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ISS Career Guide

Coast Guard

ISS: Intelligence Systems Specialist

Career transition guide for Coast Guard Intelligence Systems Specialist (ISS)

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Civilian Career Pathways

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

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Data Scientist

$120K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Python or R programmingData visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)

Cybersecurity Analyst

$95K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CISSP)Knowledge of security protocols

Project Manager

$90K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile methodologies

Management Consultant

$110K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant master's degreeConsulting experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your ISS training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As an Intelligence Systems Specialist, you constantly maintain a high degree of situational awareness, monitoring multiple data streams and assessing threats to ensure operational readiness and security.

This translates to the ability to quickly grasp complex environments and anticipate potential issues, a skill highly valued in dynamic civilian settings.

After-Action Analysis

You routinely conduct thorough after-action analysis to evaluate mission effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and refine intelligence gathering processes.

This ability to dissect events, understand root causes, and implement corrective actions directly applies to process improvement and strategic planning roles in the civilian sector.

System Modeling

Your expertise involves understanding and manipulating complex intelligence systems, requiring you to create and interpret system models to optimize performance and data flow.

This skill enables you to visualize and understand intricate systems, making you well-suited for roles that require process optimization and strategic planning.

Rapid Prioritization

In time-sensitive situations, you excel at rapidly prioritizing tasks and information to ensure critical intelligence is disseminated efficiently and effectively.

This translates to the ability to quickly assess and address urgent needs, a skill highly valued in high-pressure civilian roles.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.00

You've been trained to analyze complex situations and develop contingency plans to ensure operational resilience. As a Business Continuity Planner, you'll use these skills to help organizations prepare for and respond to disruptions, ensuring they can continue to function effectively. Your experience in risk assessment and mitigation will be invaluable.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011.00

You've honed your skills in identifying patterns and anomalies in data, which translates perfectly to uncovering fraudulent activities. As a Fraud Investigator, you will analyze financial records, conduct interviews, and compile evidence to detect and prevent fraud within organizations. Your attention to detail and analytical abilities will be crucial in this role.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You're adept at assessing risks, developing response plans, and coordinating resources in high-pressure situations. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you will use these skills to prepare communities and organizations for natural disasters and other emergencies. Your experience in situational awareness and rapid prioritization will make you a valuable asset.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Intelligence Systems Specialist Training, Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Intelligence Collection Methods
  • Intelligence Analysis Techniques
  • Communication Signals Analysis
  • Computerized Intelligence Systems
  • Intelligence Briefing Preparation
  • Operational Mission Planning
  • Imagery Data Plotting
  • Intelligence Database Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)60% covered

Requires studying information security governance, risk management, compliance, software development security, and telecommunications/network security that might not be explicitly covered in the ISS role. Focus on non-technical management aspects.

CompTIA Security+75% covered

Requires studying specific cryptographic concepts, network security technologies, and compliance/operational security elements not directly addressed in the ISS description. Focus on areas outside of intelligence-specific systems.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Requires studying all aspects of project management as defined by PMI, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing projects. Requires formal project management training.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) systemsData fusion and analysis platforms (e.g., Palantir, IBM i2)
Coast Guard Intelligence Management System (CGIMS)Case management and intelligence database software (e.g., LexisNexis Accurint, Thomson Reuters CLEAR)
Tactical Data Processor (TDP)Geospatial data processing software (e.g., Esri ArcGIS, QGIS)
National Security Information Network (NSIN)Secure communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Signal, Wickr)
Automated Message Handling System (AMHS)Secure email and messaging systems (e.g., Microsoft Outlook with encryption, ProtonMail)
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioSatellite communication devices and services (e.g., Iridium satellite phones, Inmarsat terminals)
Radiant MercuryData Loss Prevention (DLP) software (e.g., Symantec DLP, McAfee Total Protection)

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