This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as an Intelligence Specialist (IS) during the Fiscal Year 2025.
Some intel you find. Some you piece together. Some saves lives.
As an Intelligence Specialist, you track enemy moves, decode signals, analyze maps, and pull it all into reports that shape missions. You make sure we see threats before they see us.
Miss something? People pay for it. Get it right? You keep the fleet ready, the mission on track, and the fight in our favor.
You in?
Job Description
Intel drives everything.
Intelligence Specialists (IS) break down threats before they break us. They track, analyze, and report on enemy movements, terrain, signals, and anything else commanders need to know. Their work shapes missions. It decides who goes where, when, and how.
IS Sailors work on big-deck ships, with aircraft squadrons, and inside intel hubs worldwide. Sometimes they work in teams, sometimes alone, always with the weight of real-world decisions on their shoulders.
Only a few make the cut. About 2,200 serve in this rating. They don’t just process intel. They turn it into action.
What You’ll Do
- Break down intel—sift through classified data, analyze patterns, and deliver clear assessments.
- Build the big picture—overlay maps, charts, and recon data to find threats before they find us.
- Run recon ops—plan, execute, and analyze photographic and surveillance missions.
- Fuel combat strategy—give commanders the intelligence they need to strike first and strike smart.
- Work the networks—use secure systems to send and receive critical info from land, air, and sea.
Navy Intelligence Officers run the show, but ISs make sure they have what they need to call the right shots.
Different Roles
All-Source Intelligence Analyst – Cyber
Tracks enemy cyber operations. Gathers intel from different sources—SIGINT, HUMINT, OSINT—to build the bigger picture. Interprets threats and figures out what they mean for Navy missions. Answers Requests for Information (RFIs) and sends intel collection requests to national assets. Supports combatant commanders and fleet operations by predicting cyber threats before they happen.
Geospatial Intelligence Analyst
Uses satellite and drone imagery to map out enemy locations, infrastructure, and movement. Spots hidden threats—camouflage, deception tactics, new weapon systems. Provides real-time data on battlefields, strike zones, and potential landing sites. Supports everything from strike missions to humanitarian relief, creating the intel that guides warfighters.
Operational Intelligence Analyst
Stays on constant watch for global threats. Monitors enemy movements, intercepts signals, and provides Indications and Warnings (I&W) to keep the fleet ahead of danger. Supports tactical and strategic planning with predictive analysis. Conducts counterintelligence operations and protects classified networks.
Strike Warfare Intelligence Analyst
Targets. Tracks. Strikes. These analysts provide the intel behind precision missile strikes and air raids. They help build target folders, assess enemy defenses, and guide Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) operations. After the attack, they conduct Battle Damage Assessments (BDA) to confirm success and adjust tactics for the next mission.
Rank Structure
Pay Grade | Rate | Abbreviation | Title |
---|---|---|---|
E-1 | Seaman Recruit | SR | Seaman Recruit |
E-2 | Seaman Apprentice | SA | Seaman Apprentice |
E-3 | Seaman | SN | Seaman |
E-4 | Intelligence Specialist Third Class | IS3 | Petty Officer Third Class |
E-5 | Intelligence Specialist Second Class | IS2 | Petty Officer Second Class |
E-6 | Intelligence Specialist First Class | IS1 | Petty Officer First Class |
E-7 | Chief Intelligence Specialist | ISC | Chief Petty Officer |
E-8 | Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist | ISCS | Senior Chief Petty Officer |
E-9 | Master Chief Intelligence Specialist | ISCM | Master Chief Petty Officer |
Salary and Benefits
Salary for the First 6 Years
Monthly pay for Navy enlisted Sailors (E-1 to E-6) in the first six years is laid out in the January 2025 Active Duty Pay chart:
Pay Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
E-1 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 |
E-2 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 |
E-3 | $2,484.60 | $2,640.60 | $2,800.80 | $2,800.80 | $2,800.80 |
E-4 | $2,752.20 | $2,892.90 | $3,049.80 | $3,204.30 | $3,341.40 |
E-5 | $3,001.50 | $3,203.70 | $3,358.80 | $3,517.20 | $3,763.80 |
E-6 | $3,276.60 | $3,606.00 | $3,765.00 | $3,919.80 | $4,080.60 |
Extra Pays and Allowances
Housing Allowance (BAH):
For members living off-base. Covers rent, based on rank, location, and if they have dependents.
