Marine Counterintelligence Specialists operate at the intersection of human intelligence, threat assessment, and national security. You've conducted CI investigations, run HUMINT sources, assessed insider threats, and operated in some of the most sensitive intelligence environments the Marine Corps supports.
That experience is rare. The civilian market for it — in the IC, in federal law enforcement, and in corporate security — is strong and well-compensated.
Your Clearance Is Your Foundation
0211 Marines typically hold TS/SCI clearances, often with polygraph. This is your most valuable asset in the civilian market:
- TS/SCI: +$40K–$70K salary premium vs. uncleared equivalent
- TS/SCI + CI Poly: +$55K–$85K premium
- TS/SCI + FS Poly: +$70K–$110K premium
Protect it. Don't let it lapse. Don't do anything that jeopardizes it.
Career Paths for 0211 Veterans
Intelligence Community:
- CI/HUMINT Analyst — DIA, CIA, DHS, FBI
- Counterintelligence Investigator — NCIS, AFOSI, Army CID (civilian positions exist)
- Human Intelligence Officer (civilian) — DIA, CIA
- Insider Threat Analyst — IC and major federal agencies
Federal Law Enforcement:
- FBI Special Agent — Counterintelligence Division (most direct path for 0211 background)
- DSS (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) — civilian CI investigator
- DHS/OIG investigators — fraud and insider threat
- NCIS Civilian Special Agent
Defense Contracting:
- CI Support Analyst — supporting IC and DoD contracts
- Program Security Officer (PSO) — protecting DoD classified programs
- Personnel Security Specialist — JPAS/DISS management
- Insider Threat Program Manager — high-growth specialty
Corporate Security:
- Corporate Intelligence Analyst — threat assessment for large organizations
- Insider Threat Program Lead — large tech, defense, financial firms
- Security Investigations Manager — employee misconduct, IP theft
The Translation
Military Language
“Conducted CI liaison with host nation security forces; developed and maintained source relationships to support theater CI operations”
Civilian Translation
“Established and maintained strategic relationships with foreign liaison partners; developed human intelligence networks to support operational intelligence requirements across multi-national environments”
Military Language
“Conducted SAER (Source and Analytical Evaluation Report) assessments; evaluated source reliability and information credibility for CI reporting chain”
Civilian Translation
“Evaluated human intelligence source reliability and information credibility; produced analytical assessments distributed through intelligence reporting channels to inform senior leadership decisions”
FBI Counterintelligence: Your Best Federal Path
The FBI's Counterintelligence Division is the most direct match for 0211 experience. Marine CI background is explicitly valued in their hiring:
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (any field)
- Under 37 years old at time of appointment (waiver possible with military service)
- Polygraph, medical, and fitness testing
0211 advantages in FBI hiring:
- CI investigation experience directly matches FBI CI Division mission
- Source handling experience is rare and valued
- Existing clearance shortens background investigation timeline
- Marine Corps reputation helps in final hiring decisions
Starting grade: GS-10; journeyman at GS-13 ($100K–$130K depending on locality)
DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency)
DCSA is the most direct federal employer for 0211 Marines. As the DoD's primary CI and security agency, DCSA hires CI agents, industrial security specialists, and threat analysts.
Roles:
- Special Agent (CI) — field investigations, source operations, threat assessment
- Industrial Security Specialist — protecting classified defense programs
- Insider Threat Analyst — monitoring classified program personnel
GS-7 to GS-12 entry depending on degree and experience. Strong veteran hiring pipeline.
DAISC/Insider Threat: The Fast-Growing Specialty
Insider threat programs are expanding rapidly across the IC, DoD, and large corporations. Your 0211 background — specifically SAER analysis, behavioral threat assessment, and CI investigation — is the most competitive background for insider threat program positions. Search USAJOBS for "Insider Threat Analyst" and filter by security clearance requirements. Salaries: $85K–$130K.
Defense Contracting: Program Security Officer Track
Program Security Officers (PSOs) protect classified defense programs — SAPs, SARs, and conventional classified programs. It's one of the highest-paying non-technical security roles in contracting:
What PSOs do:
- Manage personnel security requirements for classified programs
- Investigate security incidents and violations
- Interface with government security officials
- Oversee physical security, OPSEC, and CI support
Salary: $90K–$130K; senior PSOs and Special Program Security Officers (SPSOs) earn $130K–$175K
Target employers:
- Northrop Grumman — largest SAP contractor
- Lockheed Martin — heavy classified program portfolio
- Raytheon / RTX — defense systems programs
- L3Harris — communications and intelligence systems
- Booz Allen Hamilton — IC and DoD program support
Certification: SAPCO (Special Access Program Control Officer) training is preferred; FSO (Facility Security Officer) certification via NCMS is the primary path.
Corporate Intelligence and Insider Threat
Large technology companies, financial institutions, and defense contractors run internal intelligence programs. Your 0211 background maps directly:
Corporate counterintelligence:
- Monitor for foreign intelligence service targeting of employees
- Investigate IP theft and economic espionage
- Assess insider threats before they become incidents
- Brief leadership on threat environment
Who hires for this:
- Amazon, Google, Microsoft — large internal security intelligence teams
- Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan — financial intelligence and investigations
- Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon — cleared industrial security programs
- Large pharmaceutical companies — IP protection
Salaries range $95K–$145K for experienced CI professionals in corporate environments.
Certifications and Credentials
Your clearance and experience are your primary credentials. Add:
- CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) — valuable for investigations-focused track
- CPP (Certified Protection Professional) — corporate security leadership
- PMP — if targeting program security officer or security program management roles
- CompTIA Security+ — opens DoD IT security roles as a side path
No certification replaces your operational CI experience. They supplement and formalize it.
Your 90-Day Action Plan
- Document your clearance details — TS/SCI level, last investigation date, polygraph type — before leaving your unit
- Apply to FBI careers directly at fbijobs.gov if federal LE is your target
- Register on ClearanceJobs.com — cleared CI specialists get recruiter contacts within 24–48 hours
- Search DCSA careers for Special Agent and Industrial Security Specialist positions in your target location
- Run your fitness reports (FitReps) through Debriefed — translate CI, HUMINT, SAER, and Marine Corps-specific intelligence language into IC-standard and civilian security professional language
The 0211 community is small, the experience is rare, and the market demand is high. The translation is the only gap between your service record and a $110K+ first civilian offer.