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1N451 Career Guide

Air Force

1N451: Intelligence Analyst

Career transition guide for Air Force Intelligence Analyst (1N451)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1N451 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Familiarity with specific analytical software (e.g., Analyst's Notebook, Palantir)Possibly a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field

Cyber Intelligence Analyst

$110K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)Knowledge of common cyber threats and vulnerabilitiesExperience with SIEM tools

Network Intelligence Analyst

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced networking certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP)Deep understanding of network protocols and infrastructureKnowledge of packet analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark)

Threat Hunter

$120K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced knowledge of malware analysisExperience with endpoint detection and response (EDR) systemsStrong understanding of attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)

Market Research Analyst

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Statistical analysis skillsKnowledge of market research methodologiesExperience with data visualization toolsBachelor's degree in marketing or related field

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1N451 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

This role requires anticipating and understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures of adversaries to develop effective countermeasures and intelligence strategies. You're essentially thinking like the enemy to stay one step ahead.

In the civilian world, this translates to strategic planning, risk management, and competitive analysis. You can anticipate challenges, identify vulnerabilities, and develop proactive solutions by understanding different perspectives and potential threats.

System Modeling

You build and analyze complex communication networks to understand how information flows, identify vulnerabilities, and find opportunities for exploitation. This requires a deep understanding of systems and their interdependencies.

This skill translates directly into understanding and optimizing complex systems in any industry. You can map processes, identify bottlenecks, and design improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Rapid Prioritization

You are constantly assessing incoming intelligence, discerning what is time-sensitive and critical, and disseminating it to the appropriate channels under pressure. Lives depend on your ability to filter information and act quickly.

This ability is highly valuable in fast-paced civilian environments. You can quickly assess situations, identify the most important tasks, and delegate or execute accordingly, ensuring that critical issues are addressed promptly and effectively.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical landscape, adversary activities, and operational environments to provide timely and relevant intelligence to decision-makers. You're constantly monitoring and interpreting information to anticipate potential threats and opportunities.

This translates to an ability to quickly grasp the nuances of a situation, understand the relevant factors, and anticipate potential outcomes. You're able to see the big picture and make informed decisions based on a holistic understanding of the environment.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Market Research Analyst

SOC 19-3022.00

You've been analyzing adversarial actions and intentions, and now you can apply those skills to understanding consumer behavior and market trends. You're adept at gathering, interpreting, and reporting data to inform strategic decisions, much like you did with intelligence information.

Business Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've been exploiting intelligence information to develop communication structures for targeting. Now, as a Business Intelligence Analyst, you can leverage your analytical skills to dissect complex business data, identify opportunities for growth, and develop actionable insights that drive business strategy.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2099.00

You've been recovering, correlating, and fusing technical, geographical, and operational intelligence. Now you can use those same skills to investigate fraudulent activities, identify patterns of deception, and build cases based on the evidence you uncover.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Basic Intelligence Training, Goodfellow AFB, TX

960 training hours24 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
  • Targeting Cycle
  • Network Analysis
  • Communication Signal Analysis
  • Geospatial Intelligence
  • All-Source Intelligence Fusion
  • Intelligence Reporting
  • Threat Warning

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Requires study of specific security tools, compliance regulations (HIPAA, PCI DSS), and risk management frameworks relevant to civilian IT infrastructure. Also, focus on incident response and penetration testing methodologies.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)40% covered

Requires extensive knowledge in all 8 domains of information security (Security and Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Architecture and Engineering, Communication and Network Security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Assessment and Testing, Security Operations, and Software Development Security). Significant experience is also required to obtain the certification.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60% covered

While experience includes identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities, CEH requires a deep understanding of hacking tools, techniques, and methodologies used in a commercial environment. Study legal and ethical issues related to penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)Secure internet and communication platforms (e.g., Signal, ProtonMail)
National Security Agency Network (NSANet)High-security private networks
Multimedia Message Manager (MMM)Enterprise messaging and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
Analytic Workspace (AWS)Data science platforms (e.g., Anaconda, Databricks)
Targeting Exploitation Analysis System (TEAS)Network analysis and forensics tools (e.g., Wireshark, Splunk)
Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS)Real-time data streaming and dissemination services (e.g., Apache Kafka, AWS Kinesis)

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