INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST (IS)
The Navy's all-source intelligence analyst — strike-group, ONI, and combatant-command intelligence support.
OVERVIEW
Intelligence Specialist (IS) is the U.S. Navy's enlisted all-source intelligence rating. ISs analyze imagery, signals, human, and open-source intelligence to produce indications-and-warning, target packages, and the daily intelligence brief for ship and squadron commanders, strike groups, and combatant commands. ISs serve at sea on Carrier Strike Group and Expeditionary Strike Group N2 staffs, ashore at the Office of Naval Intelligence and Joint Intelligence Operations Centers, and forward at every numbered fleet headquarters.
The IS rating is one of the Navy's three Information Warfare community enlisted ratings (along with Cryptologic Technician sub-ratings and IT). ISs work hand-in-hand with Cryptologic Technicians and Intelligence Officers (1830) on the all-source mission.
The cryptologic / information warfare community conducts signals intelligence, cyberspace operations, and electronic warfare for U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet. All cryptologic ratings require a TS/SCI clearance, polygraph eligibility, and intensive language, technical, or analytic training at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT).
A-school for the rating runs ~13 weeks at Information Warfare Training Command, Virginia Beach, VA (Dam Neck), where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR=107 and an enlistment obligation of 5–6 years. ISs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior ISs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.
Across the active force, IS Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.
WHAT ISs DO
Intelligence Specialists analyze imagery, signals, human, and open-source intelligence reporting; produce all-source intelligence assessments for ship, squadron, strike group, fleet, and combatant-command commanders; build target packages for strike planning; brief the daily intelligence picture; manage classified-message handling and sensitive-compartmented information facility (SCIF) operations; and support the Joint Targeting Cycle and the deliberate and crisis-action planning process. ISs serve as briefers for flag officers and on rotational watch in Joint Intelligence Operations Centers.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Intelligence Specialists analyze imagery, signals, human, and open-source intelligence reporting; produce all-source intelligence assessments for ship, squadron, strike group, fleet, and combatant-command commanders; build target packages for strike planning; brief the daily intelligence picture; manage classified-message handling and sensitive-compartmented information facility (SCIF) operations; and support the Joint Targeting Cycle and the deliberate and crisis-action planning process. ISs serve as briefers for flag officers and on rotational watch in Joint Intelligence Operations Centers.
- Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior ISs as required by the chain of command.
- Lead the IS work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
- Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.
HISTORY
Intelligence Specialist was established in 1975 by merging the Photographic Intelligenceman (PT) and Yeoman (Intelligence) ratings into a single all-source enlisted intelligence rating. The IS rating has expanded steadily as the Navy's information-warfare and intelligence missions have grown.
Today the IS community is concentrated at Suitland, MD (ONI/NMIC), Norfolk, VA, Bahrain, Yokosuka, and aboard every deployed carrier strike group.
The cryptologic community traces to OP-20-G — the Navy's World War II signals-intelligence organization that broke the Japanese JN-25 code and contributed to the victory at Midway. Post-war the community evolved through the Communications Technician (CT) ratings, was reorganized in 1976, and again restructured in 2008 into the modern CTI/CTM/CTN/CTR/CTT specialties under the Information Warfare community.
Today the Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern ISs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.
The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring ISs remain central to the warfighting mission.
TRAINING PIPELINE
- 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeksNaval Station Great Lakes, ILInitial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors at the Navy's only boot camp.
- 2. Intelligence Specialist A-School~13 weeksInformation Warfare Training Command, Virginia Beach, VA (Dam Neck)Initial rating-skills training for IS accessions.
- 3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tourCarrier Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group N2 staffsOn-the-job training and qualifications in the IS rating with a fleet unit.
TYPICAL CAREER PATH
- E-1/E-3Apprentice ISA-school at IWTC Virginia Beach; first tour at a strike-group N2 staff or shore intelligence center.
- E-4/E-6Petty Officer ISQualify as imagery analyst, all-source analyst, or watch analyst; serve as a flag-briefer.
- E-7+Chief Intelligence SpecialistStrike-group intelligence officer's LCPO, ONI division chief, or instructor at IWTC.
TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS
- Carrier Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group N2 staffs
- Office of Naval Intelligence (Suitland, MD)
- Numbered Fleet headquarters and JIOCs
- Combatant-command intelligence directorates
EXAMPLE NECs
- IS-3923 Imagery Analyst
- IS-3920 All-Source Analyst
- U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB VE+AR=107
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Pass the Navy physical and medical screening
- Top Secret/SCI security clearance eligibility
- Carrier Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group N2 staffs
- Office of Naval Intelligence (Suitland, MD)
- Numbered Fleet headquarters and JIOCs
- Combatant-command intelligence directorates