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Cryptologic Access Summer Intern Program (CAP)

Have you ever wondered what the term "intercepts" means in newspaper articles about tracking terrorists around the world? How your wireless laptop connects to the Internet? How cell phones work? Why your AM radio brought in a station halfway around the world, even though it was tuned to a local station? How the U.S. knew the location of the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway? If so, you have begun to touch the world of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT).

About the Program
The CAP brings college students into the SIGINT world for internships during the summers after their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. This program permits such students to actively participate in or support on-going SIGINT Collection operations that satisfy national intelligence needs. As a CAP Intern, you will work directly under the guidance of veteran SIGINT Collection professionals managing specific collection operations; have the opportunity to travel to a SIGINT field site (funds permitting); and work with a senior mentor to develop career aspirations in the Cryptologic Access arena.

CAP Interns will be hired on a Temporary Appointment for a term no more than 12 weeks following the beginning of the internship. A subsequent application is required to participate in the program in later summers during the intern's undergraduate career.

Application Deadline
Applications are accepted September 1st - November 15th each year.

Salary
Interns are paid a competitive salary commensurate with their education level.

Benefits

  • Receive annual leave, sick leave and paid federal holidays
  • Participation in agency-wide extracurricular programs
  • Students who attend schools in excess of 75 miles from Ft. Meade, MD, are eligible for a round trip airfare ticket to and from school or mileage reimbursement up to the cost of a government-issued airline ticket.
  • Subsidized housing accommodations are available upon request if school is located in excess of 75 miles from NSA main HQs campus

Qualifications

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Must be eligible to be granted a security clearance
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred
  • Must be a college freshman, sophomore or junior
  • Prior military experience beneficial, but not required
  • Students majoring in technical fields such as Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Physics, or Math are preferred;
  • There are many aspects of collection to which one's skills or career aspirations might be applied. The collection requirements process and updates to our collection posture against an adversary or target country/region might suit a student majoring in International Studies, while the development of solutions to new technologies would better suit those majoring in the more technical fields.
  • Must be available for an operational interview and other applicable processing between the months of January and April 2013

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted on or before November 15th. Applications received after the deadline, as well as incomplete packages, will not be considered.

To submit a resume online during open season, click any “Apply Online” link. Under “Basic Job Search,” type in keywords “Cryptologic Access Summer Intern Program” and click on “Search.” Select “Cryptologic Access Summer Intern Program” and click “Apply Now.” Follow the directions as prompted.

To be considered for the Cryptologic Access Summer Intern Program, you must submit a complete application package that includes:

  • Official transcript (unofficial is acceptable if legible)
  • A resume

IMPORTANT:  When applying online, you may only submit your resume.  Please email the requested documentation to cap@nsa.gov or by mail at the following address:
National Security Agency
Office of Recruitment
P.O. Box 1661, Suite 6779
Fort Meade, MD  20755-6779
Attn:  MB3, Cryptologic Access Program

Applications are not complete without the requested documentation.

Questions
If you have questions about the Cryptologic Access Program, please contact us at the address above or call 1-866-NSA-HIRE.  You may also e-mail ljmcwee@nsa.gov or call (410) 854-4726.

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Date Posted: Jan 15, 2009 | Last Modified: Oct 03, 2011 | Last Reviewed: Oct 03, 2011

 
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