Follow-up Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Efforts to Hire, Train,
and Retain Intelligence Analysts
Audit Report 07-30
April 2007
Office of the Inspector General
Based on our previous audit report survey and field office interviews, during the current audit we compiled a list of questions to ask intelligence analysts (IA) and their supervisors. The questions were intended to obtain information on a limited judgmental sample of analysts and analysts supervisors concerning their views, opinions, experiences, demographics, and suggestions on the FBIs current recruitment, hiring, training, and retention practices. The answers to the questionnaire are in italics.
Intelligence Analysts Questionnaire
Name:
Current grade:
GS-7 6
GS-9 13
GS-11 15
GS-12 16
GS-13 6
GS-14 4
Assigned location:
Headquarters 20
Detroit 10
Los Angeles 10
Miami 10
New York 10
Current division within the FBI:
Counterterrorism 21
Counterintelligence 15
Counterintelligence 5
Criminal Investigation 12
Cyber 4
Directorate of Intelligence 3
Name of supervisor(s): variable
Work experience prior to the IA position:
FBI 19
Government 8
Military 3
School 8
Private Sector - 22
When did you become a GS-132 intelligence analyst at the FBI?
2006 8
2005 17
2004 15
2003 5
Prior to 2002 15
What was your GS level when you became a GS-132?
GS-7 15
GS-9 22
GS-11 16
GS-12 5
GS-13 2
What is your highest educational level (High School, Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, or Law)?
High School 4
Associates 1
Bachelors 25
Masters 20
Doctorate 2
Law 8
Do you have any critical language skills? If so, at what language and level? Have you received language testing at the FBI?
Yes 12
Of those who answered yes, 2 were tested.
Are you a Presidential Management Fellow?
Yes 3
Did you have military intelligence experience prior to becoming a FBI Intelligence Analyst?
Yes 3
Did you have U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) experience prior to becoming an FBI Intelligence Analyst? If so, where and for how long?
Of the 9 who answered yes, 5 had prior USIC experience, and
4 worked with the FBI prior to becoming an intelligence analyst.
How closely do your expectations of the IA job prior to your start match the work you do now? Feel free to explain (i.e., is the job what you thought it would be).
Very Closely 13
Closely 16
Somewhat Closely 17
Not Closely 11
Not at all Closely 3
In the average month in the last year, what percentage of your time did you spend on each of the following categories of work?
Type of work |
0-24% |
25-49% |
50-74% |
75-100% |
Work requiring analytical skills |
5 |
13 |
24 |
8 |
Program management (Tasks often performed by Headquarters, e.g., getting approval for warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Act (FISA). May also refer to providing expert advice to aid in intelligence collection.) |
33 |
15 |
6 |
4 |
Administrative duties related to your role (all-source analysts, reports officers, or operations specialists.) |
22 |
19 |
6 |
1 |
Administrative duties not related to your job role |
55 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Other (please specify) |
15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
How satisfied are you with the types of work assignments you receive?
Extremely Satisfied 8
Very Satisfied 18
Satisfied 26
Unsatisfied 6
Very Unsatisfied 2
On which of the following have you worked in the last 3 months?
Intelligence Information Report |
29 |
Intelligence Bulletin |
15 |
Intelligence Assessment |
33 |
Presidential Terrorism Threat Report |
0 |
Director’s Daily Report |
6 |
Developing a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA) package |
8 |
Managing the approval of a FISA package |
3 |
Reviewing FISA take |
14 |
Threat assessment |
40 |
Asset validation review |
11 |
Source Validation |
13 |
Vetting new informants |
12 |
Electronic Communication (EC) on intelligence topics |
41 |
Intelligence research to support specific field office cases |
47 |
Background checks, name checks, and related research |
41 |
Telephone analysis |
32 |
Taskings from the Directorate of Intelligence |
16 |
Administrative duties related to your job |
48 |
Administrative duties NOT related to your job (please provide examples) |
23 |
Other (please specify) |
11 |
None |
0 |
How often do you think special agents understand the functions and capabilities of an intelligence analyst?
