Does the CIA have special forces? How to apply, prepare, and qualify?

Many of you have emailed me asking about the “special forces” within the CIA and how one could join them. For starters, “Special Forces” is a term exclusively used by the US Army. So, when you say SF, you think of the Green Berets.

Though, it doesn’t mean there’s no unit for conducting special operations within the CIA.

CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC), formerly the Special Activities Division (SAD), is the most coveted division under the Department of Defense. SAC operatives conduct highly classified and increasingly dangerous “deniable” operations that affect politics on a global scale.

Almost everything about SAC is classified except that joining this division is one of the hardest feats in the United States Armed Forces. There are no more than 100 – 150 SAC operatives at any time.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

How to join the CIA’s Special Activities Center?

I. Special Forces to SAC’s Special Operations Group

To join the CIA’s SAC as a Paramilitary Operations Officer, you must excel in your combat deployments during various tours. Additionally, you’ll need to have more than a few of those to stand out.

With enough achievements, great scores, and a clean record in Tier 1 and Tier 2 units, you are likely to be approached by SAC recruiters of the CIA. Alternatively, you can develop your network efficiently and get recommended by a current paramilitary officer in the Special Activities Center.

Read More: How to Become a Green Beret?

II. Civilian to CIA to SAC’s Political Actions Group

Joining the Special Activities Center (SAC) as a civilian requires a deliberate and well-thought-out career path.

Step 1: Pursue an undergraduate degree (four-year) that aligns with your career goals within the CIA and SAC. Fields such as international relations, cybersecurity, linguistics, or criminal justice can be beneficial.

Step 2: Develop the practical skills and expertise in demand within the CIA. More importantly, gain relevant work experience in your chosen field.

Step 3: You have two options to get into the CIA. The shorter route is to apply on the CIA’s official website and develop your career as a case officer / analyst.

The longer route is joining the US Armed Forces as a soldier or preferably in military intelligence. After a few years with the military, you will have enough experience and connections to acquire a good position at the CIA.

Step 4: After completing your initial training, you may be assigned to various CIA positions where you will gain valuable field experience. This experience will help you develop the skills necessary for success in the SAC.

Step 5: Once you have acquired the required skills and experience, you can apply for positions within the SAC that align with your career goals.

Note: Ensure that your personal and professional background is free from legal or security issues that may hinder your eligibility for a security clearance. A security clearance is a requirement for most CIA positions.

III. Selection and Training

The Paramilitary Operations Operatives (PMOOs) are either selected from SMU and SOF or recommended by current PMOOs (hence the need for a good network). Similarly, PAG operatives and intelligence analysts are hired directly from the CIA’s Department of Operations (DO) and Department of Intelligence (DI).

The hire rate for CIA’s DO operatives is about 1 in 1500 applicants, while the attrition rate officially and unofficially is 3.5% and >10%, respectively.

Civilians can join the CIA or US Armed Forces and work their way up the ranks, hoping to be recruited by the Special Activities Center (SAC). But they can’t directly join SAC even with extensive relevant experience in the private sector.

However, once you’re selected, the training for recruits is relatively simple. For PAG operatives, it effectively works like a promotion.

For SOG operatives (PMOOs), the CIA hires from DOD’s elite units because it doesn’t have a paramilitary training program.

The SOG recruits undergo a Clandestine Service Trainee Program (1.5 years) at “Farm” in Virginia. During this regimen, PMOO recruits are thoroughly trained in espionage and survivor skills for covert operations.

They are taught how to assume and work aliases, conduct covert operations, recruit and train indigenous forces, foreign languages and cultures, medical expertise, and handling of informants.

If you think you are ready, the CIA has a job posting for Paramilitary Operations Officer (PMOO). If not, let’s help you prepare for your desired role.

