Defense Clandestine Service

Not to be confused with National Clandestine Service.

Defense Clandestine Service

Agency overview
Preceding Agency	Defense Human Intelligence Service
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Defense Intelligence Analysis Center
Agency executive	Michael T. Flynn, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Website	www.dia.mil/dcs

The Defense Clandestine Service (DCS) is an arm of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which conducts clandestine espionage, intelligence gathering activities and classified operations around the world to provide insights and answer national-level defense objectives for senior U.S. policymakers and American military leaders. Staffed by civilian and military personnel, DCS is part of DIA's Directorate of Operations and works in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations and the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command. DCS consists of about 500 clandestine operatives, which is roughly how many case officers the CIA maintained in the early 2000s prior to its expansion.

Contrary to some public and media misunderstanding, DCS is not a "new" intelligence agency but rather a consolidation, expansion and realignment of existing Defense HUMINT activities, which have been carried out by DIA for decades under various names, most recently as the Defense Human Intelligence Service.

Purpose

DCS conducts clandestine espionage activities around the world and is the executive agent for human intelligence operations throughout the Department of Defense. Staffed by civilian and military personnel, the DCS is a consolidation of the former Defense Human Intelligence Service and works in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations, among other national HUMINT entities. It globally deploys teams of case officers, interrogation experts, field analysts, linguists, technical specialists, and special operations forces.

In 2012, the Pentagon announced its intention to ramp up spying operations against high-priority targets, such as Iran, under an intelligence reorganization aimed at expanding the military's espionage efforts beyond war zones. To this end, the DIA consolidated its existing human intelligence capabilities into the Defense Clandestine Service, with plans to work closely with the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command.

The plan was developed in response to a classified study completed in 2011 by the Director of National Intelligence, which concluded that the military's espionage efforts needed to be more focused on major targets beyond the tactical considerations of Iraq and Afghanistan. While in the past, DIA was effectively conducting its traditional, and much larger, mission of providing intelligence to troops and commanders in war zones, the study noted it needed to focus more attention outside the battlefields on "national intelligence"—gathering and distributing information on global issues and sharing that intelligence with other agencies. The realignment was expected to affect several hundred operatives who already worked in intelligence assignments abroad, mostly as case officers for the DIA, which serves as the Pentagon's main source of human intelligence and analysis. The new service was expected to grow by several hundred operatives and was intended to complement the espionage network of the CIA, which focuses on a wider array of non-military threats.

The Defense Clandestine Service consolidated several of the DIA’s military-intelligence elements, including the Defense Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Center, the Counterintelligence Field Activity, the Strategic Support Branch, and the Defense Attaché System. This has created an internal intelligence network within the US military so powerful that some officials have described it as a second CIA.

History

Defense Clandestine Service recruitment poster

In the 1990s, the Department of Defense sought to centralize management of HUMINT operations conducted by DoD and the services. One aspect of that effort was the issuance of a DoD directive in December 1992. Then, in 1993, a review by DCI James Woolsey and Deputy Secretary of Defense William Perry produced the decision to establish a Defense HUMINT Service (DHS) – which would absorb all service clandestine collection activities as well as non-tactical overt collection efforts. Implementation of that decision included production of a plan for consolidating Defense HUMINT and a memo from Perry to the relevant parties.⁵

DHS operations in the 1990s would include, inter alia, collection activities in support of operations other than war, including Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia and Central Africa. But in early 2004, almost ten years after it began operating, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld felt it necessary to ask Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone about steps being taken to make the DHS “a credible career service.” Ultimately, when the CIA’s Directorate of Operations was transformed into the National Clandestine Service in 2007, it absorbed the DHS clandestine case officers.[x]

The significance attached to HUMINT operations have varied between the services, and within some of the services over time. Only the Army maintained a consistently high-level of interest in HUMINT throughout the Cold War.

 When the Defense Attache Service, bringing all the military service attaches together, was established in 1965, and placed under the Defense Intelligence Agency, it gave DIA a significant HUMINT role. While the attaches have primarily been overt collectors of open source information, they have also engaged in covert collection operations.

 In 1993, DCI James Woolsey and Deputy Defense Secretary William Perry decided to establish a Defense HUMINT Service (DHS), under the supervision of DIA, that would absorb the human intelligence efforts of the services. It was a move strenuously opposed by the Army – which had the most to lose – but was fully implemented  by the end of 1996.

 During that period, DoD HUMINT activities became news due to incidents involving U.S. attache operations in China. On July 28, 1995 two attaches stationed in Hong Kong were apprehended and accused of spying on restricted military zones along the southeastern coast of China. In  January 1996 Lt. Col. Bradley Gerdes, the U.S. assistant military attache in Beijing, along with a Japanese military attache were stopped near a military area on Hainan Island, after allegedly sneaking into a military airport near the headquarters of the South China Fleet. That same month, other DHS officers, based in Tuzla, were gathering and analyzing information on the warring Muslim, Croat, and Serb communities in Bosnia and their leaders. The DHS was responsible for reporting any immediate threats to U.S. and NATO troops. [X]

The original Defense Clandestine Service, an outgrowth of the Monarch Eagle concept, was created and implemented in 1984. It was backed by Senators Barry Goldwater and Jesse Helms, with the support of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General John Vessey, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs (M&RA) William D. Clark, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Frank Aurilio. It consolidated the clandestine intelligence programs of each of the military services into a single DOD program, thus eliminating duplication of effort, and importantly, to provide a promotion path for case officers to achieve flag rank. The Goldwater–Nichols Act was specifically designed to support this objective as service at the DOD level would count toward the joint service requirement to achieve flag rank. The objective of the DOD Clandestine Service was to target intelligence gaps in countries regarded as potential adversaries or sites of activities requiring a military response; these gaps had gone unaddressed under CIA priorities. DOD case officers are carefully selected and trained; most have advanced degrees, speak multiple languages, and are area experts.^{[citation needed]} The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence praised the program for its exceptional productivity.^{[citation needed]} By the mid-1990s, the program had been undercut by President Clinton's directors of Central Intelligence, who preferred to be in full control of all espionage operations.

Seal specifications and symbolism

Seal of the Defense Clandestine Service, a component of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency

The seal of the Defense Clandestine Service consists of a black disc, rimmed in red. There is an American bald eagle with its wings displayed and inverted. The eagle is perched upon a shield. The shield is argent with six pallets of gules. The shield has a chief of azure with thirteen mullets of the first. Below the shield, there is a wreath of laurel and olive. In an arch above the eagle, there is the inscription "Defense Clandestine Service" in yellow capital letters. In an arch below the wreath, there is the inscription "Defense Intelligence Agency" in yellow capital letters.

The eagle and shield are prominent symbols of the Department of Defense. The perch and sharp eye of the eagle denote the Defense Clandestine Service's ability to plan, coordinate, and execute worldwide missions. Here the eagle looks to its left side, illustrating the Service's competence to meet national level defense intelligence requirements. The wings slightly cloak the shield, alluding to clandestine and overt operations. The wreath of laurel and olive honors the teamwork among Defense Intelligence Agency clandestine service members, in concert with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Combatant Commands. The black disc underscores the worldwide clandestine operations of the Defense Clandestine Service.

Preparing for the Defense Clandestine Service

1. Develop strong language skills: Fluency in foreign languages is crucial for agents in the Defense Clandestine Service. Be sure to hone your skills in languages of strategic importance to the U.S. government, such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Farsi.
2. Build a solid understanding of international relations and geopolitics: Familiarize yourself with global hotspots, key players, and current events to demonstrate your knowledge in this area during the application process.
3. Gain relevant experience: Prior military or intelligence experience is highly valued in the Defense Clandestine Service. Consider pursuing internships or entry-level roles in government agencies or military branches to gain relevant experience.
4. Stay physically fit: Physical fitness is a key requirement for agents in the Defense Clandestine Service. Be sure to maintain a high level of physical fitness to meet the demands of the job.
5. Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills: Agents in the Defense Clandestine Service must be able to build relationships and communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals. Practice your interpersonal and communication skills to demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a team and build rapport with sources.
6. Prepare for the security clearance process: The Defense Clandestine Service requires a top-secret security clearance, which involves a thorough background check. Be prepared to provide detailed information about your personal and professional history during the security clearance process.
7. Seek out mentors: Connect with current or former agents in the Defense Clandestine Service to learn more about the job and gain insights into the application process. Mentors can provide valuable guidance and support as you prepare for a career in the intelligence field.
8. Stay informed: Stay up-to-date on current events, global trends, and developments in the intelligence community to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to the field during the application process. Regularly read intelligence reports and publications to stay informed on relevant topics.

By following these tips and taking a proactive approach to preparing for the Defense Clandestine Service, you can increase your chances of success in securing a role in this elite intelligence agency. [1] [2] [3] [4]

In Popular Culture

Television

• The Brave (TV series) - A Directorate for Analysis featured as one of two teams (alongside Defense Clandestine Service) in defending the United States. DIA provides intelligence support to the special forces in covert missions in hostile environments.

• NCIS (TV series)
  • "Admiral's Daughter" – Amanda, Daughter of Admiral Kendall, works for DIA's Defense Clandestine Service (DCS) under a cover identity of a "party girl", which unsettles her unsuspecting father.
  • "Better Angels" – the episode revolves around an investigation into the death of Michael Dawson, an employee of Defense Clandestine Service (DCS), and whether DCS had anything to do with the incident.

Book

• Bob Drogin (Author); "Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man Who Caused a War", 2007. Random House. A number of other accounts of the incredible ineptitude of CIA's Directorate of Intelligence, DIA, MI6, BND, National Clandestine Service (NCS), Defense HUMINT Service (DHS).

Film

• The Equalizer (film), The Equalizer 2 and The Equalizer 3 - Denzel Washington portrays Robert McCall and Pedro Pascal portrays Dave York, both DIA operatives (Defense Clandestine Service).
• Gemini Man (film) – Will Smith plays Henry Brogan, a DIA operative (Defense Clandestine Service). Benedict Wong is a retired DIA officer. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays a DIA case officer tasked with monitoring Brogan, Ralph Brown as Henry's handler at the DIA; Linda Emond as the director of the DIA; E. J. Bonilla as a DIA agent.

See also

• Directorate of Operations (CIA)
• United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA)
• Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
• 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment, a similar unit of French army special forces
• Special Reconnaissance Regiment, a similar unit in the United Kingdom Special Forces.
• Spetsnaz GRU, a similar unit in the Russian Federation

References

1. Naylor, Sean (31 July 2015). "Top Pentagon Intel Officer: Iraq 'May Not Come Back as an Intact State'". Foreign Policy.
2. ^ "DIA Leadership". dia.mil. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
3. ^ Pellerin, Cheryl (15 August 2012). "Flynn: Integrated Intelligence System Provides Advantage". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13.
4. ^ Greg Miller. "Military Wants Its Own Spies". Los Angeles Times, March 04, 2003
5. ^ Eric Schmitt (April 23, 2012). "Defense Department Plans New Intelligence Gathering Service", The New York Times.
6. ^ Miller, Greg (23 April 2012). "Pentagon establishes Defense Clandestine Service, new espionage unit". The Washington Post.
7. ^ Entous, Adam (23 April 2012). "Pentagon Creates New Spy Service in Revamp". The Wall Street Journal.
8. ^ "US military's Defense Clandestine Service to deploy hundreds of international spies".
9. ^ Schmitt, Eric (23 April 2012). "Defense Department Plans New Intelligence Gathering Service". The New York Times.
10. ^ Miller, Greg (2 December 2012). "DIA to send hundreds more spies overseas". The Washington Post.
11. ^ United States Army Institute of Heraldry, Seal: Defense Clandestine Service, Retrieved: 3 July 2015