Signals Intelligence

What does the Signals Intelligence career field do?

Acquires, processes, identifies, analyzes, and reports on electromagnetic emissions. Operates electronic equipment and computer systems to exploit signals intelligence production efforts. Related DOD Occupational Subgroup: 123100.

Duties and responsibilities

• Operates computer terminals for data entry, query, data restructuring, and signals development. Interprets and performs preliminary analysis to identify, validate, or verify signal data. Uses analytical aids and related reference material to help identify signals and detect abnormalities. Generates reports, incorporating analytical finds with intelligence information. Develops, manages, reviews, and evaluates signals intelligence production processes. Ensures signal exploitation activities are conducted in support of warfighter requirements and national and tactical tasked objectives. Supports intelligence agencies including the National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Maintains databases of various signal types and activities using computer and hard copy products. Satisfies tasking, managing resources for SIGINT activities. Notifies appropriate personnel and work centers of unusual activities or critical situations.
• Processes and disseminates SIGINT products and conducts analysis concerning threat countries or targets of interest via written and/or verbal means. These products provide specificity and knowledge to commanders and national leaders to impact tactical through strategic-level decision making processes.
• Electronic Non-Communications Analyst (1N2X1A) Performs Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) activities and operations. Executes operator and analyst duties and non-communications signals exploitation to support targeting, Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), and Information Operations (IO). Utilizes a wide range of complex analysis hardware and software to observe the electromagnetic spectrum and process, manipulate, and extract intelligence data from electromagnetic emissions to identify, validate, or verify signal data. Collection and Processing. Collects, analyzes, and identifies non-communication networks. Identifies various external signal parametrics and performs application of target identification for reporting to national databases. Operates electronic search and related equipment. Searches, monitors and exploits signal activity throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Extracts electromagnetic emissions from real-time and recorded media and performs technical and data analysis. Prepares and forwards media of selected transmissions Electronic Intelligence. Assembles operational and technical information on Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and Electromagnetic Warfare (EW). Collects, processes, analyzes, and identifies operational and technical parametric characteristics of electronic signals through collection and processing of non-communication signals; as related to radar, weapons, or platforms. Evaluates records, operator logs, formats technical reports, and data from other activities and correlates the activity with other intelligence sources. Plans, organizes, and directs electromagnetic signals exploitation activities. Disseminates highly perishable information supporting CCMD/Theater/National Requirements. Annotates and forwards operational and technical characteristics of selected transmissions or reportable information.
• Signals Analyst (1N2X1C) Performs Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) activities and operations. Conducts identification, validation and/or verification of signals data. Executes operator and analyst duties to exploit non-communication and communication intelligence production activities in support of Air Force and joint targeting processes, Cyber Network Operations (CNO), and Information Operations (IO). Utilizes a wide range of complex analysis hardware and software including receivers, demodulators, spectrum analyzers, and other associated computer equipment to process, manipulate, and extract signals intelligence data. Collection and Processing. Collects, analyzes, and identifies communications and non-communication signals and updates national databases. Extracts electromagnetic emissions from real-time and recorded media, and performs technical, protocol, and data analysis. Prepares and forwards media of selected transmissions Signals Analysis. Assembles operational and technical information on Communication Intelligence (COMINT), Foreign Instrumentation Intelligence (FISINT), and PROFORMA networks. Collects, displays, analyzes, demodulates, demultiplexes, identifies, and reports non-communication and communication signals and their users found in the radio frequency spectrum. Performs analysis and identification of known and unknown protocol and communication signals in support of Cyber Network Operations (CNO). Uses graphic and electronic analysis to determine internal and external signal characteristics and to discern communications structures, extracting actionable intelligence. Disseminates highly perishable information supporting Combatant Command/Theater/National requirements.

Specialty qualifications

Electronic Non-Communications Analyst (1N2X1A)

• Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: intelligence and cryptologic support operations provided to commanders, service cryptologic elements, and national agencies; joint service relationships and operational concepts; tasking strategies; non-communications networks, radio wave propagation; modulation theory and techniques; radar theory, fundamentals of physics, functions and operations of electronic equipment; reporting formats and procedures; basic computer operations; directives for handling, distributing, and protecting defense information; and electronic principles applicable to collection and analysis; missions and functions of ELINT, EMSO, IO, and EW related to SIGINT operations.
• Education: For entry into this specialty, award of high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalency, with courses in electronics, mechanics, physics, algebra, trigonometry, and computers is desirable.
• Education. For entry into this specialty, award of high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalency, with courses in electronics, physics, algebra, trigonometry, and computers is desirable.
• Training:
• For award of AFSC 1N2X1A, completion of the Electronic Signals Intelligence course is mandatory.
• For U.S. Space Force, completion of the Electronic Signals Intelligence course and Space Warfighter Intelligence Formal Training Unit is mandatory until replaced by new courses as determined by US Space Force.
• Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
• 1N251A. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1N231A.
• 1N271A. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1N251A.

Signals Analyst (1N2X1C):

• Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: intelligence and cryptologic support operations provided to commanders, service cryptologic elements, combat support agencies, and national agencies; joint service relationships and operational concepts; tasking strategies; communications and non-communications networks, radio wave propagation; modulation theory and techniques; radio communication procedures, functions and operations of electronic equipment; reporting formats and procedures; basic computer operations; directives for handling, distributing, and protecting defense information; and electronic principles applicable to collection and analysis; missions and functions of COMINT, FISINT, PROFORMA, and IO related to SIGINT operations.
• Education. For entry into this specialty, award of high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalency, with courses in statistics, algebra, and geometry are desirable in electronics, physics, algebra, trigonometry, and computers is desirable.
• Training:
• For award of AFSC 1N2X1C, completion of the Signals Analysis Course is mandatory.
• For U.S. Space Force, completion of the Signals Analysis Course and Space Warfighter Intelligence Formal Training Unit is mandatory until replaced by new courses as determined by US Space Force.
• Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
• 1N251C. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1N231C.
• 1N271C. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1N251C.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this 1N2X1X specialty:
• See attachment 4 for additional requirements.
• For award and retention of AFSC 1N2X1X:
• When required for a current or future assignment, Airmen must successfully complete a Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph or meet all customer access eligibility requirements. After 12 months from the date of requirement, Airmen who fail to successfully complete a polygraph or do not meet mission, system, and/or facility access eligibility requirements should be considered for retraining or separation.
• Must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• Specialty requires routine access to Tier 5 (T5) information, systems, or similar classified environment.
• Completion of a current T5 Investigation IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program, is mandatory. NOTE: Initial attendance in 1N2X1A/C AFSC awarding course without a completed T5 Investigation is authorized provided an interim T5 eligibility has been granted IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405. Airmen who cannot obtain at least an Interim T5 for programmed class-start are not eligible for entry into the AFSC. Award of the entry level without a completed T5 clearance is authorized provided an interim Top Secret/SCI eligibility has been granted by the DoD Central Adjudication Facility.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $43,570–$151,150 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Broadcast Technicians: $43,570
• Computer and Information Systems Managers: $151,150
• Database Administrators: $98,860
• Digital Forensics Analysts: $92,870
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians: $67,550
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment:$ 62,010
• Intelligence Analysts: $86,940
• Operations Research Analysts: $86,200
• Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists: $107,210
• Remote Sensing Technicians: $52,460
• Sound Engineering Technicians: $53,520