The battlefields of today are far different than they were a generation ago. Threats come from a diverse group of actors whose motives, networks, and leadership structure are often murky at best. In response to this changing landscape of global conflict, counterterrorism professionals are in high demand. If you are interested in serving and protecting the United States by helping to combat terrorism, you should have an idea of the responsibilities and skills required to be a counterterrorism analyst.
Responsibilities
Counterterrorism analysts, as the name suggests, are responsible for analyzing, understanding, and relaying information on terrorist groups around the world. The job entails sifting through intelligence data to understand what is relevant and what isn't, then formulating a reasoned assessment of a terrorist group's plans and abilities, as well as their motivations, operational structure, and ties to other groups or nation states. Counterterrorism analysts take this data and produce detailed reports, both written and oral, that enable the national security apparatus to identify and preempt attacks on American interests at home and abroad.