Career as a military analyst

[Rossdobby]

Sorry for posting here I didnt know where else to post this. Seeing how alot of you are in the military field, I was wondering im interested in becoming a Military analyst. What courses would be best suited for this in Canada and what would be a good place to get started when I was done with post secondary. I was thinking along the lines of the CAF or CESIS

[ed316]

Stay away from Abakan94.

[Rossdobby]

sorry? I dont understand?

[Apathy]

sorry? I dont understand?

Abakan94 is a member of MP.net. Have a nice day.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/apathy18/1141319520137.jpg

[Rossdobby]

Can anyone help me?

[Firefly26]

Join the army, become a signals or counter-intelligence analyst. You will probably get farther with signals intelligence.

[ogukuo72]

I don't know much about Canadian universities, but King's College London offers a very good course in War Studies.

The London School of Economics also offer a popular course on International Relations, but some of us thinks the course is a bit too leftist and pacifist.

If you don't want to travel across the Atlantic, the US Fletcher School at Tufts University is one of the most prestigious schools.

My recommendation is not to specialise at such an early stage. Look for a course that offers you a wide variety of topics (which is why the War Studies Department in KCL is quite a good one). You will want to look at topics like diplomacy, peace-making, political economy, etc, to get a broad overview. Then, if you want to, you can drill down to further details in one or two speciality areas, such as counter-insurgency warfare, etc..

[Erhabe]

The best option I think would be the CSIS, you do need a university diploma before you apply to become an intelligence agent but I think you can get one in any subject and they will form you and pay you every year of your formation. It's one option I'm considering but I need more information.

[LthrnckZero]

Maybe I'm way off on this one, but I think you need to be in the military before you can be an effective military analyst. I'm not saying that being in the military makes you qualified to be a military analyst, nor am I saying that not being in the military precludes you from being one. But, if you want to be a military analyst and expect people to give any weight to what you say or think(credibility), military experience would certainly help. My advice would be to do some time in the military, then if you still desire, get out and go to college. I wouldn't recommend doing the college and military thing at the same time though, you'll probably want to slap half the people you meet at college due to your military mindset.

[California Joe]

In my last job, I was not an analyst, except for a brief period when my civilian "MOS" changed to support a specific analyst group, but nearly everyone I worked with was. There are different types, but they all worked for the DoD. There were lots of serving military intel type analysts, there were former military, there were engineers and chemists and germ warfare biologists that all served in different functions as analysts. I'm not sure if you mean something along those lines or one of the talking heads that comments on how the military is f*cking up against the insurgents on CNN.

[ogukuo72]

Write a book, get on NYT Bestseller list, become a media celebrity, and - presto - you're an "analyst"! :)

[California Joe]

To be an "on air" military analyst usually means you need to have some sort of credentials that they can put under your picture while you second guess the current operational commanders. Like "Retired General...", "Former Army Special Forces...", "Former SecDef Hairdresser..."

[DE_Six]

Carleton U has (or used to have) a master's degree in intelligence and security. Several universities have strategic studies programs, or even military studies. It's mostly post-grad, as it is too specialized for undergrad level. If you're real good at it, you may even be invited to the CFC (CF College, mostly post-grads programs for senior DND/CF personnel, but civilians get in too).http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/home_e.html

Good way is also to apply for entry DND civilian jobs. You'll need a masters, preferably in poli sci, international studies, law or military studies (rare) but it's not absolutely necessary. Competition's tough, though (10 out of 400 a year) and you may stagnate a few years in rather boring jobs (parliamentary affairs, for instance) before you get in the thick of things.

Or join the CF, get them to pay for your masters, try to get into MI and then seek out the private sector.

I work with military analysts on a weekly basis, they mostly got where they are out of experience in this field (either ex-mil, ex-DND civilians or high-level scholars).

[Rossdobby]

I would join the military but Im completely blind in one eye so I can't. I was think intelligence officer for CSIS maybe

[ed316]

I would join the military but Im completely blind in one eye so I can't. I was think intelligence officer for CSIS maybe

WTF???!!! Explain?

[Jani.R]

WTF???!!! Explain?

He is blind from one, probably from accident (firecrackers are mean) or from sickness.

Explained? :X

[ogukuo72]

Most people have an overly romanticised view about what it is that analysts in intelligence agencies actually do. Very often, they merely assemble reports of open sources. Occasionally, they get to interpret raw data from classified sources. They almost never get to sit in at briefings to political leaders and say what they think. It is highly unlikely - given the classified nature of their job - that they are allowed to participate in forums and give their own views.

If you are really interested in this field, and wants your views to be heard, you may want to consider where you really want to go. Going into the black box might not be what you really want.

[mudbunny]

As Cali Joe stated, you need to be an officer in a Signal/Intel field and apply to CNN or FOX where you will tell them that your fist name is not "Mike" or "Harry" but is Captain, Lt. Colonel, or General. In other words, you are a professional Monday Morning Quarterback.

[California Joe]

Most people have an overly romanticised view about what it is that analysts in intelligence agencies actually do. Very often, they merely assemble reports of open sources. Occasionally, they get to interpret raw data from classified sources. They almost never get to sit in at briefings to political leaders and say what they think. It is highly unlikely - given the classified nature of their job - that they are allowed to participate in forums and give their own views.

If you are really interested in this field, and wants your views to be heard, you may want to consider where you really want to go. Going into the black box might not be what you really want.

He's right. There were about 6 guys (the A Team) in my last job that briefed high level visitors. Lets face it, most analysts are nerds, like 2Sheds, only less funny. They are usually ISTJs on the Myers Briggs scale. They don't do well speaking in public.Being an analyst is like being an accountant. In some cases you have to be an accountant. It really is grunt work, behind the scenes type stuff.

[Machette]

You can go to the University of Toronto Munk Centre For International Studies..its incredibly hard to get into Trinity College though..it's the best international relations school in Canada.

http://webapp.mcis.utoronto.ca/default.aspx

[vryhpyammoadded]

First earn your spurs listening to endless hours of tapes in the dim CRT light of over air conditioned, underground cubical lands while suffering the predations of the raised flooring tech trolls who zip tie your boots to the desk if you should ever catch come z’s or the NCO cenobites bearing pain and the shoe polish for your headphones.
Give up smoking and hot coffee to stay warm because one has been deemed bad for you and the other bad for your keyboard; instead wear a nice gortex parka or simply get acclimated. Wait, your Canadian. Cold shouldn’t be an issue…

Then again, you could always go tactical and learn about how electronics and mud, rain, snow, dust etc… don’t mix well and that those same 33.7 lbs of nonfunctioning electronics, on top of all the other crap you’re carrying, still has to be humped 10 miles to your ride home. You can’t leave them behind, you signed for them. The cenobites are waiting.

Do this for ten or so years, get a degree, see the world (in a completely different light) maybe even become a cenobite or lord forbid an officer, write a few books and then, maybe then…

Then again, you might find you enjoy it and carry on another 20 years.