Placement in the United States Air Force is becoming more competitive. The Air Force offers its personnel great benefits and advancement opportunities. Perhaps more importantly, many jobs within the Air Force provide the prestige of military service without the risks that go along with the Army or Marines. If you want to be an Air Force intelligence analyst, then you have to prepare yourself in college. It is very rare for a person to simply graduate with a random degree before landing a great intelligence gig. What’s the best degree? Something in information systems management would probably leave you most qualified for these positions.
What is an Information Systems Management Degree?
Information systems is a sort of business degree that focuses on the technology that businesses use in order to be most efficient. People who study in these fields are often prepared to deal with the latest communications technologies. Perhaps more importantly, they are trained to use technology to solve problems, which is primarily what the Air Force will ask an Airman to do when he gets into the service. If you learn how to apply the information you have learned in college, then you will have a much better chance of landing one of these positions.
Are There Alternative Degree Options?
It goes without saying that there are many paths to the same destination. Some schools do not offer information systems management degree programs. If that is the case with your school, you might go with a supply chain management degree. Most of the kids who go into this field are planning on working in logistics or in management for a large company. The skill set is highly transferable to Air Force intelligence jobs, though. You will learn how to communicate with many different people in order to solve issues. You will also learn how to use the latest business technology. If this is not available, then a general business degree can be useful.
The Best Degrees for Getting Hired
The question about what will prepare you best for an intelligence job is different from the question of what will be best for getting a commission. You should know that Air Force jobs are very competitive, even for people who have done well in college. Recruiters are looking for people who have real skills rather than abstract knowledge. This is why an information systems management degree is an excellent option. According to the Air Force’s own literature, the intelligence analyst creates databases and manages information from there. This degree will demonstrate to them from the beginning that you know what you are doing. It will put you ahead of other interested applicants who might have a more general background.
If you want to get one of these competitive positions, then you will need to put in the hard work during college. Getting a degree in a specialized information systems major will help you in the hiring process, and it will leave you better prepared for your first day in uniform. Though the Air Force will train you, it’s always better to come in with a leg up.