At UnitedStatesNow, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.
What is an Air Force Intelligence Officer?
An Air Force intelligence officer is assigned to an intelligence unit within the Air Force or to the intelligence squadron of another branch of the United States Armed Forces. Personnel with this title are commissioned officers, ranging from a second lieutenant all the way up the the ranks of generals. Jobs duties vary, but typically entail obtaining and analyzing intelligence data pertaining to military projects and missions. It is not uncommon for an intelligence officer to not be at liberty to talk a lot about the details of his or her job.
The United States military is constantly gathering intelligence data from around the globe. It is the job of an intelligence officer to obtain, review, and analyze this data in addition to briefing other personnel about it. The range of data that is classified as "intelligence" can vary widely, but generally entails information regarding the placement and movements of other military forces and terrorist groups that may pose a threat to the United States. This officer is tasked with the job of recognizing when threatening actions may be underway.
Air Force squadrons are traditionally comprised of both officers and enlisted personnel. As such, an Air Force intelligence officer may also spend a great deal of time supervising and training people of lower rank. He or she may also spend much of his or her time briefing higher-ranking officers and may have the additional duty of briefing officials from other squadrons or organizations outside of the Air Force.
Of all the Air Force jobs, an intelligence officer may be one of the most interesting. This person may spend quite a bit of time in deployed locations, gathering data and analyzing potential threats. Some intelligence officers frequently find themselves aboard aircraft, gathering and analyzing intelligence data from the sky. On the other hand, some people in this field spend the majority of their time sitting at a desk at a military installation.
The specialty of the intelligence officer may sway what he or she spends the majority of the workday doing. While one person may spend time studying overseas aircraft movement, another may study one specific group that could pose a security threat. Some intelligence officers also work strictly with combat situations, finding and analyzing data from a variety of sources to assist troops fighting on the front lines.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![Much of an Air Force Intelligence officer's work may be classified as top secret.]()
By: gunnar3000Much of an Air Force Intelligence officer's work may be classified as top secret. -
![An Air Force Intelligence officer may analyze data to assist troops that are fighting in combat situations.]()
By: veneratioAn Air Force Intelligence officer may analyze data to assist troops that are fighting in combat situations. -
![An Army Intelligence officer may monitor terrorist groups that pose a threat to the United States.]()
By: hurricaneAn Army Intelligence officer may monitor terrorist groups that pose a threat to the United States. -
![An Army Intelligence officer may monitor overseas aircraft movement.]()
By: V. ZHURAVLEVAn Army Intelligence officer may monitor overseas aircraft movement.
Discussion Comments
Most of the Air Force intelligence work is done by enlisted intelligence personnel who look at "maps and pieces of information" and the Air Force Intelligence Officer oversees and manages them.
@cardsfan27 - The article does say that they start out as low graded officers and can work their way up so to answer many people's questions I would say that to become an Air Force Intelligence Officer a person has to enter an Officers Training School, much like Annapolis, and acquire an expert sense of what they are doing in order to officially become an Intelligence Officer.
The question I would have is are the analysts that look at the maps and pieces of information and intelligence gathered all officers? I would think that since there are so many people that collect intelligence for the military not all of them can be officers when you think of how many analysts and other jobs, like drone operators there are. Can someone work in the Air Force in intelligence wothout becoming an officer?
I have to wonder for someone looking to have a career as being an Air Force Intelligence Officer, how long they have to train in order to become one. I would think that in order to be an analyst or someone that actually goes out and observes activities there would be certain things that they would have to look for that requires extensive training as well as a bit of seniority in their ranks.
I guess I also wonder if someone has to reach a certain rank grade in order to become an intelligence officer in the Air Force or if they can become one at a low rank and can simply start in it.
@stl156 - Excellent question. Anymore the intelligence units for all branches of military function in the same capacity. I have heard that the air force does not necessarily take control of all intelligence that is gathered from the air.
The Army for example, as well as the other branches of the military have drones that can photograph areas of interest. The Navy also has a small fleet of jets that they utilize for missions, so I would think that they would also use them once in awhile for scouting and intelligence gathering activities. What I would like to know is how often is the Air Force called upon to gather data anymore with a person actually in the plane, not a drone?
A question I have concerning Air Force Intelligence Officers is how different are they than intelligence officers from other branches of the military? I would think that the Air Force Intelligence Officers would have much more to see from the air, thus they would be more responsible for collecting data and gathering intelligence for sights that are of interest to missions or are hot spots for terrorist activities.
Post your comments