How to Prepare for CIA’s Special Activities Center

I. Eligibility Requirements & Application Process

Agency-wide Requirements:

• U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
• At least 18 years of age
• Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
• Able to complete security and medical evaluations
• Registered for the Selective Service

Hiring and Application Process:

• Submit your resume via MyLINK
• Receive an invitation to apply for a specific position
• Successfully complete screening, testing, and interviews
• Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE)
• COE paperwork (SF-86, etc.)
• Security and medical evaluations.
• Official job offer and onboarding information
• Onboard

Source

II. Educational and Skill Prerequisites

If you’re choosing the CIA route to get into the Special Activities Center’s Political Actions Group, your educational background and skills take utmost priority.

To become a case officer / analyst in these divisions, you must develop your knowledge in a relevant field of study and hone your aptitude and analytical skills.

1. Strong Writing Skills: Writing is fundamental to intelligence analysis. You have to be able to distill information into a compelling argument and structure it effectively. This skill is essential for producing reports and communicating findings accurately.
2. Relevant College Courses: While the exact subject matter may vary, you should prioritize courses that require original research, such as seminars, laboratories, or independent studies. These courses help develop critical research abilities and analytical thinking.
3. Degree: Most, if not all, CIA operatives have four-year degrees with a 3.0+ GPA. Additionally, you could go for advanced studies and get a master’s degree in desirable courses such as national security and geopolitical studies to become a desirable candidate.
4. Expertise in Current Issues: While all subjects are of interest to the Intelligence Community, having expertise in subjects of current importance can be advantageous. Fields like Islamic extremism, Socioeconomic policies, or rare skills such as Russian, Chinese, or Arab linguistics can make you a more attractive candidate.
5. Technical Knowledge: Some technical fields like chemistry, nuclear physics, biology, and computer science are always in demand. Expertise in these areas can help the intelligence community address critical threats.

Read More: How To Become An Air Force Special Reconnaissance Airman

What exactly is the Special Activities Center (SAC)?

The Directorate of Operations (DO) is the CIA’s core clandestine service, responsible for collecting intelligence through human sources (HUMINT) and conducting covert operations.

Generally, DO case officers and analysts handle a broader range of intelligence collection and espionage activities. Within DO, an elite unit, the Special Activities Center (SAC), specializes in paramilitary and covert special operations.

I. Special Activities Center Organizational Structure

SAC’s motto is The Third Option (“Tertia Optio”). It refers to the US President’s third option when “military force is inappropriate and diplomacy is inadequate.” Their operations often change the course of history as we know it.

The Special Activities Center is divided into the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Political Action Group (PAG).

Special Operations Group (SOG)

Special Operations Group (SOG) is SAC’s paramilitary arm and the most elite Special Missions Unit (SMU) in the United States. SOG operators are highly trained and experienced individuals often recruited from Tier 1 and Tier 2 military units like the DELTA Force, SEALs, and Green Berets.

SOG’s paramilitary operations officers are always the first boots on uncharted territory. They conduct “deniable” operations where the US Army’s involvement must never be traced back.

It was only 15 days after the tragic fall of the World Trade Center when the first American fighters set foot in Afghanistan. Their task was to meet up with the leaders of the Northern Alliance and take the fight to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda’s doorstep.

Those fighters, divided into a few groups of six, were surrounded by indigenous forces in the middle of a war zone just 35 miles behind enemy lines. They were SAC operatives.

As such, their success and rare failures often remain unsung. If you have ever seen Chris Hemsworth’s 2018 movie, 12 Strong, those were SAC operatives mixed with army personnel.

Political Actions Group

In contrast, the Political Actions Group (PAG) officers are diplomats and academically trained individuals who infiltrate the enemy’s government.

They are tasked with toppling governments with strategic assassinations, instigating riots and civil wars, and aiding parties that are beneficial to the US government.

E. Howard Hunt is one of the most notable members of the Political Actions Group within the SAC. He laid the groundwork for Operation PBSuccess, resulting in the overthrow of Guatemala’s democratically elected President Jacobo írbenz.

Finding anything verifiable will be hard if you are looking for some examples. Regardless, here’s some insight into the world of Political Actions Group.

II. How do SAC’s paramilitary operatives compare to SMU and SOF?

SAC’s Paramilitary Operations Officers are recruited after an outstanding performance in Tier 1 (DEVGRU) and Tier 2 (Green Berets) paramilitary units of DoD. They’re then trained under a rigorous program that includes learning additional skills for a clandestine operation.

