be acquired. Life experiences are also taken into account. However, a standard prerequisite for intelligence analysts, overseas officers, and other non-clerical positions includes a college degree, and in most cases an advanced degree is preferred.
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