Gaining Security Clearance Through a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Internship

The Defense Intelligence Agency is stepping up their recruitment for college students to fill internship jobs across a wide spectrum of career fields. Their internship program recruiting team holds job fairs and visits academic institutions, and are looking for high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students who might be interested in gaining hands-on experience working with intelligence professionals, foreign language officers, and technology experts, as well as other career fields.

Applicants should ensure they know and meet the basic requirements for the positions:

• U.S. citizenship (dual citizenship is allowed)
• Enrolled as a student full-time and have a minimum of 60 credits with at least a 3.0 GPA
• Ability to pass drug screening

One of the benefits of applying for an internship at an intelligence agency is they will initiate and conduct the required background investigation for the security clearance and a polygraph, which could take up to six months depending on the applicant’s background history. However, once it is complete and a security clearance is granted, the intern is placed into the cleared hiring pool and would be eligible for a permanent position, should one open and a hiring manager wants to hire them.

Working for the DIA is not for everyone due to all the restrictions and additional hoops to jump through. All employees are expected to be available on a 24-hour recall and may work uncommon hours of duty. DIA employees are also subjected to random drug testing, periodic counter-intelligence polygraph testing, and of course, self-reporting requirements in accordance with SEAD 3. These are all agreed to when you sign the non-disclosure agreement accepting the position.