Cryptologic Language Analyst

What does a Cryptologic Language Analyst do?

Employs foreign language skills to collect, transcribe, translate, analyze, and report intelligence information. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 123200.

Duties and responsibilities

• Collection and Processing. Uses foreign language skills to search for, monitor, identify and process communications involving activities of interest. Identifies, tips, transcribes, translates, gists, and summarizes communications, incorporating and emphasizing essential elements of information to convey the meaning of an activity or a situation. Develops techniques to collect, identify, and exploit target communications. Employs knowledge of global communication technologies and communication methods to locate and develop targets.
• Analysis and Production. Analyzes and reports intelligence information consumed by customers within the Air Force, Intelligence Community, DoD, US government, and foreign partners. Provides indications and warnings of adversarial intentions against US or allied interests. Identifies regional and cultural factors associated with activities of interest. Applies critical thinking and analytic methods to gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from multiple sources using language processing/analysis tools. Develops and maintains working aids and analytic references to ensure applicability and currency.
• Processes, exploits, and disseminates intelligence products with threat country or target analysis via written and verbal means to bring threat country or target specificity to commanders and leaders to impact tactical through national decision making processes.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: a designated foreign language; global communication network technologies; global communication methods; collection and processing equipment; collection and analysis techniques; procedures for processing and distributing intelligence data; directives for handling, distributing, and safeguarding military information; tactics, techniques, and procedures of adversary forces; and organization of the national intelligence structure and customers.

Education. For entry into this specialty, prior foreign language education, training or experience is desirable, though not required.

Training. For award of AFSC 1N331X, completion of a designated Cryptologic Language Analyst Initial Skills Course is mandatory.

• Current foreign language proficiency of L2/R2 on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) or Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) equivalent score is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 1N351X. Qualification in and possession of respective AFSC 1N331X and experience performing cryptologic activities. Reference 1N3X1X CFETP for additional requirements.
• 1N371X. Qualification in and possession of respective AFSC 1N351X and experience performing or supervising cryptologic activities. Reference 1N3X1X CFETP for additional requirements.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• No record or history of temporomandibular joint disorder or pain.
• Must obtain minimum score of 75 on the Predictive Success Model (PSM) or demonstrated proficiency in a DoD-trained acquisition language with an L2/R2 or better on the DLPT or OPI equivalent for which accession was approved by AF Career Field Manager (e.g. DLI by-pass).
• Prior Service, who previously held 1N3X1X AFS, and sister-service equivalent members must demonstrate at least L2/R2 on the DLPT within the past 12 months prior to accession.
• Must maintain eligibility to deploy and mobilize worldwide. Airmen who are unable to maintain deployment eligibility or worldwide clearance in excess of 12 months should be considered for retrain or separation.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For award and retention of AFSC 1N3X1X:
• Demonstrated proficiency in a DoD-trained acquisition language with an L2/R2 or better on the DLPT or OPI equivalent for which accession was approved by CFM (e.g. DLI by-pass). Reference 1N3X1X CFETP for Foreign Language Proficiency and Testing requirements.
• Ability to type at a rate of 25 words per minute.
• 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.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs,
• 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 and favorable adjudication of a current T5 Investigation IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program, is mandatory.
• ANG only: Award of entry level without an Interim or adjudicated T5 clearance is authorized provided member has initiated the investigation process and must attend DLI. NOTE: Award of the entry level without a completed T5 Investigation is authorized provided an interim Top Secret security clearance has been granted according to DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $43,570–$125,350 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Broadcast Technicians: $43,570
• General and Operations Managers: $103,650
• Intelligence Analysts: $86,940
• Interpreters and Translators: $52,330
• Political Scientists: $125,350
• Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists: $107,210
• Remote Sensing Technicians: $52,460