The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a broad mission-protect the United States homeland. This broad mission requires a large and well trained force. The DHS employs over 240,000 people who serve in jobs such as border security, aviation security, and facilities inspection.

To be sure, one central mission of the DHS is to keep the United States safe from terrorist attack. Many roles come together to protect the country from such attacks and each role requires its own set of specialized skills. One facet of this multi-faceted security apparatus is intelligence. Intelligence analysis, intelligence operations, and general surveillance have a crucial role in homeland security.

One way the DHS interfaces with the public is the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). The NTAS provides timely information to the public to alert first responders, government, and private sector businesses about potential terrorist threats. It is safe to presume that a great deal of intelligence analysis has to go into making a particular alert. Moreover, the DHS has instituted the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI). The NSI was established in coordination with the Department of Justice as a standard process for identifying and reporting suspicious activity across the country. The message to people in the United States, based on this initiative is, “if you see something, say something.” Like the NTAS, this initiative likely requires extensive intelligence analysis. The intelligence analysis would be needed to identify true threats from erroneous reports or even false data. The DHS has a number of other programs that require an intelligence education. Take the secure flight program, for example. The secure flight program takes “behind the scenes” action to facilitate the flight watch list. Someone with an aptitude for intelligence work, and perhaps specific intelligence education, would be needed to fill such a position.

The DHS also has a number of operational functions that bring with them opportunity for work in an operational capacity. For instance, the DHS takes part in fugitive operations. Specifically, the DHS facilitates the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP) to reduce the illegal alien population in the U.S. The DHS also facilitates Operation Community Shield via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target street gangs, prison gangs, and motorcycle gangs throughout the U.S. These programs have an obvious overt law enforcement function but there are quite likely intelligence operations conducted behind the scenes that provide the informational basis for major law enforcement operations.

In summary, the DHS has a broad role in homeland protection but a critical part of their work is intelligence analysis and intelligence operations. The major intelligence role inherent to the DHS requires competent workers in that field. One way to become a competent intelligence worker is to simply have experience in the field. Experience will give the individual valuable knowledge that facilitates his or her work. Another way to become competent in the intelligence field is to earn an intelligence education. This provides a potential applicant with marketable knowledge that can be applied towards an exciting career.

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

Category: Education
Keywords: intelligence analysis, intelligence education