Subsistence Allowance (BAS):
Enlisted get $465.77 monthly for food.
Hazard Duty Pay:
For dangerous jobs. Pays $150-$250 per month, depending on the job.
Sea Pay:
For those assigned to ships or deployed units. Depends on rank and time at sea, from $50 to $750 a month.
Special and Incentive Pays:
Bonuses for certain roles, like air traffic control or unique skills. These can be a few hundred to thousands per year.
Source: Figures are from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Benefits
- Healthcare: Active-duty personnel are eligible for free complete medical and dental treatment. Tricare programs are inexpensive for families to use.
- Housing Accomodation: Depending on location, rank, and family size, free on-base accommodation or a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) for off-base living are available.
- Food: Monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for food costs is known as the “food allowance.”
- Blended Retirement System (BRS): Conventional pensions are no longer available to active-duty personnel. Rather:
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Up to 5% in government matching and automatic contributions.
- Retirement Pay: After 20 years of service, you’re eligible for monthly payments according on the BRS formula, which combines TSP savings with a calculated pension.
- Education:
- Availability of tuition assistance programs that pay for all or part of college tuition.
- Support for higher education under the post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Navy College Program to support education while on service.
- Life Insurance: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides coverage up to $500,000.
- Vacation: ten or more federal holidays plus thirty days of paid vacation each year.
- Extra Benefits:
- Exchanges and commissaries provide tax-free purchasing.
- Discounted travel via military resorts, access to fitness centers, and leisure amenities.
Training and Career Opportunities
Training Path
After Boot Camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, you’ll report for specialized training, including:
Class “A” Technical School
- Location: Dam Neck, VA
- Length: 13 weeks
- Training Includes: Intelligence administration, operational intelligence, briefing, maps and charts, computer software skills, and typing tests.
Once training is complete, you could be stationed on large ships, aircraft squadrons, intelligence centers, or Joint Commands in the U.S. or overseas. Intelligence Specialists typically spend 50% of their career at sea.
Advanced Training & Specialization
After initial training, you may attend Class “C” Advanced Training (5-13 weeks) for specialized intelligence procedures and equipment. Some ISs go straight from “A” School into advanced training pipelines.
Promotion & Career Growth
Promotions are performance-based and competitive. With experience and a degree, Officer roles may be an option, opening leadership opportunities.
Post-Service Opportunities
Your intelligence training and security clearance can translate into civilian careers in:
- Cybersecurity & Intelligence Analysis
- Government & Defense Contracting
- Law Enforcement & Federal Agencies
The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends college credits for courses taken in this rating, covering math, photography, technical writing, drafting, and computer concepts.
Qualifications to Join
To become an Intelligence Specialist (IS) in the Navy, you’ll need to meet the following qualifications:
Basic Requirements:
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (no dual citizenship)
- Security Clearance: Must be eligible for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance (SSBI Tier 5 investigation)
- Vision: Must be correctable to 20/20 with normal color perception
Skills & Attributes:
- Strong speaking, writing, and record-keeping abilities
- Math aptitude and ability to process highly detailed information
- Analytical mindset, curiosity, and interest in intelligence/data
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
ASVAB Score Requirements:
- VE + AR + MK + GS = 215 (No waivers authorized)
Additional Screening for Conversions (PACT/Lateral/Forced):
If you are already enlisted and seeking to convert to IS, you must:
- Submit a 1306 request for conversion
- Provide a PRIMS readout
- Submit three evaluations (or all available, if less than three)
- Complete a pre-screening interview (PSI) with the Regional Special Security Officer (RSSO)
Family Considerations:
- Immediate family members must be U.S. citizens
- If family members are foreign nationals, they must be from low-threat countries listed in ICD 704
ISs must qualify for continuous access to sensitive information, requiring a security reinvestigation every five years.
The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2025, per the Navy Personnel Command. This information is not readily available to the public. So, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter for the most current requirements to join the Navy as an enlisted Sailor.
More Information
If you wish to learn more about becoming an Intelligence Specialist (IS), contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.
You may also be interested in the following related Navy Enlisted jobs: