The NGA Active Duty Military Personnel Support team, known as the J1, consists of highly skilled active-duty military and civilian personnel who provide leadership, direct support and guidance to the agency’s Military Personnel Management Office, Human Development Directorate, and the Director of Operations and staff.

J1 oversees and executes all military personnel human resources programs to ensure NGA-assigned military members maximize their talents to accomplish NGA’s mission. The team takes a customer-centric approach to deliver the highest levels of care, attention, support and satisfaction.

The team provides support to programs, policies and processes, strategic initiatives and daily operations to optimize the use of all active duty and full-time reserve military personnel assigned to NGA.

Active duty personnel may be assigned to NGA as part of the regular assignment process. Certain career fields are eligible for the Military Service Intern Program, which includes the Geospatial Career Advancement and Junior Officer GEOINT programs.

The NGA Reserve Integration team consists of highly skilled military and civilian personnel who provide leadership, direct support and guidance for the Reserve Military Intelligence forces.

Reserve Integration partners with multiple organizations to incorporate Reserve Component personnel into the workforce to support multiple GEOINT missions and other operational requirements.

Reserve Integration executes three core capabilities:

• Full-time reservists (NGA-funded or Service-funded full-time orders)
• Traditional drilling reservists
• Outreach partners, external reserve component intelligence units supporting NGA missions

NGA Traditional Drilling Reserve Program

Army and Air Force Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA) and Navy Reserve Units perform the following:

• 1 weekend per month, 2 weeks per year
• Flex drills to align with mission need
• Joint Mission support

All reserve requirements are reviewed annually and modified as needed to support Agency directives.

NGA Full-Time Reserve Program

On average, over 100 reservists are funded to provide full-time GEOINT support.

• Annual data call for Reserve Support requirements via eReserve (March)
• Process enables re-validation and prioritization of enduring requirements
• Funded by NGA or Services

NGA Reserve Outreach Program

NGA funds one reservist at a partner site in return for a partner unit's contributory drilling support.

Program objectives include:

• Identifying Reserve Component Intelligence Enterprise (RCIE) capability and talent to actively support the GEOINT enterprise
• Incorporating the RCIE to support NGA mission increases GEOINT talent
• Developing analytical tradecraft, knowledge base and innovation
• Supporting missions focused on predicting opportunity and anticipating threats
• Delivering trusted GEOINT to the end-user

Reservists may be assigned to a Reserve billet at NGA, serve on full-time MPA orders at NGA, and/or may serve in a traditional Reserve unit that partners with NGA.

The Military Service Intern Program is the DoD’s premier GEOINT program that develops highly qualified military GEOINT managers and technical experts to conduct National System for Geospatial Intelligence missions in support of national decision makers, warfighters, and national security. The MSIP is comprised of three programs: the Junior Officer GEOINT Program, the Warrant Officer GEOINT Program, and the GEOINT Career Advancement Program.

MSIP staff coordinates with each services’ career field and talent management entities to select participants, and oversees each MSIP fellow’s academic progress, work rotations, and overall development into a GEOINT leader. For program graduates, the MSIP staff advocates for their placement into a mission-critical position where they can utilize their new GEOINT skills.

The MSIP is designed to develop a cadre of highly qualified GEOINT military professionals through individualized development plans designed to meet the needs of the services and the NGA and NSG missions. Fellows will complete 24-months (Marines) or 36-months (Army, Air Force and Space Force) of mission-essential training and individually tailored NGA operational assignments.

Fellows will expand their knowledge and skills in analysis, collection management, GEOINT, reporting and dissemination, research, and support to military and intelligence community operational disciplines. Interns will gain an in-depth understanding of GEOINT relationships within the intelligence community and the ability to train others in the tradecrafts they have learned.

Upon selection for the program, all interns will complete an Individualized Development Plan that are tailored to meet the participant’s previous assignment experience, skill level, and career development objectives.

Junior Officer GEOINT Program (JOGP)

The JOGP is an internship that allows uniformed intelligence and engineer warrant officers to work alongside NGA's senior service leaders and lead GEOINT teams while supporting our national decision makers. Each JOGP intern will receive mentorship from NGA senior analysts and leaders while continuing to build their tactical skillsets.

Warrant Officer GEOINT Program (WOGP)

The WOGP is an internship that allows uniformed intelligence and engineer warrant officers to significantly advance their leadership and management skills through a combination of tailored on-the-job work experience and National Geospatial-Intelligence College course work. Each WOGP intern will receive mentorship from NGA senior analysts and leaders while continuing to build their tactical skillsets through strategic lessons in order to conduct the missions around the NSG.

GEOINT Career Advancement Program

The GCAP is an internship designed for uniformed enlisted military geospatial intelligence analysts, imagery analysts, targeteers, and engineers to significantly advance their technical and managerial skills through a combination of on-the-job work experience and National Geospatial-Intelligence College course work. Each GCAP Intern will be afforded opportunities to work alongside NGA analysts and agency mentors while advancing their understanding of sensor phenomenology, collection management, and geospatial information systems.

All applicants must:

• Have a record of sustained superior performance and be capable of meeting the program requirements as well as the requirements set by their respective Service Branch.
• Be a Geospatial/Imagery Analyst, Targeteer, Engineer, or Intelligence Officer Graduate from one of the military service's basic qualification training schools.
• Have at least one previous operational assignment in relevant career field.
• Obtain an Active Duty Service Obligation (exact length depends on Service) following graduation.
• Not have other voluntary assignment applications pending (OTS, AECP, etc.) or have received PCS orders.
• See service career field manager/branch manager for specific application details.

