CIA
Training
The CIA or
Central Intelligence Agency is the biggest intelligence apparatus in the
world serving the United States of America. Established on the foundation
of the OSS after world war 2 it is an organization whose internal workings
are shrouded in secrecy. There has been a great debate as to whether smaller
intelligence agencies such as Mossad, MI6 are better than the two main
larger counterparts, the CIA and the KGB now known as the Russian Secret
Service.
The CIA has
a much higher technical capability than its counterparts. In a documentary
the CIA advertised a new device invented that could take samples of any
one person's voice and automatically generate speech accredited to him
undetectable by speech synthesis experts. This was done more than 30 years
ago.
Smaller agencies
argue their better status on the implication that personnel training is
more important than technology. That could be considered a valid argument
due to the fact that very little technology is employed on the field where
an agent has been stripped of his equipment and has lost contact with
his control center. Such a scenario would lead us to believe that training
of the operative agent is more important than high tech toys.
In an attempt
to understand the scope of this last statement a list has been compiled
of the probable fields of training an agent would receive in the aid of
bettering his skill.
Advanced
Military Technology
For identifying and manipulating weaponry of his target. An agent could
be called on to destroy an installation or particular military equipment
which is of a highly technical nature and is therefore a threat. A theoretical
understanding of this is important so that the agent can have an overview
of military technology.
Computer
Security
Breaking into office computers for the purpose of retrieving confidential
information is a very commonly used skill that is a critical part of espionage
especially in a time where computers are predominantly used to store information.
The primary functions of an intelligence agency operates around the use
and acquirement of information.
Countersurveillance
The ability to detect and disable the surveillance capabilities of any
parties involved in an operation. Although this would usually include
the use of technical apparatus there are many ways to foil a surveillance
operation without using any physical equipment such as speaking in code
or using the enviroment to hide communications.
Art of
Disguise
Although quite simple to learn it is difficult to become an expert in
disguise. It is crucial for an agent to understand how he could manipulate
people's sensory perceptions by changing his appearance. Thus to aid his
covert status and remain unidentified in a hostile enviroment.
Etiquette
and Arts
Very commonly agents are usually recruited out of prime educational institutions.
An instructor cannot teach an agent everything and so candidates are chosen
depending on how intelligent they are and the amount of knowledge they
posess. In addition to these supplementary programs are provided to aid
the agent's understanding of foreign cultures, etiquette and arts so as
to provide a base that could be used in covert operations. The simple
equation of general knowledge is that the more the agent knows the better.
Explosives
Specialist
The use and improvisation of explosives is critical. Contrary to public
opinion explosives are a lot easier to make and are more useful that firearms.
An agent would be able to manufacture such devices in a hostile enviroment
where such devices are not available. They could be used for many purposes
such as distractions, assassinations and general purpose destruction.
Fake Identification
and Secret Banking
Fake IDs are very difficult to forge in these days of high technology
but none the less an operative should be able to identify fake documents
and be able to issue or acquire his own documents if not perfect then
at least passable to common inspection. A bank account accessable worldwide
allows the agent to have quick access to funds in case of need and such
an agent should be knowledgable in the techniques used to acquire such
bank accounts and funds.
Field
Medicine
The ability for an operative to self repair in cases when he cannot acquire
professional medical attention. Small kits are usually issued to this
purpose. Even smaller injuries such as non fatal knife wounds can be lethal
in the long term.
Forensics
Forensics are not just used by police agencies but also by intelligence
agencies seeking identification or to hide identification in the scene
of an operation. Yet an operative in hostile territory performing the
destruction of personnel would also have to avoid the local police authorities
and their forensics team. This is done by first learning the techniques
used in forensics and then identifying and exploiting their weak points
and unfocused areas.
Guerilla
Warfare
If the now declassified operations of intelligence agencies during the
cold war era are studied you would notice that the majority of their activities
included subverting foreign goverments by funding and aiding the local
guerilla or resistance apparatus. Guerilla warafare is important in this
purpose as it aids the agents advisory status to the local guerilla forces.
Hand to
Hand and Knife Combat
These are crucial because in case an operative does not have any weaponry
or firepower he should be able to dispose of hostile personnel using his
hands or knives. Knives can be acquired easily in any location considering
their capability to be very lethal and an operative with the proper understanding
of sharp edged weaponry can put it to use more effectively.
Incindiary
Specialist
Using matches or a fuel lighter obtained at any location worldwide an
operative should be able to effectively use fire to his advantage. This
tool is probably one of the more destructive in his arsenal of know how.
International
and Local Law
Part of the agent's base of general knowledge is the understanding of
issues related to law. This can aid in his manipulation of local and international
issues to the advantage of his cause.
Languages
Difficult and timely to learn but worth this effort. Trainees are usually
educated in the languages of the regions they are targetted for. This
aids in disguise and better integration with the locale.
Lock Bypassing
Techniques
The majority of locks found anywhere all operate on the same principle,
that of the pin tumbler lock and an agent who could bypass doors, lockers,
drawers and other lock based containers would remove the ability of a
moderate target to keep anything confidential even losing the security
of his own home. There is currently very few magic ways of bypassing a
lock and they usually include more equipment. The basic techniques would
benefit the operative more due to their simplicity.
Military
Strategy and Tactics
Military general knowledge on all fronts useful for insurgency operations
against foreign goverments in the aid of local guerilla operations. Candidates
for training are more likely to be accepted into a secret service structure
if they have a background in military service.
Photography
A lot of agents choose the role of a photographer or journalist as their
covert identity. Very simply a photographer can take photos of the target
without arousing suspicion. A journalist can ask a lot of questions and
can easily acquire a motive for his so called investigations.
Poisons
Specialist
The majority of assassinations are not carried out with explosives or
guns but rather with untraceable poisons that attract very little attention
from investigators and the media. A death attributed to a medical condition
would not attract the same attention than that of one caused by an explosion
or gunfire. A bad conception among laymen is to believe that an assassin
spends a lot of his time 'shooting and blowing things up', rather it is
in the use of poisons in which he would confide.
Psychology
Definitely the more important of all the skills. Because of all the things
agents do they interact with people more than anything else. And by using
such social factors as sex, love and friendship to their advantage they
can gain a lot more than with physical operations. One well known operation
in Iraq which exposed a nuclear production facilitgy decades ago was instigated
by photographing sexual contact between a scientist and an operative and
then using that information for blackmailing the scientist and the relationship
with his wife. This is what has to be understood about intelligence operations,
the majority of them do not include violence but the manipulation of information
through social factors.
Recreational
Drugs
Drugs have their uses asides being used for recreational highs. They can
be used to corrupt a target and extract information while he or she is
under the influence or even to setup a target for arrest by the local
authorities.
Sniper
One of the less common techniques of assassination are by sniper and is
usually used when close quarter access to the target is unavailable. They
usually attract a lot of attention and are rarely used by operatives except
in war zones.
Surveillance
Probably the more important of all technical expertise as it involves
the acquiring of information. A conversation caught on tape has tremendous
value and can be easily used to bring down politicians and manipulate
public officials and other targets. Modern technology for the use of surveillance
is very sought after and is usually highly developed by intelligence and
secret agencies.
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