Inside CIA Training: Revealing The Secrets of The Farm | @Andrew-Bustamante x @Koncrete

Summary

The speaker discusses their experience with an intelligence agency, detailing two types of training: introductory and specialized, often in classified locations. They emphasize 'Just in Time' learning, where skills are immediately applied under pressure. The speaker's career involved traditional and covert operations, with a focus on Asia, requiring social skills to collect intelligence from targets worldwide. Their role involved building operations to meet targets and gather crucial information, often in disguise, leading to a decision to leave the agency for family considerations.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker underwent introductory training specific to their role, which could range from being a targeter, field officer, tech officer, to a hacker, and the duration of such trainings is often classified.
• 🌳 Training at 'the farm' is a comprehensive course that equips individuals to operate independently in the field.
• 🔍 Further specialized training is provided based on the environment the officer is expected to operate in, such as desert, jungle, or urban settings.
• 🚀 The training process follows 'Just in Time' learning, where skills are taught and immediately applied in high-stress exercises to simulate real-world scenarios.
• ⏱️ Skills are tested under time constraints and real risk, which is a stark contrast to the more relaxed learning environment of a college.
• 🚫 Personal operational backgrounds and specific assignments are often classified, making it difficult to share detailed experiences.
• 🌍 Not all officers are immediately deployed; some may start with learning special skills or working with joint military operations in locations like Southern Florida.
• 🔄 The speaker's career path included traditional overseas and domestic assignments before transitioning to a covert action role in 2012, influenced by developments in counterterrorism and counter nuclear proliferation.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The decision to leave the agency was influenced by the birth of their child and the potential impact on their family life due to the nature of their work.
• 🌏 The speaker specialized in Asia, which led to assignments across various regions, including Latin America, Central America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, in pursuit of targets.
• 🎯 The role involved social skills and cultural understanding to build operations for meeting targets who possess secret information of interest to the American government.

Q & A

What are the two types of training mentioned in the transcript?

The two types of training mentioned are introductory training based on one's skill set and specific training tailored to the environment or mission, such as desert or jungle operations.

What is the term used to describe the training process where skills are taught and immediately applied in an exercise?

The term used is 'Just in Time' training, which emphasizes immediate application of newly learned skills in a real or simulated scenario.

What is the purpose of 'Just in Time' learning in the context of the training described?

The purpose of 'Just in Time' learning is to enhance the trainee's ability to process information and perform under pressure, simulating real-world conditions where stakes are high.

Can you explain the concept of a 'real risk scenario' in the training?

A 'real risk scenario' is a training exercise where the trainee faces actual consequences for failure, such as not being able to continue training if they cannot complete a task within a set time.

What does the speaker imply about the difference between 'Just in Time' training and traditional college education?

The speaker implies that 'Just in Time' training is more intense and practical, with immediate application and high stakes, unlike traditional college education which may lack the same level of urgency and real-world application.

What is the term for the first overseas assignment typically given to agency personnel?

The term used is not explicitly mentioned, but it is implied that the first assignments can vary, including learning special skills, working with joint military operations, or being stationed at headquarters.

What kind of assignments might someone receive after their initial training with the agency?

Assignments can range from working with joint military operations, practicing specific skills in locations like Southern Florida, staying at headquarters, or taking tours with other agencies like the FBI or NSA.

What was the speaker's career path like before transitioning to a covert action role?

The speaker's career path included traditional overseas and domestic assignments before being shifted into a special ops covert action role in 2012 due to developments in counterterrorism and counter nuclear proliferation.

Why did the speaker and their spouse decide to leave the agency?

They decided to leave because they had a child and did not want to potentially sacrifice their marriage and parenting experience for a career in a secret intelligence organization.

What was the speaker's area of specialization and how did it affect their assignments?

The speaker specialized in Asia, which led to assignments in various parts of the world, including Latin America, Central America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, as they chased targets globally.

What roles did the speaker and their spouse have within their operations?

The speaker's spouse was a 'targeter,' responsible for finding targets with access to secret information needed by the U.S. government, while the speaker's role was to build operations to meet and collect information from these targets.