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35Y Career Guide

Army

35Y: Chief Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Sergeant

Career transition guide for Army Chief Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Sergeant (35Y)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 35Y background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
High match

Your experience in CI/HUMINT directly translates to security engineering. Your knowledge of adversarial thinking and risk management is crucial for identifying and mitigating security threats. Your familiarity with TACLANE encryptors also gives you a head start with modern encryption methods.

Typical stack:

Networking and OS internalsCryptography fundamentalsThreat modelingCloud security (IAM, VPC)Code review for security

SOC Analyst

Security

SOC 15-1212
High match

As a Chief Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Sergeant, you supervised the collection, processing, and dissemination of intelligence information. This aligns well with the responsibilities of a SOC Analyst who monitors and analyzes security events to detect and respond to incidents. Your experience with CI/HUMINT planning and coordination is also valuable for coordinating incident response efforts.

Typical stack:

SIEM platforms (Splunk, Elastic, Sentinel)Network protocolsEndpoint and log analysisMITRE ATT&CK familiarityIncident-response runbooks

Data Analyst

Data

SOC 15-2051
Good match

Your experience managing intelligence operations and analyzing complex information aligns well with the skills required for a data analyst. Your background involves extracting insights from data, identifying patterns, and presenting findings to inform decision-making. Proficiency with data analysis tools can bridge your intel experience to this role.

Typical stack:

SQLExcel / Sheets at expert levelOne BI tool (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)Statistics fundamentalsStakeholder communication

Technical Program Manager

Product

SOC 11-3021
Moderate match

Your experience planning, coordinating, and supervising intelligence operations translates well to the role of a technical program manager. Your leadership skills, ability to manage complex projects, and experience coordinating activities across different teams are valuable assets. Your training in OPSEC Management also provides a solid foundation for managing risks and ensuring the security of projects.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacy (read code, read architecture diagrams)Cross-team coordinationRisk and dependency managementWritten communicationStakeholder reporting

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 35Y experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Adversarial ThinkingVulnerability identification, threat modeling
  • Situational AwarenessRapidly grasping complex systems, identifying risks
  • Team SynchronizationLeading diverse teams, fostering collaboration
  • After-Action AnalysisIdentifying inefficiencies, recommending solutions
  • DCGS-AExperience with data analytics platforms
  • CIDNEExperience with secure cloud storage and collaboration platforms
  • HUMINT Online Tasking and Reporting (HOTR)Case management and CRM software experience
  • TACLANE encryptorsExperience with encryption software and hardware

Skills to Learn

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not generic.

SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)Intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS)Vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., Nessus, Qualys)Security frameworks and standards (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001)Incident response methodologiesLog analysis and correlationThreat intelligence platformsData visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)SQL for data querying and manipulationStatistical analysis techniquesAgile project management methodologiesProject management software (e.g., Jira, Asana)Software development lifecycle (SDLC) principles

How VWC fits

Vets Who Code accelerates the parts we teach — software engineering fundamentals, web development, AI tooling. For everything else above, the path is doable independently with the resources we link to.

See VWC Programs

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 35Y veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Familiarity with specific analytical software (e.g., i2 Analyst's Notebook)Refresher on current intelligence methodologiesCivilian data privacy regulations knowledge

Corporate Security Investigator

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Corporate investigation techniquesKnowledge of commercial security systemsLegal aspects of corporate investigations

Fraud Investigator

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certificationKnowledge of financial fraud schemesUnderstanding of relevant laws and regulations (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley)

Management Consultant

$110K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or related business degreeConsulting experienceIndustry-specific knowledge

Emergency Management Director

$80K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificationFEMA Incident Command System (ICS) trainingGrant writing and management skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 35Y training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

As a CI/HUMINT supervisor, you constantly anticipate the actions and counter-actions of adversaries, whether they are foreign intelligence services or criminal elements. You are trained to think like the enemy to protect assets and gather information effectively.

This translates to an exceptional ability to identify vulnerabilities and potential risks in business operations, security protocols, or strategic planning. You can foresee how competitors or malicious actors might exploit weaknesses.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment, including geopolitical factors, cultural nuances, and the activities of various actors. This is critical for effective intelligence gathering and counterintelligence operations.

This heightened awareness makes you adept at quickly grasping complex situations, identifying emerging trends, and understanding the potential impact of various decisions. You are able to see the big picture while simultaneously managing intricate details.

Team Synchronization

You’re responsible for managing and coordinating teams of intelligence professionals, ensuring that everyone is working in concert to achieve mission objectives. This requires clear communication, delegation, and an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses.

You can effectively lead diverse teams, fostering collaboration and ensuring that each member is contributing their unique skills to the overall success of the project. You are skilled at motivating others and creating a cohesive and productive work environment.

After-Action Analysis

You meticulously review operations and training exercises to identify areas for improvement. This involves analyzing successes, failures, and lessons learned to enhance future performance.

You possess a keen eye for detail and a commitment to continuous improvement. You excel at identifying inefficiencies, recommending solutions, and implementing changes to optimize processes and performance.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2023

You've been trained to detect deception, analyze complex data, and conduct thorough investigations. Your skills in counterintelligence and human intelligence are directly transferable to uncovering fraudulent activities.

Market Research Analyst

SOC 13-1161

Your ability to gather, process, and analyze information is invaluable in understanding market trends and consumer behavior. You are skilled at identifying patterns and insights that others might miss, giving your company a competitive edge.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161

You're experienced in planning and coordinating responses to complex situations. You can leverage your situational awareness and resource optimization skills to manage emergency operations effectively.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 11-9199

You've got the skills to assess vulnerabilities and protect assets. Your background in counterintelligence makes you ideally suited to develop and implement security protocols that safeguard corporate interests.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Fort Huachuca, AZ

160 training hours4 weeks3 semester hours in lower-division Organizational Management

Topics Covered

  • Advanced HUMINT Operations
  • Advanced CI Operations
  • Intelligence Management
  • Operational Security (OPSEC) Management
  • CI/HUMINT Planning and Coordination
  • Source Validation and Management
  • Advanced Interview and Debriefing Techniques

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)60% covered

Study business principles, physical security, and legal aspects of security management.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)50% covered

Focus on specific fraud examination methodologies, legal elements of fraud, and financial transactions.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Security+Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
DCGS-A (Distributed Common Ground System-Army)Palantir, Dataiku (advanced data analytics platforms)
CIDNE (Counterintelligence and HUMINT Data Network Enterprise)Secure cloud storage and collaboration platforms (e.g., Box, Microsoft Teams with enhanced security)
HUMINT Online Tasking and Reporting (HOTR)Case management and CRM software with secure communication channels
Biometric Identification System for Access (BISA)Physical access control systems with biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint scanners, facial recognition)
TACLANE encryptorsCommercial-grade encryption software and hardware (e.g., VPNs, secure communication apps like Signal or Wire)
ARIMS (Army Records Information Management System)Document management systems with version control and access control features (e.g., SharePoint, Google Workspace)

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