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1N491 Career Guide

Air Force

1N491: Intelligence Analyst

Career transition guide for Air Force Intelligence Analyst (1N491)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1N491 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Cyber Intelligence Analyst

$110K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)Specific cybersecurity tools training (e.g., SIEM, intrusion detection systems)

Network Security Engineer

$120K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Experience with network security tools and protocols

Data Analyst

$75K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

SQLData visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)Statistical analysis software (e.g., R, Python)

Technical Writer

$70K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Technical writing certificationExperience with documentation software (e.g., MadCap Flare)Portfolio of technical writing samples

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1N491 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

This role requires anticipating an adversary's actions and intentions by analyzing intelligence information and understanding their communication networks and strategies.

You can apply your analytical skills to predict potential risks, identify vulnerabilities, and develop proactive solutions in competitive business environments.

System Modeling

You create models of global communications structures, target networks, and adversary order of battle to understand their operations and vulnerabilities.

You can visualize and understand complex systems, identify key components and relationships, and use this knowledge to improve processes and outcomes.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a high degree of awareness of geopolitical and operational intelligence, providing real-time threat warnings and supporting strategic decision-making.

You can quickly assess complex situations, identify critical factors, and communicate relevant information to stakeholders, enabling effective decision-making in dynamic environments.

Rapid Prioritization

You're often drafting and disseminating time-sensitive intelligence reports to consumers worldwide, so you have to quickly and accurately assess the level of importance of each incoming data point.

You're able to discern the most important tasks at hand and manage your time effectively in order to meet crucial deadlines.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Market Research Analyst

SOC 19-3022.00

You've been expertly analyzing intelligence to understand adversary actions and intentions. This translates perfectly to analyzing market trends and consumer behavior to inform business strategies. Your skills in intelligence gathering and reporting are highly valuable in this field.

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051.00

You've honed your skills in identifying and mitigating threats in complex environments. In finance, you can apply this expertise to assess financial risks, develop strategies to minimize potential losses, and ensure the stability of financial operations.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011.00

You've developed expertise in recovering, correlating, and fusing technical and operational intelligence information. You can leverage these skills to investigate fraudulent activities, gather evidence, and build cases for prosecution. Your analytical abilities and attention to detail are essential in this field.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Intelligence Analyst Training, Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX

1,280 training hours32 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Analysis
  • Communications Network Analysis
  • Targeting Methodologies
  • Intelligence Report Writing
  • Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Integration
  • Threat Warning Systems
  • Database Management
  • Information Operations Analysis

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)50% covered

Requires study of formal information security management principles, risk management frameworks, and legal/regulatory compliance, as the military training is heavily focused on the technical aspects of intelligence and exploitation rather than governance and policy.

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Requires additional study on compliance and operational security, threats and vulnerabilities, and application, data, and host security.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60% covered

Requires a deeper understanding of penetration testing methodologies, advanced hacking techniques, and legal aspects of ethical hacking. Military training provides a strong foundation but lacks the breadth of techniques covered in the CEH.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Project Management Professional (PMP)GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)

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 Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet)
Multimedia Message Manager (MMM)Secure document and media sharing platforms (e.g., Box, Sharepoint)
Analytic Workspace (AW)Data analytics and visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
Targeting Intelligence Workstation (TIW)Geospatial intelligence software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)
National SIGINT Committee (NSC)Cyber threat intelligence platforms (e.g., Recorded Future, CrowdStrike Falcon X)
Automated Message Handling System (AMHS)Secure messaging systems (e.g., Signal, Telegram)
Air Force Integrated Broadcast System (IBS)Real-time news and information feeds (e.g., Bloomberg Terminal, Reuters)

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