Job Facts About Marine Corps Intelligence

Character matters for Marines period, but Marines handling sensitive classified information, building trust with human intelligence assets requires special skills, temperament, and education / training. In the Marine Corps, each job, or military occupational specialty (MOS) and related jobs are classified within occupational fields (OccFlds). The Intelligence OccFld covers a variety of jobs that are responsible for gathering, processing and disseminating sensitive information.

The Marine Intelligence Community receives it training at the headquarters element in Damneck Va as well as subordinate commands in the wide array of intelligence skills at Fort Belvoir Va, Dam Neck Va, Newport RI, and Little Creek, Va. There are also regional training centers at Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, and 29 Palms Ca.

This MOS was created in the 1990s by the Marine Corps to improve tactical intelligence and offer more opportunities for early-career Marines to move into command positions. There are Intelligence billets for both officers and enlisted Marines.

Officers Career Fields

Air Ground Task Force Intelligence Officer 0202 - Intelligence officers 0202 function as advisors to the commander and assist in carrying out intelligence responsibilities. They direct the Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB). They support the MAGTF with direct the analytical, processing and exploitation of intelligence data. They are also skilled in counterintelligence. Intel Officers will direct intelligence dissemination and support to the Marine planning process and targeting of the enemy.

Ground Intelligence Officer 0203 - Ground Intelligence Officers can serve as primary platoon commanders in division reconnaissance companies, infantry battalion scout/sniper platoons and other ground intelligence assignments. These assignments can include Battalion, Regiment and Division Staffs, Marine Logistics Groups and Intelligence Battalions. They serve as commanders of the reconnaissance companies within division reconnaissance battalions and analyze gathered intelligence information and take action or make recommendations for larger elements to take action based on the facts and interpretations of the data. They are responsible for the planning, deployment and tactical employment of ground reconnaissance units, and they are also responsible for the discipline and welfare of their unit's Marines.

Intelligence Warrant Officer 0205 - Senior all-source intelligence analysis chief warrant officers are subject matter experts in intelligence and are in leadership and advisory roles. They assist in planning, analysis, production, and dissemination of highly classified operational / tactical intelligence. 0205 are master analysts of tactical intelligence.

Signals Intelligence Officer 0206 - Signals intelligence/ground electronic warfare (SIGINT/EW) officers command, or assist in commanding a SIGINT/EW unit and/or perform missions of a highly a technical nature with all types of communications – open or encrypted. 

Air Intelligence Officer 0207 - Air Intelligence Officers (AIO) analyze gathered intelligence information and take or recommend action based on this information. With approval, AIOs can take decisive action on targets. They plan missions and deploy air reconnaissance units. AIOs are also responsible for their unit's communications capabilities, operational logistics, and maintenance.

Duties Within the Intelligence OccFld

The specialties within the intelligence OccFld include analysis, counterintelligence, image interpretation, and geographic intelligence. These are jobs that deal with highly sensitive, often classified information, so all Marines assigned to an intelligence MOS are subject to a single scope background investigation (SSBI) prior to attending formal school. 

The basic requirements for a job in Marine intelligence include clerical, communication, and computer skills, as well as mastery of a variety of analytical and technical skills. Marines enter the field in MOS 0231 (intelligence specialist) or MOS 0261 (geographic intelligence specialist). 

Intelligence marines also have the opportunity to serve in billets such as drill instructor, recruiter, and in Marine security guard duty. 

Here are some of the jobs in the Marines which are organized under the intelligence occupational field:

0211 Counterintelligence/HUMINT (Human Intelligence) Specialist

The duties of Marines in (MOS) 0211 involve sensitive work with enemy spies, saboteurs, and terrorists. It's often up to these Marines to interrogate suspects to gather crucial intel in a combat situation. This isn't an entry-level position, and is open only to corporals and sergeants, who can move into the role laterally. Applicants for this job must be at least 21, and have to be U.S. citizens. They need a general technical (GT) score of at least 110 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), and need a valid U.S. driver's license.

The education requirements for MOS 211 include six months of on-the-job training at a fleet Marine force, and four-and-a-half months of counterintelligence/HUMINT basic course training at the Marine Corps detachment in Dam Neck, Virginia. 

0212 Technical Surveillance Countermeasures Specialists

These specialists are involved with tactical and strategic operations and joint technical surveillance countermeasure (TSCM) activities. They generally have a working knowledge of techniques and equipment used by foreign intelligence and terrorist organizations. Their highly sensitive work involves identifying and neutralizing threats to U.S. intelligence operations.

Marines assigned to this MOS must already have a primary MOS of 211, 2621, 2631, or 2651. This MOS is open only to sergeants and above, and all must be able to commit to 36 months of service in the job. They'll have to complete the TSCM fundamentals course and the TSCM course 

0231 Intelligence Specialist

Intelligence specialists collect, record, analyze, process and disseminate information and intelligence. Depending on his or her rank, this specialist may supervise intelligence sections of commands. Those who have a score of 100 on the defense language aptitude battery (DLAB) can attend language training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. 

To qualify for this MOS, Marines need a general technical store on the ASVAB of 100 or higher. They'll complete the MAGTF intelligence specialist entry course at the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Dam Neck. 

0241 Imagery Analysis Specialist

These Marines use photogrammetric skills (making maps or models out of photographs) to assist in creating accurate target acquisition information, and to help plan reconnaissance missions. The intelligence they collect is used to update the military's databases.

In order to qualify for this MOS, a Marine needs a general technical score of 100 or higher on the ASVAB, and need to complete the imagery analysis apprentice course at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. 

0261 Geographic Intelligence Specialist

Unlike some of the other jobs in this field, geographic intelligence specialist is an entry-level MOS. The job involves collecting, analyzing and processing geophysical data, and revision of military maps and targets based on that data. They'll use electronic and satellite positioning equipment as part of their day-to-day duties. 

These specialists need an electronics repair score of 100 or higher on the ASVAB, and should show some proficiency in algebra, geometry and trigonometry. 

0291 Intelligence Chief

Intelligence chiefs oversee operation of the intelligence section. They need a primary MOS of either 0211, 0231, 0241 or 0261, and have to be eligible for top-secret security clearance. 

USMC Intelligence Schools Video

For a complete listing of duties and tasks in the intelligence OccFld, refer to MCO 3500.32, Intelligence Training and Readiness Manual.