Their jobs, however, are very different from each other. The best example would be our response post 9/11. SAC operatives were sent to Afghanistan to gather intel, meet with local leaders of the Northern Alliance, and instigate the local forces to fight against Al-Qaeda.

But when they finally located Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad (Pakistan), we sent SOF operatives who are more specialized in high-stakes capture-or-kill missions.

What are the jobs and responsibilities of SAC operatives?

I. Ground Branch

It is the land-based fighting force of SAC, whose operatives are recruited primarily from military special operations units such as the Green Berets, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and Delta Force.

Jobs and Responsibilities of SAC’s Ground Branch

• Sabotage
• Personnel and material recovery
• Kidnapping
• Bomb damage assessment
• Hostage rescue
• Counter-terrorism
• Training foreign military elements

Expectations: Ground Branch operatives should be physically fit, adaptable, and capable of working in small teams (never more than six) or independently. Their missions are often high-risk and require quick decision-making under pressure.

II. Maritime Branch

Maritime Branch is SAC’s amphibious fighting force, drawn from special Navy and Marine Corps operations units, such as the SEALs (especially DEVGRU) and Force Reconnaissance.

These operatives specialize in covert operations in maritime environments and foreign waters.

Jobs and Responsibilities of SAC’s Maritime Branch

• Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS)
• Underwater demolition
• Intelligence collection
• Covert insertion/extraction of CIA personnel
• Covert transportation of cargo
• Personnel and material recovery
• Kidnapping
• Hostage rescue
• Counter-terrorism

Expectations: Operatives in the Maritime Branch must be strong swimmers, comfortable working in harsh maritime conditions, and capable of operating above and below the waterline.

Read More: How To Become An Air Force Combat Controller (CCT)

III. Air Branch

Air Branch is quite literally SAC’s private air force. They operate fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for various covert missions. They are involved in covert insertion/extraction, cargo transportation, and airborne surveillance.

According to AmericanSpecialOps.com, SAC’s Air branch has a small fleet of jetliners for transporting cargo that may be disguised as commercial planes run by “front” companies. Their missions are often highly dangerous and extremely difficult.

For example, who do you think dropped PMOOs from the Ground Branch into Afghanistan a mere 15 days after 9/11?

Air Branch’s operatives became the first pilots to fly in Afghanistan at night on their MI-17 Soviet helicopters using night vision headgear. That is a feat and then some.

Jobs and Responsibilities of SAC’s Air Branch

• Covert insertion and extraction of CIA personnel
• Covert transportation of cargo
• Airborne surveillance/intelligence gathering
• Close Air Support

Expectations: Air Branch operatives are skilled aviators capable of adapting to different aircraft and operating in challenging environments.

IV. Political Action Group (PAG)

The Political Action Group focuses on influencing international politics, conducting psychological operations, and waging economic warfare. PAG plays a crucial role in expanding US foreign policy in unstable regions.

Jobs and Responsibilities of SAC’s Political Action Group (PAG)

• Cyber warfare
• Psychological warfare
• Economic warfare
• Election interference
• Covert political action
• Influencing the outcome of conflicts in favor of US interests

Expectations: PAG members work behind the scenes, leveraging specialized psychology, hacking, and operations skills to shape international events discreetly.

V. Armor and Special Programs Branch

The Armor and Special Programs Branch is the support branch of SAC’s Special Operations Group. Their primary mission is to procure and stockpile necessary equipment with “plausible deniability.”

It supports other branches by providing equipment that cannot be traced back to the CIA or the US government. They are responsible for procuring weapons, vehicles, and equipment needed for operations, often covertly.

Jobs and Responsibilities of SAC’s Armor and Special Programs Branch

• Procure equipment with plausible deniability
• Maintain a stockpile of deniable weapons and gear
• Procure enemy technology and equipment covertly

Expectations: Operatives in this Branch must excel in procurement, acquiring critical resources discreetly, and managing equipment and technology for other divisions.