Very often 3
Often 12
Sometimes 33
Rarely 10
Not at all 1
N/A 1
How intellectually challenging is your work as an FBI intelligence analyst?
Very challenging 15
Challenging 34
Unchallenging 8
Very unchallenging 3
Based on your work as an FBI intelligence analyst, rate your level of contribution to the mission of the FBI.
Very high 15
High 23
Average 21
Below average 0
Low 1
Are there any terms currently used to describe intelligence analysts (such as support staff)? If so, do these terms evoke a negative feeling in you when heard?
Yes 32
No 28
Did you attend the introductory analyst training at the FBIs College of Analytical Studies? Which one ACES I or II or Cohort?
ACES 44
Cohort 11
Introductory class before ACES 1
Scheduled to take ACES 3
No Scheduled 1
When did you attend the CAS?
Year
2003 2
2004 7
2005 29
2006 18
How well did the introductory analyst training meet your expectations for helping you do your job?
Greatly exceeded expectations 1
Exceeded expectations 2
Met expectations 20
Did not meet expectations 21
Completely failed to meet expectations 12
In reference to the introductory analysts training, what should be improved upon?*
Specialized training (specifically job roles) 8
Practical exercises for practical skills (intelligence analysts job tasks) - 24
Length of class was too long 16
More interaction with special agents 5
Poor technology 4
Feedback ignored 2
What was done well?*
Networking 6
CIA presentations 14
Overview of FBI presentations 2
Case Agent/Case Group exercise 12
IIR training, Title III training 5
What do you remember most from the training?*
Networking 29
CIA courses 3
Certain courses analytical skills, Briggs test, Title III, IIR writing 20
* Due to the number of different responses, we listed the most common.
Do you believe the class was taught by knowledgeable personnel with relevant experience? If not, please explain.
Yes 36
No 3
Some 17
How satisfied are you with the promotion process for FBI intelligence analysts?
Extremely satisfied 3
Very satisfied 6
Satisfied 18
Unsatisfied 10
Very unsatisfied 9
N/A 14
How likely is it that you will stay with the FBI as an intelligence analyst for the next five years?
Very likely 26
Likely 13
Unlikely 8
Very unlikely 4
Dont know 9
If you responded unlikely or very unlikely, please explain why and what would make you stay. If you responded very likely or likely, why? If you responded dont know, what are your deciding factors?*
Reasons to stay
Likes working for the FBI 3
Satisfying job 2
Reasons to leave
Lack of career path, career track, career potential 4
Intelligence program needs to continue to grow 2
Difficulty of transferring to other divisions/units 2
Incorrect positioning 4*
With regard to the entire hiring process, including the background investigation, did you experience any problems or complications? If so, please explain.
No 34
Yes 26
Some examples of problems
Too long of a process
Forms/information lost
FBI did not accept other government clearances
Difficulty transferring from agent to analyst
Not informed of duty location until arrival at training (first day on the job)
Many were misinformed by points of contact (grade level, tuition reimbursement)
* Due to the number of different responses, we listed the most common.
How much time did it take from your background investigation until your entry on duty date?
3-5 months 13
6-8 months 17
9-11 months 7
1 year 5
Already in the government 13
Could not remember 5
Identify any impediments in the hiring process that affect the FBIs ability to hire analysts as quickly as possible and the FBIs ability to hire the best-qualified candidates. How could they be improved?*
Salary 14
Limited signing bonuses 3
Unreliable point of contact 13
Complicated Quickhire 7
Attitude of support 1
Difficult promotion process 3
Long background checks 10
Strict drug policy 2
Administrative hurdles 5
Are there any additional comments you would like to give concerning the hiring, training, utilization, and retention of intelligence analysts?*
Intelligence analysts not hired in the last couple of years would like to see financial incentives not geared toward new hires 7
New hires were promised higher grade levels than received - 5
Higher salary 5
Improved structure of the analyst program and promotion process 9
Better training 8
Lack of tools, including IT 2
Many analysts leave for contractors because of better pay 1
Poor placement of analysts 3
Directorate of Intelligence policies and guidance change daily 1
Better transfer policy 4
* Due to the number of different responses, we listed the most common.
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