Air Force JOGP applicants:

• Be an O2-O3 with a record of outstanding performance.
• Active duty 14N AFSC.
• Have no less than 4 years and no more than 10 years of total active commissioned military service.
• Selected during July 14N DT Board.

Air Force GCAP applicants:

• Be an E4-E5 with a record of outstanding performance (E6 applicants will be vetted on a case by case basis).
• Active duty 1N1 or 1N8 (Pilot program) AFSC.
• Have no less than 4 years and no more than 12 years of total active military service.

Army JOGP applicants:

• Active Component 35-Series Career Field / Key Developmental complete MI officers in eligible cohort year group.
• Active Component 12-Series Career Field / Key Developmental complete EN officers in eligible cohort year group.
• Refer to annual MilPer message.

Army GCAP applicants:

• Active duty 35G MOS or 12Y MOS.
• E5 or E6 - with a record of outstanding past performance.
• Have no less than 5 years and no more than 12 years of total active military service.
• OCONUS Applicants must complete at least 5/6 of their tour before reporting date.
• CONUS Applicants must have a minimum of 18 months TOS.

Marine Corps JOGP applicants:

• Active duty 0202 Intelligence (Military Occupational Specialty) MOS – 03-04
• Active duty 1302 Combat Engineer MOS – 03-04.

For question abouts the military service intern program:

Email: MSIP@nga.mil
Phone: 571-558-7766

The DoD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for military service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180-days of service. SkillBridge links service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences. For industry partners, SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and leverage the world’s most highly-trained and motivated workforce at no cost. SkillBridge can help military service members connect their end-of-service with the beginning of a civilian career.

If you have the desire to continue to serve your nation in unique ways after separation from the military but aren’t familiar with an agency work environment, and have the drive to receive a first-rate experience in civil service to advance your future career within the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) – then Yes. NGA is seeking highly-qualified individuals to help provide support for its multitude of missions and roles of which it’s charged.

From Imagery Analysts to Data Surveyors, IT & Cyber Engineers to Network Security Professionals, and many occupations in between will be considered. While applying for SkillBridge with NGA, you’ll have the opportunity to express your background experiences, education, training and certifications, and career knowledge to ensure a proper alignment onto a select team. 

Due to the nature of content a member can be exposed to, only individuals retaining an adjudicated Top Secret clearance will be accepted into the NGA SkillBridge program, along with a counter-intelligence (CI) polygraph exam prior to arriving or within 30-days of arrival to NGA facilities. If these criteria cannot be met/passed, the member will return to their previous duty station.

Supervisors and managers of accepted applicants will tailor training and enhance the member’s understanding of their field to which they’re assigned. Additionally, real-world, unclassified or classified mission experience and understanding of the inter-departmental functions of the Intelligence Community will be garnered.

A main benefit of NGA is having the world-leading National Geospatial College (NGC) on premises, equipped with providing all employees opportunities to advance their skillset and progress their careers, through in-residence or virtual classes.

Please visit the Skillbridge website  for additional guidance on whether you may or may not meet the eligibility requirements for the program.  

SkillBridge participation is intended for the remaining 180-days of a members’ contract of service. Other service-specific separation requirements are expected to be met prior to beginning a SkillBridge program. Commander’s approval for attendance is required. Members must expect to receive a “General” or “Honorable” discharge rating.  If applicable, medical evaluation boards should be completed or are expected to be completed by the member’s contract end-of-service.

If you are interested in applying to the SkillBridge Program, consult your military service education or transition assistance office for guidance pertaining to eligibility requirements and application submission. Interested members may also visit the DoD website . Also, members should become familiar with the requirements outlined in DODI 1322.29 . 

Note: Members should become familiar with their specific service’s policies regarding Career Skills and Transition Programs as each branch of service has its own specific application process.

For question abouts the NGA SkillBridge program:

Email: SkillBridge@nga.mil
Phone: 571-557-1888

For additional SkillBridge assistance that isn’t readily identified here, please use the DoD Contact Us  webpage for support.

Below is a full list of current NGA “Hard to Fill” Work Roles:

Source Career Services: Geodetic Surveyor, Human Geography Linguist (Language TBD), Maritime Analyst, Bathymetrist

Acquisitions Career Services: Systems Engineer, IT Operations Analyst, IT Operations Engineer, Cybersecurity Service Provider, Cybersecurity Engineer, Cybersecurity Management Officer

Data and Visualization Career Services: Ops Research Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Data Steward, Analytic Methodologist, Data Engineer

Inspector General Career Services: IT Auditor, Forensic Data Analyst

Security and Facilities Career Services: Counterintelligence Officer, Counterintelligence Analyst, Facilities Engineer, Emergency Management Officer, 

Updated as of February 2024

NGA developed the WWFP as a part of Operation Warfighter, a program sponsored by DoD. Wounded Warriors who are selected for the internship program are offered unpaid positions in offices across NGA. The hours and duration of the internship will depend on the Wounded Warrior’s availability. Medical treatment and road to recovery are our Wounded Warrior’s number one priority, and NGA honors that need by ensuring interns work an average of 20-30 hours per week for approximately 3-6 months. This program does not guarantee full-time hiring after completion of the internship.

More than 3-6 months before you separate or return to duty:

• Submit for consideration for WWFP
• Email WoundedWarriorFP@nga.mil and reference WWFP

Less than 3 months before you separate or return to duty:

• Review positions on https://careers.nga.mil/ 
• Tailor your resume to the position and its mandatory requirements
• Submit your resume and proof of eligibility to WoundedWarriorFP@nga.mil.

For more information about the Wounded Warriors Program, e-mail: WoundedWarriorFP@nga.mil.