Do you want a job at the CIA’s Special Activities Center?

Joining the Special Activities Center (SAC) within the CIA is not just a career choice; it’s a lifestyle commitment.

I. Life of Intelligence Analyst at SAC’s Political Actions Group

Intelligence analysis, at its core, is a research-oriented profession. Expect to spend a significant portion of your time sifting through stacks of information. The work is routine and methodical, without the adrenaline-rising highs that Hollywood showcases.

Your subject of focus within SAC might not align with matters of public interest. While some analysts work on high-profile topics like terrorism, others delve into niche subjects like Indian ethnography.

The primary goal of intelligence analysis is to foresee, prepare for, and prevent tomorrow’s dangers. Analysts provide critical assessments to policymakers and military leaders. These assessments encompass a range of security threats, some of immediate concern to U.S. security and others less so.

However, the importance of intelligence analysis becomes evident when unforeseen threats emerge. In such situations, policymakers require immediate access to expertise honed through years of diligent research, which had previously garnered little attention.

As an analyst, you may dedicate your time to writing in-depth assessments that few will read. Still, your work is a crucial resource, kept on retainer by the U.S. Government, ready to address future national security threats.

II. Life of a Paramilitary Officer in SAC’s Special Operations Group

Within SAC, the role of a Paramilitary Officer demands a unique set of qualities and unwavering dedication. These officers boast many successful special operations deployments through various SOFs, including Delta Force, DEVGRU, and more.

They must stay in peak physical condition and maintain special operations skills while learning and operating under covert, deniable operations.

During missions, days can be long with no holidays all week. On top of that, you’re in a hostile environment, often surrounded by indigenous forces who may want to “get rid of you” at any given time.

And more importantly, SOG operations are done in small groups (never more than six) and often individually.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How hard is it to get into the Special Activities Center?

Getting into the CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC) is extremely difficult due to a rigorous selection process, specialized skill requirements, and limited positions. Only 100-150 SAC operatives typically serve at any given time. Candidates need exceptional physical fitness and intellect, among other skills.

Does the SAC prefer military experience?

CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC) is filled with highly-trained intellectuals who often deeply understand their subject matter. SAC’s paramilitary officers are almost exclusively recruited from Tier 1 SMUs, but the case officers and analysts do not require military experience.

Can you join the Special Activities Center without the military?

You can join the CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC) without military experience, but your options will be limited to the Political Actions Group (PAG). PAG operatives are (promoted) CIA case officers and analysts with multiple covert and clandestine missions under their belt.

SOG operatives, however, do require military experience. So, you cannot join them.

How much do CIA special forces make?

The exact salaries of CIA’s SAC operatives are classified. However, according to the CIA website, a paramilitary operations office (PMOO) can be expected to make $73,916 – $122,459 and possibly negotiate a higher starting salary depending on experience level.

What Does a Paramilitary Operations Officer at CIA Do?

According to the CIA’s website, Paramilitary Operations Officers (PMOOs) are expected to:

• Operate a motor vehicle without second-party assistance in daytime and nighttime conditions;
• Traverse uneven terrain, including climbing and descending ­ ­ ­ staircases, in varying weather conditions;
• Work non-traditional or erratic schedules;
• Make reasoned decisions under time constraints in high-risk situations.

Additional Resources

To further aid your journey into the world of SAC and the CIA, here are some valuable resources:

A. Official CIA Website (www.cia.gov)

The official CIA website is your go-to source for accurate and up-to-date information about the agency and its branches, including the Special Activities Center (SAC).

B. “Inside the CIA” by Ronald Kessler

Ronald Kessler’s book provides a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the CIA. With extensive interviews and research, it offers an insider’s perspective on the agency’s history, challenges, and accomplishments.

C. “The Craft We Chose: My Life in the CIA” by Richard L. Holm

Richard L. Holm’s memoir provides a personal account of his life and experiences as a CIA officer. It offers valuable insights into the dedication, sacrifices, and commitment required for a career in the CIA, including roles within SAC (formerly SAD).