On the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the United States is still battling terrorism. The fight against terrorism continues in Afghanistan where U.S. forces are destroying terrorist cells, terrorist command and control, and terrorist logistics. In a more subtle way the fight against terrorism continues at home in the United States too. Intelligence agencies and law enforcement remain vigilant against the possibility of another terrorist attack. Skilled and knowledgeable intelligence workers and law enforcement personnel address threats that may not be mentioned on a daily basis but are nonetheless real.

The success in the fight against terrorism that is being realized overseas and at home is due to a number of factors, one of which is sound intelligence. That was not always the case however. One only has to recall the widespread discussion of intelligence failures that were attributed to the attacks on 9-11. An intelligence lapse that was identified as one of the major factors leading to security failures, such as 9-11, was the failure of intelligence agencies and of law enforcement to share information. As a result of that, and numerous other problems in national security, the government set out to redesign the national security community so it communicated more effectively.

The result of the changes to the national security community meant improvements in security-certainly a desirable goal. However, the changes also meant new rules and ways of conducting business, and it meant the creation of new jobs. The creation of new security jobs did not just mean the addition of jobs in, say, strategic intelligence, but it meant the creation of a number of managerial level jobs that require an overarching understanding of national security in order to work in the new realm of interconnected agencies. Naturally, the addition of jobs means that people will have to fill those jobs. But as was mentioned, among the many jobs added a number of those jobs were new to the field. These new managerial level jobs require a sound understanding of a number of facets of the national security community.

The host of intelligence and national security jobs that emerged after and in response to 9-11 require qualified applicants. These applicants will have to know about strategic intelligence, preferably through formal studies in intelligence, at an institution such as a national security college. Obtaining a degree from a national security college can assure the student that he or she will gain important knowledge of the national security field because of the mentorship of experienced faculty and the singular focus of the school. Attending a national security college allows the student to study specialized areas, such as strategic intelligence, in addition to other studies in intelligence.

The reason for such specificity in national security training is that the national security field and the intelligence field in particular, have become more complex. With the greater need for intelligence workers and law enforcement and the addition of high level national security jobs, just any school that offers studies in intelligence or national security may not be sufficient. If a student seriously wishes to seek employment in the national security field they are well served by attaining a degree from a true national security college.

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, studies in intelligence, national security college, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, studies in intelligence, national security college, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Author Bio: Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, studies in intelligence, national security college, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Category: Education
Keywords: studies in intelligence,national security college