<p>After I graduate from the USNA (naval academy) I plan on becoming a marine intelligence officer, from there I would like to go to a top business school such as Harvard and obtain an MBA. I would then like to utilize my abilities as a military officer and graduate student at the CIA (I know the pay is not much and I would probably make a grandiose amount of capitol in the private sector but it is something I have an interest in, and as long as I am satisfied and can go to bed at night knowing that I am contributing my talents to a larger cause then it is all worth it). As a federal employee will my time spent in the marines count towards my federal pension and will the military help me to pay off my graduate studies?</p>
<p>i know there are posters here that know more about the military track than I do, but I think DOD funds graduate school for officers. It might even be a requirement to get beyond a certain rank (perhaps O-3?).</p>
<p>I don’t know if an MBA is the right graduate degree to get to move into the CIA, but I’m sure it could be useful there. Perhaps not doing analysis though.</p>
<p>You should also note that there is a lot more to the intelligence world than the CIA. DOD has intelligence agencies as well, staffed with civilians and active duty military, for example.</p>
<p>I don’t know if military service counts toward civilian retirement. You can retire from the military with 20 years though, and move into the civilian world in your low 40s (age-wise).</p>
<p>Yes, military service can roll over into the civil service FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System). You have to purchase credits, though.</p>
<p><a href=“Service Credit”>Service Credit;
<p>CIA has its own retirement system, but it’s likely even more generous than FERS.</p>
<p>thank you guys, your appraisals and help was very helpful</p>